Document: 420 U.S. 92 95 S.Ct. 879 43 L.Ed.2d 44 Earl R. FOSTER, Petitioner,v.DRAVO CORPORATION. No. 73—1773. Argued Jan. 20, 1975. Decided Feb. 18, Syllabus The Military Selective Service Act provides that a serviceman who applies for re-employment if still qualified shall be restored by his employer to former position 'or of like seniority, status, and pay.' further assures benefits advancements would necessarily have accrued virtue continued employment will not denied the veteran merely because absence in military service. These provisions, however, do apply claimed requiring more than simple status as an employee. Held: 1. In this case Act's provisions entitle petitioner employee full vacation years he was service, under terms collective-bargaining agreement conditioned award such on receipt earnings during 25 weeks previous year, since scheme intended form short-term deferred compensation work performed accruing automatically function association with company. Pp. 96-101. 2. Whether might entitled some pro rata contract provision applicable those employees were unable accumulate minimum weeks' layoffs should determined District Court remand. 101-102. 490 F.2d 55, affirmed. Harry Sachse, New Orleans, La., petitioner. Robert H. Shoop, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa., respondent. Opinion Mr. Justice MARSHALL, announced Chief BURGER. 1 Through Act, Congress has sought protect veterans returning civilian jobs from being penalized having served Armed Forces. Section 9 62 Stat. 614, amended, 50 U.S.C. App. § 459, ensures right job same levels pay enjoyed had held throughout time military.1 This presents question whether statute entitles when, departure failed satisfy substantial requirement upon which are conditioned. 2 * Petitioner, Foster, began working respondent Dravo Corp. 1965. He worked 22 company year earned 20 hours paid eligibility.2 1966, entire standard second-year benefits,3 subsequently accepted payment. 3 March following took leave job. Before leaving, first seven 1967 company, return 18 months later last 13 1968. Because between petitioner's union required each calendar order earn benefits,4 Foster awarded any either year. Since time, received employment. 4 Unhappy denial 1968, brought suit against Western Pennsylvania.5 credit benefit both years, claiming two vacations requires credited even though meet 25-week 5 did accrue employment, it violate deny them absence. Appeals Third Circuit agreed no statutory benefits. From its examination other related factors, court concluded dispute perquisite seniority but benefit, thus unavailable satisfied requirement. Noting limited provide alternative basis receive remanded proceedings narrow question. 55 (1973). We granted certiorari, 419 823, 38, 42 46 (1974), apparent conflict decisions Courts Seventh Ninth Circuits. See Ewert v. Wrought Washer Mfg. Co., 477 128 (CA7 1973); Locaynia American Airlines, 457 1253 (CA9), cert. denied, 409 982, 93 317, 34 246 (1972). affirm. II 6 Training 1940, 54 885, 890, very similar present 459(c)(1),6 provided person leaving enter 'like pay' unless circumstances so changed 'as make impossible or unreasonable so.' 'without loss seniority' considered been furlough absence' period 7 On several encounters interpreted guarantee rights mean veteran's service must toward just remained throughout. Fishgold Sullivan Drydock & Repair Corp., 328 275, 285, 66 1105, 1111, 90 L.Ed. 1230 (1946). To him spent lose ground reason This, stated, principle 'does step back escalator at point stepped off. steps precise occupied kept continuously war.' Id., 284—285. also Oakley Louisville Nashville 338 278, 283, 70 119, 94 87 (1949). 8 After decision, re-enacted statute, adding language expressly codified holding case. amendment 'he entering armed forces until restoration.' 604, 615—616, 459(c)(2). subsequent cases, consistently applied assure McKinney Missouri-Kansas-Texas 357 265, 272, 78 1222, 1305 (1958). hand, where employee, is protected statute. id., 273, 1222; Tilton Missouri Pacific 376 169, 181, 84 595, 11 590 (1964). 10 Accardi Pennsylvania 383 225, 86 768, 15 717 (1966), these principles traditionally right. concerned eligibility severance Under agreement, amount due depended length employee's 'compensated service' railroad. railroad argued inapplicable payment depend directly seniority. Court, broader view. Looking beyond characterization payments done past, rather means compensating accumulated over long Accordingly, 'just much traditional preference lay-off recall.' 230, 772. Two later, Eagar Magma Copper 389 323, 88 503, 19 557 (1967), holiday agreement. all requirements question, met conditions employed one-year anniversary date starting payroll three preceding holiday. 12 per curiam opinion, reversed judgment authority Accardi. contractual eligible contested simply payroll, unnecessary consider barred them. facts before decision fell within treated service.7 III Petitioner argues entitlement closely correlated actually theoretically could doing little one hour's this, concludes really only therefore legally 14 approach extend well limits set out our prior cases. Generally, presence strong evidence compensation. Of course, case, may insubstantial appears plainly designed measure job; event, veterans. But constitutes bona fide effort compensate performed, fact correlates loosely enough invoke guarantee. agree that, unlike Accardi, shortterm performed. Although additional overtime period. increase worked. addition, laid off does requisite weeks, basis. 16 lend support respondent's claim Petitioner's observation theory few carefully spaced house rebut plain indication most cases year's work.8 17 week year; indeed, logical limits, Forces four return. result sharply inconsistent common conception reward respite lengthy labor clearly showing made here, we conclude question.9 IV alternative, asserts least If share benefits, claims effect taking absence, prevent. can find nothing independent conferred justify Solomonic solution. 'on absence,' 459(c)(1), suggestion grant regardless class similarly treated. reject theory, potential availability enters somewhat different way. layoffs. Art. XIV, light provision, noted It determine adequately preserved and, so, benefits.10 21 litigated trial level, proceedings. affirm Appeals. Affirmed. 23 DOUGLAS part consideration 9(b) who, 'has left leaves . makes application reemployment ninety days after relieved training service.' 9(b)(B)(i) adds 'still perform duties position, (he shall) (by .) pay'. 9(c), governs positions relevant part: '(1) Any accordance section forces, without participate insurance offered pursuant established rules practices relating inducted into discharged cause restoration. '(2) declared sense manner give restoration employment.' union, Industrial Union Marine Shipbuilding Workers America, AFL—CIO, governed month worked, up maximum 40 hours. increases ordinary days' pay. second day five then 'continuous employment,' weeks. Ibid. qualify workweeks A taken next designated When vacation, gives when scheduled. represented Government action. By United States Attorney charged representing claimants claimant reasonably dispute. 459(d). 1940 essentially 1948, 604. name 1951 Universal 65 75. renamed 1967, 81 100. given name, 1971, 85 348. §§ 9(c)(1) largely unchanged 9(c)(2) current re-enactment 1948. drafted men women enlist voluntarily Forces, exceed four, certain years. 459(g)(1). dissenters Co. statute's protection aplied associated U.S., 325, 503 (1967) (Douglas, J., joined Harlan Stewart, JJ., dissenting). They distinguished based particular majority implicitly rejected distinction. reliance treatment misplaced. there primarily employees' railroad, actual total rendered. putative 'work requirement' concluded, disguise true nature jobs. less involve unsatisfied contrast governing entitled. As above, employment' Dravo, defined seniority.' 1, Respondent concedes counted determining earned; calculated Even purely matter, 'other benefits' read conjunction they layoff referred includes found equivalent either.

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