Document: 525 U.S. 33114 S.Ct. 292142 L.Ed.2d 242 124 F.3d 1034, affirmed. SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES No. 97 1056 NAOMI MARQUEZ, PETITIONERv.SCREEN ACTORS GUILD, INC., et al. ON WRIT CERTIORARI TO APPEALSFOR NINTH CIRCUIT [November 3, 1998] Justice O'Connor delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Section 8(a)(3) National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), 49 Stat. 452, as added, 61 140, 29 U.S.C. § 158(a)(3), permits unions and employers to negotiate an agreement that requires union "membership" a condition employment for all employees. We have interpreted proviso this language mean only can require is payment fees dues, NLRB v. General Motors Corp., 373 734, 742 (1963), we held §8(a)(3) allows collect expend funds over objection nonmembers extent they are used collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance adjustment activities, Communications Workers Beck, 487 735, 745, 762 763 (1988). In case, must determine whether breaches its duty fair representation when it negotiates security clause tracks without explaining, in agreement, Court's interpretation language.We conclude does not. 2 also asked review Court Appeals' decision District did not jurisdiction decide claim breached by negotiating was inconsistent with statute. because challenge based purely on alleged inconsistency statute, Appeals correctly within primary Board (NLRB). 3 * A 4 The at heart case. pertinent part, provides follows: 5 "It shall be unfair labor practice employer 6 "(3) discrimination regard hire or tenure encourage discourage membership any organization: Provided, That nothing subchapter, other statute United States, preclude from making organization therein after thirtieth day following beginning such effective date whichever later . Provided further, no justify against employee nonmembership if he has reasonable grounds believing denied terminated reasons than failure tender periodic dues initiation uniformly required acquiring retaining membership." 158(a)(3). 7 This section statutory authorization "union clauses," clauses employees become "member[s]" employment. See supra, 744 745. 8 conclusion end story. had several occasions interpret §8(a)(3), two our conclusions about subsection bear directly First, 743 (citing Radio Officers NLRB, 347 17, 41 (1954)), although states may requiring union, satisfy merely paying amount equal union's dues. Pattern Makers 473 95, 106, n. 16, 108 (1985). words, "as whittled down financial core." 742. Second, considered employee's "financial core" obligation included pay support activities beyond those undertaken exclusive bargaining representative. permit exact germane adjustment, administration. Id., 763. As result these conclusions, necessary employees' B 9 Respondent Screen Actors Guild (SAG) represents performers entertainment industry. 1994, respondent Lakeside Productions (Lakeside) signed SAG, SAG agent hired productions. contained standard clause, providing performer who worked under "a member Union good standing." App. 28. Tracking provided: 10 "The foregoing [section], Union, apply until Agreement, later; Producers sentence cannot Producer thirty (30) days his first motion picture industry violated paragraph employs standing performer's fee ." 28 29. 11 present dispute arose petitioner, part-time actress, successfully auditioned one-line role episode television series, "Medicine Ball," which produced Lakeside. Petitioner accepted pursuant Lakeside's casting director called verify petitioner met requirements clause. Because previously more 30 days, triggered before she could begin working There some representative told "join" "pay" union; regardless, understood work SAG's local office learned would join around $500. 12 Over next few attempted allow her paid When negotiations failed produce acceptable compromise part filmed, different actress fill part. At point new faxed letter stating production. too late petitioner; filming proceeded schedule replacement actress. 13 filed suit alleging, among things, representation. According enforcing basic flaws. full terms legally enforced Beck. argued should language, addition informing right right, representational activities. term 30-day grace period provision running contravened express given "such employment." She interprets employment" each relationship. Finally, claims failing notify truthfully rights NLRA defined Beck Motors. 14 granted summary judgment defendants claims, ruling breach Pet. Cert. 28a 29a. court determined factfinder enforce lawful limits. 30a. ruled petitioner's actually claim, thus preempted NLRB. 31a. 15 appealed, Ninth Circuit affirmed reversed 1034 (1997). grant enforcement representation, finding there were genuine issues material fact remaining resolved issue. For example, record contains conflicting evidence union. 1041. lesser "core" associated functions. addressed so remanded issue consideration. 1042 1043. 16 On Court, however, tracked NLRA. noted been specialized meaning, but rejected argument fully explain meaning arbitrary bad faith Courts recently similar claims. 1038 1039 International Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine Furniture 1532 (CADC 1994); Nielsen Assn Machinists & Aerospace Workers, 94 1107 (CA7 1996), cert. denied, 520 1165 (1997)). Circuit's resolution tension decisions Appeals. See, e.g., Buzenius 788 (CA6 1997), pending, 945; Bloom 1001 (CA8 1994). 17 provision. acknowledged federal courts but, noting admonishment deceived plaintiff 's attempt disguise U.S., 743, claim. court, question presented central resolution, circumstances, fell F.3d, 18 certiorari resolve conflict facial validity clarify standards defining 523 ___ (1998). II 19 case presents narrow question: Does §8(a)(3)? To understand why question, helpful keep mind what resolving deciding illegally non-collective-bargaining Petitioner's complaint includes illegally, us. factual disputes precluded issue, further proceedings. 1041 1042. adequately (and concedes, see Brief 35 36) their rights. Paperworkers Int'l (Weyerhaeuser Paper), 320 N. L. R. B. 349 (1995), rev'd sub nom. supra; California Saw Knife Works, 224 enf 'd Association 133 1012 (CA7), U.S.___ 1114 1115 1995) (recognizing union); Abrams America, 59 1373, 1378 1380 (same). currently process content notification give guidance do supra. alleges rights, too, reconsideration. 20 With background, comes into sharper focus. disagreement substance obligations: If workers requirement conformity notification. uses expressly refinements introduced rephrase slightly, even exemplary procedure enforces perfect law, mere negotiation hold 21 selected unit, duty, implied status §9(a) represent members fairly. Ford Motor Co. Huffman, 345 330, 337 (1953); Vaca Sipes, 386 171, 177 (1967). described "to serve interests hostility toward any, exercise discretion complete honesty, avoid conduct." Ibid. conduct unit arbitrary, discriminatory, faith. 190. Air Line Pilots O'Neill, 499 65, 67 (1991) (reaffirming tripartite standard). argue consider 22 argues redefined evaluating "arbitrary." reads actions elaborate violation concluded 12. Under reading, "arbitrary" prong equated "statutory violation." inaccurate reading It true focus attention consistent once found tarry how But sufficient duty. collected authority then money purposes wholly unrelated gave money, ways antithetical serve. 744. latter aspect conduct, just made 23 holding alter confirmed Pilots. decided three years specifically appropriate prong, "only [the conduct] fairly characterized far outside 'wide range reasonableness' 'irrational' 'arbitrary.' " 78 (quoting 338). "wide reasonableness" gives room make discretionary choices, judgments ultimately wrong. Pilots, negotiated settlement employer, retrospect proved deal best workers, insufficient arbitrary. 81. classified irrational, rational basis explanation. 24 standard, derived authorizing irrational written. written, tracking incorporates language. section, read, found. interpretations obvious, relevant provisions art; words phrasing now encompass announced After stated (except dues) fault using very convey concepts. 25 invites us done reason use except mislead components: intended purpose mislead. Both unpersuasive. unconvincing, again recall nature being asserted here. chose determining deceive large number workers. Her ambitious. always informs fails broad. difficult acts notifying through means communication art describe unlikely read. intent mislead, "bad faith" fails. 26 second choice said shorthand description workers' legal might choose precisely refinements. intricate duties logic stopping point; drafters) spell out intricacies every contract. Contracts massive unwieldy treatises, yet discernible benefit increased mass. argument, find Contrary perfectly 27 proposed one oral argument: suggested detail where diverge. Tr. Oral Arg. 16. diverge take simple logic, incorporate detailing obligations Presumably, include discussions judicial prongs limit towards Moreover, limits power religious objections supporting forced 169 discriminatory excessive, 158(b)(5). all. slippery slope fortiori sum, record, either that, III refused cognizable couched definition heard court. 25. proposition, relies Breininger Sheet Metal 493 (1989). starting describes law. challenges action "arguably subject §7 §8 [NLRA]," San Diego Building Trades Council Garmon, 359 236, 245 (1959). These promote uniform 243. instance 183; 73 84. Breininger, invitation create exceptions rule expertise matter complaint, presence factor. 75 77. Thus, solid ground lower erred refusing qualification important. ritualistic incantation phrase "duty representation" invoke courts. "[e]mployees circumvent simply violations representation." 743. NLRA, characterizing something adduce facts suggesting 31 instance. Although pure Connell Constr. Plumbers, 421 616, 626 (1975)). Thus collateral independently arise matters open door Federal 32 Applying principles falls squarely employed allegation, framed recitation act base §8(a)(3). independent jurisdiction; misleading misrepresents transparent unconvincing. misleading; 33 attempts arguing structurally identical opinion. according trial relied defense plaintiffs' supported allegations describing conduct. above, premised unlawfulness possibly similarly distinguishable like solely provision, contrast, most allegation quintessentially uphold it. 34 Accordingly, States Kennedy, J., concurring whom Thomas joins, concurring. 36 I offer observations. 37 address circumstances injure Our sole not, more, violate development trial, misinformed obligations. wording well bearing determination. remand addressed, ruling. suggestion see, 35, potential detriment. developed, effect likely remains trial; misunderstood suggest otherwise. 38 required, conditions employment, "member[ship] standing," id., 28, "the Union," recognized Board, facilitate deception. 153 844, 850 851 1998) ("As attest, approached regarding expresses reluctance, frequently will employee, unschooled semantic fictions, discern document designed conceal them. context, 'member' 'art,' deception"); Wegscheid Local 2911, Automobile, Agricultural Implement 117 986, 990 1997) ("[T]he realistic explanation retention agreements union"); Monsoon Trucking, Inc., 324 149, pp. (Chairman Gould, concurring) ("[A] collective-bargaining speaks 'membership' 'membership standing' misleads formal, full-fledged members"). opinion, today inference inclusion somehow fair-representation bare adduced show violation. Rather, reflects containing necessarily, 39 Furthermore, practice, though, makes clear, here, unlike unfair-labor-practice predicated Act. 40 determined.

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