Document: 335 U.S. 525 69 S.Ct. 251 93 L.Ed. 212 LINCOLN FEDERAL LABOR UNION NO. 19129, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR, et al.v.NORTHWESTERN IRON & METAL CO. al. WHITAKER v. STATE NORTH CAROLINA. Nos. 47 and 34. Argued Nov. 8, 9, 10, 1948. Decided Jan. 3, 1949. Appeals from the Supreme Courts of States Nebraska North carolina. Mr. Herbert S. Thatcher, Washington, D.C., for appellants Lincoln Federal Labor Union No. 19129 George Pennell, Asheville, N.C., Whitaker others. Irving Hill, Beverly Hills, Cal., appellee Northwestern Iron Metal Co. Edson Smith, Omaha, Neb., Small Business Men's Assn. Robert A. Nelson, Lincoln, appellee, State Nebraska. Ralph Moody, Raleigh, Carolina. [Argument Counsel page 526 intentionally omitted] Justice BLACK delivered opinion Court. 1 Under employment practices in United States, employers have sometimes limited work opportunities to members unions, non-union members, at other times employed kept their workers without regard whether they were or not a union. Employers are commanded follow this latter practice states Carolina A statute constitutional amendment1 provide that no person those shall be denied an opportunity obtain retain because he is member labor organization. To enforce policy also forbidden enter into contracts agreements obligating themselves exclude persons union members.2 2 These state laws given timely challenge courts on ground insofar as attempt protect discrimination, violation rights guaranteed employers, by Constitution.3 The challenged violations right freedom speech, assembly petition unions 'the First Amendment protected against invasion under Fourteenth Amendment.' It was further contended impaired obligations existing Art. I, § Constitution deprived appellant equal protection due process law Amendment. All these contentions rejected Stat Courts4 cases here appeal 237 Judicial Code, 28 U.S.C. 344, U.S.C.A. 344 (now 1257). substantial identity questions raised two prompted us set them argument together same reason we now consider single opinion. 3 First. abridge speech 'peaceably assemble Government refress grievances.'5 adopted laws, must, considerations being equal, give remunerative discrimination either. In order achieve objective groups, make which would obligate hire keep none but members. Nothing language indicates purpose prohibit assembly, petition. Precisely what do forbid acting alone concert with organizations deliberately restrict 4 difficult see how enforcement could infringe anyone, deny anyone redress grievances. And contend expressly full exercise Their contention indirectly While basis entirely clear, it seems rest line reasoning: demand along 'indispensable self organization association unions'; refuse there 'no means eliminating competition worker'; since, reasoning continues, 'closed shop' indispensable achievement sufficient membership put equality collective bargaining, closed shop consequently 'an concomitant' o employees associate through organizations. * *' Justification such expansive construction speak, then rested part appellants' assertion 'that non-unionist way equivalent parallel member; exists one hand while maintain free constitutionally protected.' Cf. Wallace Corporation National Relations Board, 323 248, 65 238, 89 216. 5 We deem unnecessary elaborate numerous reasons our rejection appellants. Nor need appraise analyze particularity rather startling ideas suggested support some premises conclusions rest. There cannot wrung discuss improvement own working standards, drive all who will can not, participate assemblies. assemble, formulate plans furthering interest jobs construed guarantee get hold except join agree abide assembly's plans. For where conduct affects interests individuals general public, legality must measured donforms valid law, even though engaged pursuant assembly. 6 Second. suggestion elaborated briefs conflict Constitution, impair obligation made prior enactment. That merit too clearly established require discussion. See Home Bldg. Loan Ass'n Blaisdell, 290 398, 436—439, 54 231, 239, 240, 78 413, 88 A.L.R. 1481, cited. Veix Sixth Ward Building Ass'n, 310 32, 38, 60 792, 794, 84 1061; East New York Savings Bank Hahn, 326 230, 232, 66 69, 70, 90 34, 160 1279. 7 Third. thus offend clause Because outlawed useful incentive growth membership, said weaken bargaining power correspondingly strengthen employers. This may true. But matters considered. impossible employer company respect, independent unions. supra. circumstance alone, others mentioned, charge workers. 8 argued provided identical discriminate command both groups precisely argue been violated. ons surrounding relied guarantees greater than claim itself refutation fail afford afforded 9 Fourth. deprive liberty Appellants specifically designed within 'liberty' (1) any member, (2) contract agreement engage 10 Much seeks establish men forbids him nonunion does more method aid heart namely, either such. If ban if performed bring about prohibited discrimination. Chicago, B. Q.R. McGuire, 219 549, 570, 571, 31 259, 263, 55 328. 11 Many cited Court has instances protects contracts. cases, according broadest making contracts, ever went so far indicate bars prohibiting banned law. So here, provisions valid, follows prohibition valid. Bayside Fish Flour Gentry, 297 422, 427, 56 513, 515, 80 772. Sage Hampe, 235 99, 104, 105, 35 94, 95, 59 147. therefore turn decisive question contention, is: Does pass safeguard jobs, workers? 12 period wanted victims widespread practices. Contracts between used accomplish antiunion Before hiring workers, required sign stating become Such anti-union obnoxious gave name 'yellow dog contracts.' hostility passage federal outlaw yellow 13 1907 Adair 208 161, 277, 52 436, Ann.Cas. 764, considered Adair, agent Louisville Nashville Railroad Company, had indicted convicted having discharged Coppage, employee railroad, Coppage Order Locomotive Firemen. held, over dissents Justices McKenna Holmes, Fifth Amendment, discrimin te use chief relance holding Lochner York, 198 45, 25 539, 49 937, 1133, invalidated prescribing maximum hours bakeries. found its Allgeyer Louisiana, 165 578, 17 41 832, case strongly rely. strong cases. 14 1914 reaffirmed principles Kansas, 236 1, 441, L.R.A.1915C, 960, again dissents, held Kansas outlawing fix terms employment. invalid clause. 15 - doctrine years followed strike down fixing minimum wages employment, prices, regulating business activities. Olsen ex rel. Western Reference Bond 313 236, 244—246, 61 862, 864, 865, 85 1305, 133 1500, Osborn Ozlin, 53, 66, 67, 758, 763, 1074. philosophy faithfully adhered Adams Tanner, 244 590, 37 662, 1336, L.R.A.1917F, 1163, Ann.Cas.1917D, 973, pressed upon supra, four justices dissenting struck absolutely maintenance private agencies. majority businesses highly beneficial public conclusion proscribe them. Our undermined Tanner. 16 rely heavily certain Court's Chas. Wolff Packing Industrial 262 522, 43 630, 67 1103, 27 1280. agency hours.6 267 552, 565, 45 444, 785. invalidating act, forbidding legislation wages, prices products. distinction 'clothed interest.' (262 634.) Nebbia People 291 502, 505, 940, 1469. legislative assumed case, settled price fixed longer doubted since West Coast Hotel Parrish, 300 379, 57 81 703, 108 1330; Darby, 312 100, 125, 451, 462, 609, 132 1430; Phelps Dodge Corp. 177, 187, 845, 849, 1271, 1217. beginning least early 1934, when decided, steadily enunciated Adair-Coppage I doing consciously returned closer earlier principle legislate injurious internal commercial affairs, long run afoul specific prohibition, Nabbia pages 523, 524, 509, 510, 1469, 392—395, 582, 583, 1330, broadly Congress legislatures strait jacket suppress industrial conditions offensive welfare. 18 ask return, part, discarded. Claiming affords nevertheless assert providing Just erects obstacle block 19 Affirmed. 20 concurring opinions FRANKFURTER RUTLEDGE, 538, 260. Section Chapter 328 Session Laws, enacted 1947, reads follows: 'Any combination whereby employer, condition continuation acquires monopoly enterprise, hereby declared illegal conspiracy restraint trade commerce Carolina.' 1946 amendment, 'No affiliation with, resignation expulsion refusal affiliate organization; nor individual corporation kind contract, written oral, nonmembership organization.' Shops employ designated shops,' 'union shops.' security agreements, much dispute exact meaning term 'open shop.' Encyclopedia Social Sciences, Vol. (1930), pp. 568 569. important difference emphasis different labels think better avoid amendment action equitable relief declaratory judgment. complaint refused comply request discharge failed membership. Carolina, criminal proceedings instituted charging unlawful entered appellants, officers agents affiliated American Federation Labor. Whitaker, 228 N.C. 352, S.E.2d 860; Co., 149 Neb. 507, N.W.2d 477. Sash Door Ariz. 20, 189 P.2d 912. An treated Arizona separate opinion, 258, presents laws. rests premise makes prohibitions applicable action. Virginia Board Education Barnette, 319 624, 639, 63 1178, 1186, 87 1628, 147 674. pertinent 'Congress abridging press; people peaceably grievances.' Other parts related Considerations involved validity relevant here.

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