Legal Document

351 U.S. 292 76 Supreme Court Reporter 824 100 L.Ed. 1188 Mabel BLACK and T. Y. Wulff et al., Petitioners,v.CUTTER LABORATORIES, a Corporation. Number 92. Argued April 26, 1956. Decided June 4, Mr.Joseph Forer, Washington, D.C., for petitioners. Messrs. Gardiner Johnson, Thomas E. Stanton, Jr., San Francisco, Cal., respondent. Mr. Justice CLARK delivered the opinion of Court. 1 In 1949 Mrs. Doris Walker was discharged from her job at Cutter Laboratories, manufacturer pharmaceutical biological products, on claimed grounds that she an active member Communist Party had falsified application employment there.1 Petitioner, Bio-Lab Union Local 225, United Office & Professional Workers America, sought reinstatement before Arbitration Board pursuant to valid collective-bargaining agreement which authorized discharge 'just cause' only. The determined been union activity and, by vote 2 1, ordered reinstatement. Superior Francisco County confirmed award it enforced. On appeal, District Appeal affirmed. California, however, reversed. 43 Cal.2d 788, 278 Pacific Reporter, 2nd Series 905. Petitioners contend decision below violate constitutional principles embraced in Equal Protection Due Process Clauses Fourteenth Amendment. We granted certiorari, 350 816, 51. Before applied plant, graduated law school, worked three years as attorney Price Administration private practice, jobs different canneries. All these facts, readily admitted Board, were concealed or misrepresented 1946. addition, falsely stated employed file clerk 1939 one John Trippe, attorney. She told no such person existed. character references listed warned omissions falsifications request they did not disclose true background Cutter. These discovered until after label plant 'probationary period' expired. 3 found played role activities plant. 1947 became shop chairman executive board Local. following year elected chief steward, extended all manufacturing departments Laboratory. president spring 1949, holding office time discharge. also during period employment. investigated evidence membership application. Board's finding based uncovered investigations plus Walker's refusal answer questions relating Union's offer stipulate company could reasonably have concluded Communist.2 4 took 'view record' honestly believed Party. But held that, 'while employer may sufficient discharge', he 'should be entitled tocarry mutually known (his) hip pocket indefinitely future convenient use.' It Cutter's 'stale' unjustly this action 'interfered with, restrained coerced employee because participation officer negotiator behalf wage negotiation.' 5 majority California contains broad statements effect specific performance arbitration would public policy State. Petitioner's arguments are belief establish ground judgment based, therefore only establishes conclusive presumption advocacy violence mere fact Party, but renders unenforceable substantially contracts entered into members 6 This Court, reviews judgments, opinions. Herb versus Pitcairn, 324 117, 125—126, 65, 459, 462—463, 89 789; Morrison Watson, 154 111, 115, 14 995, 997, 38 927. See Williams Norris, 12 Wheat. 118, 120, 571. At times, atmosphere is written become so surcharged unnecessarily made. case, our duty look beyond sweep language determine ourselves precisely rests. means more than we should pass federal discussed where appears rests adequate state grounds. supra; Kaiser, 323 471, 477, 65 363, 366, 398. 7 significant limit itself discussion policy. subjected findings scrutinizing review. Of course, scope review under Act matter exclusively courts State, concern. Allen-Bradley Wisconsin Employment Relations 315 740, 747, 62 820, 824, 86 1154. 8 First, court since continuing doctrine waiver noted remained 'on devoted basis even hearings.'3 807, 916. 9 Second, clear individual parties might agreed circumstance constitute contract, question thereby raised. implicit reasonable construction waiver, explicit point But, read concluding facts decided provision contract permitted membership, ground. stated, (43 917) 'The between Laboratories cannot construed, will enforced, protect party whether guise unionism otherwise.' another point, 'an entirely (Party membership) refusing employ (whether original hire discharge) available any its existence.' connection, history clause prohibited discrimination 'because race, color, creed, national origin, religious belief, affiliation.' word 'political' well 'religious belief' included provision, but, negotiation, deleted. 10 believe construed term embrace refused apply waiver. As such, involves California's local law, substantial presented. Moreover, if State Court's considered ambiguous, choose interpretation does face us with question. Stembridge Georgia, 343 541, 547, 72 834, 837, 96 1130, cases cited. Cf. States Rumely, 345 41, 73 543, 97 770. follows writ must dismissed. 11 Writ REED affirm below. 13 DOUGLAS, whom CHIEF JUSTICE concur, dissenting. N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions believe, deference, abuses rule undertake independent No present case. Rather, easily demonstrated, think, squarely directly raises important First Amendments. 15 times ambiguous opinions make unsure precise court. left doubt. arbitrators worker labor activities, using charge Communism pretext. went reading opinion, 905, approved employer's Communist. tactics Communists dangers up total pages 21-page Among other things, said: 16 'From array congressional legislative quoted above, common knowledge mankind, accepted conclusively established loyal his against directive master.' Id., page 806, hold 'acts sabotage expected acts directed leader', id., 916, has 'right employees who upon dedicated disloyal him, likewise American purport serve, risk both employing depending company's products.' 917. 17 grievance stale one, having two years. upheld finding. ruled 'sat back half years' then used excuse injuring lawful activity. 266 92, 100. 'labor activities' 'Communist activities.' 808, said employer, knowing nothing irrelevant, 'public policy' conclude there failure plain, therefore, sustains 18 says employee, reason merely hand other, when enforced right infringed. disagree doctrine. dangerous innovation meet exigencies violates Amendment guarantees citizens workers industrial plants. 19 can better illustrate my difficulty hypothetical A enters allows Republican cause.' Employers can, choose, arranging all-Democratic force desire.* implicated discriminatory scheme. Once put their imprimatur government, speaking through judicial branch, acts. Shelley Kraemer, 334 68 836, 92 1161; Barrows Jackson, 346 249, 1031, 1586. And governmental Constitution controls. Certainly neither nor Federal Government adopt political test defense plants factories. elementary freedom thought protected interference States, DeJonge Oregon, 299 353, 364—365, 57 255, 259—260, 81 278, regimentation 20 favor group over another. disqualify lend support program, supra, teaches thrown weight behind unconstitutional scheme discriminate ideology. That done unless forsake Bill Rights. 21 hitherto assumed Communists, except laws, same civil rights citizens. 1937, Chief Hughes wrote unanimous supra. punish meeting discuss abused 'to incite crime.' 364, 260. say, people Legislatures themselves abuse. intervention find justification dealing curtailed. greater importance safeguarding community incitements overthrow institutions violence, imperative need preserve inviolate free speech, press assembly order maintain opportunity discussion, end government responsive changes, desired, obtained peaceful means. Therein lies security Republic, very foundation government.' 22 factory. special protection. safeguards adulteration. screening employees. record indicating needs protection Walker. criminal record. guilty adulteration, act sabotage. factory plagued problem. fear engage made do think consistently Rights proscribed making living assumption wherever work incidence rises danger too great critical industry bear. 23 blunt truth misconduct either legitimate ideology belief. Belief penalized Roberts Cantwell Connecticut, 310 296, 303—304, 60 900, 903, 84 1213, 'embraces concepts,—freedom act. first absolute nature second be. Conduct remains subject regulation society.' today conduct, regulated. sanction flagrant violation allow acting highest court, sustain notice official presence official, assistant steward stenographer. follows: 'Mrs. Walker: 'As you aware, some October 1946, number false representations your 'Application Employment.' know now, statement education conceal completed school course University School Jurisprudence Berkeley May, 1942. You received degree Bachelor Laws 1942, Bar December 8, date practice Courts California. 'We now falsification name previous June, 1942 February, 1944 Government's Administration, including Enforcement Attorney salary about $3,200.00 year. deliberately February December, 1945 Gladstein, Grossman, Sawyer Edises, wellknown firm lawyers specializing cases. 'You few weeks ago 'Labor Herald,' CIO newspaper, National Labor sustained cannery checked records. just here, series canneries them. 'Ordinarily, Company immediately falsifying material Because kept pay roll rather open persecuting officer. given case careful consideration how strong claim activities. 'Because wants involved dispute kind patient deliberate misconduct. 'On 1948, testified oath Trial Examiner Workers' Branch testify South Side Club convinced still 'Our recent investigation past previously unknown conduct goes far concealment facts. thorough full report realize us. implications misrepresentations. follow-up Heralds' revelations situation grave expected. years, participated actively Party's business requires usual precaution subversion. Upon disclosure subversive reevolutionary activity, conceive responsibility management take action. 'Confronted situation, inclination lenient grant out. alternative terminate services once. Accordingly, notified causes mentioned. paid amount due promptly.' Since inquire reasons were, ruled, relevant issue, draw inferences warranted. respect unlike Slochower Education, 551, 637. While spoke reaching conclusion, reasoning outlined above amply supports conclusion. * liberty operates it. agency expressed discriminations make. Steele Louisville N.R. Co., 192, 226, 173; Tunstall Brotherhood, 210, 235, 187; Brotherhood Railroad Trainmen Howard, 768, 1022, 1283; Ford Motor Huffman, 330, 337, 681, 685, 1048; Syres Oil Union, 892, 152, reversing Cir., 223 739; Railway Employes' Dept. Hanson, 714.

Classification Label: 8