Legal Document

444 U.S. 212 100 Supreme Court Reporter 410 62 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 394 CARBON FUEL COMPANY, Petitioner,v.UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA et al. Number 78-1183. Argued Nov. 5, 1979. Decided Dec. 10, Syllabus Respondent local labor unions engaged in a number of unauthorized or "wildcat" strikes at petitioner employer's coal mines violation collective-bargaining agreements between and respondent international union (UMWA). The efforts regional subdivision (District 17) UMWA to persuade the miners not strike return work were uniformly unsuccessful. Petitioner subsequently brought suit against respondents Federal District pursuant § 301 Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, seeking injunctive relief damages, judgments rendered all respondents. Appeals affirmed part but vacated 17, holding that question was whether 17 did everything they might have done prevent bring about their termination, instigated, supported, ratified, encouraged strikes, there no evidence latter conduct. Held: Neither nor can be held liable damages under circumstances this case. No obligation on use reasonable means end implied law either because contained provision for arbitration disputes provided parties "agree affirm will maintain integrity contract." Pp. 216-222. (a) legislative history is clear Congress limited union's responsibility breach contract cases where may found responsible according common-law rule agency, here failed prove agency as required by §§ 301(b) (e). 216-218. (b) bargaining clearly shows that, whatever clause mean, purposely decided impose an take disciplinary other actions get strikers back work. 218-222. 582 Reporter, 2nd 1346, affirmed. David D. Johnson, Charleston, W. Va., petitioner. Harrison Combs, Washington, C., Mr. Justice BRENNAN delivered opinion Court. 1 decision case union, which neither instigates, supports, ratifies, encourages agreement, affected employer if available it termination. 2 Petitioner, Carbon Fuel Co., Mine Workers America (UMWA), National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreements 1968 1971, covering, inter alia, workers petitioner's several southern West Virginia. Forty-eight three from 1969 1973. Efforts UMWA, unsuccessful.1 3 1947 (Taft-Hartley Act), 61 Statutes-at-Large 156, 29 Code KF62 185, Southern named defendants. complaint sought relief2 alleging two agreements. tried before jury. trial judge matter violated also instructed jury, over objection those defendants "[i]f you find preponderance International Unions them stoppages occurring contract, terminate any such after began. . ." App.197a. Verdicts different amounts returned unions. 4 On appeal, Fourth Circuit otherwise judgments.3 However, remanded with directions dismiss 1346 (1978). court result its earlier Construction versus Haislip Baking 223 872 (1955). F.2d, 1351. follows, 877-878: 5 "We never has had nothing do; manifestly liability. If [UMWA 17] when [petitioner] called help men work, would been liability 17]. This being true, [District made adjustment difficulty, even do end. done, adopted, prolonged continuance strike. There sort did." 6 recognized conclusion conflict Third Eazor Express, Incorporated Brotherhood Teamsters, 520 951 (1975) (union no-strike failure best strikes).4 We granted certiorari resolve conflict. 440 957, 99 1495, 59 769 (1979). affirm. 7 argues agreement contains event contract. merit argument. Atlantic 8 Insofar argument relies congressional plan remedy encouraging arbitration, agency.5 9 Section 301(a) makes judicially enforceable. Textile Lincoln Mills, 353 448, 77 912, 972 (1957). At same time, gave careful attention problem during term stopped short imposing upon authorized, participated in, ratified it. Rather, effectuate 301(a), Taft-Hartley Act "shall bound acts agents," 301(e) common shall govern "in determining person acting 'agent' another person." In explaining Senator Taft stated, 93 Cong.Rec. 4022 (1947): 10 "If wife man who working plant receives lot telephone messages, very likely cannot proved came union. then. must legal proof corporations. (Emphasis supplied.) 11 Congress' reason adopting test, applying doctrine respondeat superior, follows lead Chief Coronado company Workers, 268 295, 304, 45 551, 554, 69 L.Ed. 963 (1925), "it shown what agents accordance fundamental association." test replaced loose incorporated 2(2) original 1935 "employer" included "any interest 49 450.6 12 distinct we should hold own respond locals' face statement limits one unions, anomalous nonetheless certain steps response local. Such pierce shield took care construct. Accordingly, reject suggestion policy favor extends respondents, agreed arbitrate grievances, try control contravention agreement. 13 stated: "There presented district Union Under Article XVI, 1, constitution, lacked authority without authorization UMWA. App.195a. Moreover, repeatedly expressed opposition wildcat strikes. thus (e), therefore agree "under these error Court] deny motions defendants' directed verdicts." B 14 turn next promise carry further step implying strike, nevertheless obligating "maintain 15 promote numerous policies. One particular importance—if overriding one—was free collective bargaining. See Teamsters Lucas Flour 369 95, 104, 82 571, 577, 593 (1962); NLRB Insurance Agents, 361 477, 488, 80 419, 426, 454 (1960); supra, U.S., 453-454, S.Ct., 916-917. And make crystal intention leave entirely Government compulsion proposal, reach added 8(d) defining "to bargain collectively" "not [to] compel party proposal require making concession." 158(d). Howard Johnson Hotel Employees, 417 249, 254-255, 94 2236, 2239-2240, 41 46 (1974); Burns Security Services, 406 272, 287, 92 1571, 1582, 32 (1972); Haw. Hawai‘i KFH45 A2 K. Porter NLRB, 397 99, 104-106, 90 821, 824-825, 25 146 (1970); Agents Union, 426. It parties' primarily determines relationship. Steelworkers Warrior & Gulf Navigation 363 574, 1347, 1409 (1960) (though color interpretation arbitrate). American Manufacturing 564, 570, 1343, 1364, 1403 (BRENNAN, J., concurring). specifically resolves issue, courts substitute resolution. 16 contractual looks create alleged duty "all means" promise, intended into meaningless exert force live up contracts. contracts completely answers directly addressed issue early and, first including obligation, deleted parties, 1941, explicit clause. order avoid breaches, negotiated deletion Instead, coverage employees "able willing work," disagreements settled through 1950 again rewritten. willing" dropped exercise measures lockout." supplied.)7 18 Because want surrender freedom decide dealing "best measures" 103 U.S.App.D.C. 207, 212-213, 257 211, 216-217 (1958); 117 N.L.R.B. 1095, 1118 (1957) (Intermediate Report Trial Examiner, reprinted appendix opinion).8 new 1952 carried forward 1971 essentially unchanged read follows: 19 "The Operators claims are machinery 'Settlement Local Disputes' section Agreement unless national character settle heretofore practiced industry, purpose provide settlement recourse courts." 20 sense assume thought language subsumed provision. Had intention, alter 21 inescapable drawn mean,9 violence process furthering judicial implication arm's-length then deleted. 22 since reached, Courts construed requiring action regard Lewis Benedict Corp., 259 346, 351 (CA6 1958) (Stewart, J.), aff'd equally divided Court, 459, 464, 489, 492, 442 877.10 interpretations accord understanding ample opportunity explicit. Failure so strongly suggests courts' 23 Affirmed. facts relevant participation briefly stated. As recently 1966 discipline "wildcatters." promptly notified each instance, representative arranged meeting striking members Often advised could participants illegal, second called. Most ended days. lasted longer than six From concern only aggravate bad situation, taken strikers. however District's good faith. expired, out Review locals here. Accord, Republic Steel Corporation 570 467 (CA3 1978); 585 586 534 1063 1976); Wagner Elec. 1104, Electrical 496 954 (CA8 1974). Contra, Ohio 551 695 1977). An course, authorized violates express implied. See, e. g., Gateway 414 368, 629, 38 583 Boys Markets, Retail Clerks, 398 235, 1583, 26 199 (1970). Our Part A does affect content, law, clauses. addressing wholly legally unilateral concededly responsibilities applied superior rather more restrictive Norris-LaGuardia requires "clear actual of, acts, ratification knowledge thereof." 106 (emphasis supplied). full text read: signatory hereto lockout pending adjudication grievances manner agreement." Contrary suggestion, Examiner's opinion, Board set aside Appeals, present inconsistent point. Although Examiner importance retention best-efforts clause, he discrete context deciding any, owed Board. Consequently, properly minimized. fact, appears reject, support, suggested reading concerning He stated "the contracting damage suits resulting lodged law." N.L.R.B., 1115. seeks basis need content "integrity" determined support cause action. Columbia possible meaning, 214, 218 (1958). Since Seventh adopted Old Ben 1487, 457 162, 164 (1972). Only differently. 1072-1073.

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