Legal Document

455 U.S. 678 102 Supreme Court Reporter 1349 71 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 547 UNITED TRANSPORTATION UNION, Petitioner,v.LONG ISLAND RAILROAD COMPANY, et al. Number 80-1925. Argued Jan. 20, 1982. Decided March 24, Syllabus Respondent Railroad, formerly under private ownership, was acquired by New York State in 1966 and is engaged interstate commerce. Some 13 years later, petitioner Union, representing the Railroad's employees, Railroad failed to reach an agreement after conducting collective-bargaining negotiations pursuant Railway Labor Act, mediation efforts also produce agreement. This triggered a 30-day cooling-off period that at expiration of which Act permits union resort strike. Anticipating would challenge Act's applicability Union sued Federal District Court, seeking declaratory judgment labor dispute covered not Taylor Law, law prohibiting strikes public employees. The then filed suit state court, enjoin impending strike Law. Before court acted, held subject rather than applicable. rejected argument application state-owned railroad inconsistent with National League Cities versus Usery, 426 833, 96 2465, 49 245, wherein it Congress could impose requirements Fair Standards on local governments. Appeals reversed, holding operation integral governmental function, displaced "essential decisions" involving State's interest controlling outweighed federal having apply. Held : Application Congress' acknowledged authority regulate relations industry does so impair state's ability carry out its constitutionally preserved sovereign function as come conflict Tenth Amendment. Pp. 682-690. (a) One Cities, supra, 852, 2474, for successful claim congressional commerce power invalid compliance directly "structure operations areas traditional functions." Operation clearly part activities generally immune from regulation. And regulation railroads, whether freight or passenger, simply state. 683-686. (b) To allow individual states, acquiring circumvent system collective bargaining, any other elements destroy longstanding comprehensive uniform scheme railroads their thought essential endanger efficient rail system. Moreover, knowing such Here, knew accepted regulation, and, fact had operated without claiming impairment sovereignty. 686-690. 634 Reporter, 2nd 19, reversed remanded. Edward D. Friedman, Washington, C., petitioner. Joshua I. Schwartz, amicus curiae, special leave Court. Lewis baron Kaden, Columbia Univ. School City, respondent. CHIEF JUSTICE BURGER delivered opinion 1 We granted certiorari decide Amendment prohibits 2 * Long Island Rail Road (the Railroad), incorporated 1834, provides both passenger service Island.1 In 1966, 132 ownership steadily growing operating deficits, through Metropolitan Transportation Authority. 3 Thereafter, continued conduct bargaining procedures Act. 44 Statutes-at-Large (part 2) 577, amended, 45 Code KF62 § 151 seq. this case, represents conductors, brakemen, switchmen, firemen, motormen, collectors, related train crew 1978, notified desired commence parties began provided They during preliminary April 1979, jointly petitioned Mediation Board assistance. Seven months agreement, however, released case mediation. Act; absent Presidential intervention, economic weapons, including strikes, upon period. 4 anticipated Railroad; December 7, one day before period, York's governing employee employees.2 next day, commenced what be brief Pursuant President intervened 14, thus imposing additional 60-day expire February 13, 1980.3 A few days converted stock corporation benefit corporation, apparently believing change eliminate coverage bring employees umbrella 5 1980, Eastern heard decided Union's relief, carrier applicable, relief order. 509 F.Supp. 1300 (1980). 6 footnote now presented 245 (1976). F.Supp., 1306, n.4. noted "specifically activity" affirmed rulings California Taylor, 353 553, 77 1037, 1034 (1957), California, 297 175, 56 421, 80 L.Ed. 567 (1936), Safety Appliance applied railroads. n. 4. 7 function. 19 (CA2 1980). balancing approach 8 certiorari, 452 960, 101 3107, 69 970 (1981), we reverse. II 9 There can no serious question that, held, terms Act,4 Commerce Clause grants plenary general.5 concerns railroad; must impairs into Amendment.6 10 claims immunity relying where governments.7 requires employers pay less minimum hourly wage them one-half times regular rate all time worked workweek excess 40 hours. Prior 1974, excluded most employers. However year amended extend provisions somewhat modified form "public agencies," governments political subdivisions.8 1974 amendments were "insofar [they] operate displace States' freedom structure functions. . ." U.S., 2474. (Emphasis supplied.) Only recently occasion apply doctrine Hodel Virginia Surface Mining & Reclamation Assn., Inc., 264, 2352, (1981). 1977, 30 1201 (1976 ed., Supp.IV), did violate usurping over land-use regulations, set three-prong test evaluating 11 "[I]n order succeed, legislation reasoning satisfy each three requirements. First, there showing challenged regulates 'States States.' [426 U.S.], 854 [96 S.Ct., 2475]. Second, address matters are indisputably 'attributes sovereignty.' Id., 845 2471]. third, apparent 'to functions.' 852 2474]." 287-288, 2366.9 12 key prong applicable third one, examines "the " B determination respect "areas [state] functions" may difficult one. do write clean slate. As noted, explicitly reaffirmed our two cases railroads:10 14 "The quite consistent today. California's activity command directed area have regarded parts activities. It was, contrary, 'common carriage .' 182 [56 423]." 854, n.18, 2475, n.18. 15 clear Cities. See Lafayette Louisiana Power Light Co., 435 389, 422-424, 98 1123, 1141-42, 55 364 (1978) (concurring opinion).11 concededly 16 undertook distinguish discussed noting they dealt carriers primarily Island. That distinction warrant different result, however. has traditionally been industry, governments.12 certainly true some control recent years, several lines, but alter historical reality among functions performed III 17 concluding those merely following dicta decision looking only past determine "traditional." essence, circumstances exercised manner undermine role states Court's emphasis aspects sovereignty meant static view Rather require inquiry affects basic prerogatives way likely hamper government's fulfill "separate independent existence." 851, 18 Just Government cannot usurp functions, justification rule previously sector, erode statutory Railroads nearly century.13 Interstate Act—the first industry—was passed 1887.14 earlier Government, rates Wabash, St. L. Pacific KF135 P2 R. company Illinois, 118 557, 4, 244 (1886). statute dealing Arbitration 1888;15 invoked Cleveland reaction Pullman 1894. disputes Erdman 189816 strengthened Newlands 1913.17 1916, mandated 8-hour industry.18 After World War I, 1920,19 further enhanced involvement relations. Finally, 1926, drafted representatives unions.20 number since remained intact. framework between years. comparable history industry. determined regulatory necessary national particular, long ago concluded prevent disruptions vital economy. disruption portion cause problems throughout effective means preventing requiring facilitating free organizations 20 absolutely assure equitable settlement disputes, interruption service, providing periods, creating "an almost interminable" process. Detroit T. S. 396 142, 149, 90 294, 298, 24 325 (1969). "[T]he purposely drawn out, based hope reason practical considerations will provide resolves dispute." Steamship Clerks Florida E. C. 384 238, 246, 86 1420, 1424, 501 (1966).21 uniformity 21 addition, 568, 1045. Here full awareness At acquisition, spokesman stated: 22 "We just new owner board directors. We're we've always been. people become employes, remain employes retain benefits drawbacks that." 23 proceeded along premises sides making use available Retirement Unemployment Insurance Employers' Liability Conversely, eligible retirement, insurance, job security regulation; moreover, Indeed, initial response acknowledge applied. hardly maintained existence" referred 25 Accordingly, remanded proceedings opinion. 26 Reversed western terminus Pennsylvania Station Manhattan; connects lines serve country. eastern Montauk Point, tip Island, main branch line traffic originates half boroughs Brooklyn Queens, suburbs Nassau Suffolk Counties. By far bulk business carrying commuters Island's suburban communities places employment City. However, supplies service; significant volume business, 1979 revenue $12 million. On January 17, responded asserting justiciable controversy existed because believe Law therefore intention invoke provisions. intervention creation Emergency investigate report matter. acknowledges admittedly commerce, "eliminat[es] regarding RLA." Brief Respondents 23. Appeals, intend F.2d, Whatever merit had, longer tenable. rendered decision, add 9A, 95 681, 159a Supp.V). Section 9A establishes "between publicly funded commuter employees." Texas N. O. Clerks, 281 548, 50 427, 74 (1930). provides: powers delegated Constitution, nor prohibited States, reserved respectively, people." codified 29 201 88 55. definitions contained 203. even if these met, automatically unconstitutional still great "justif[y] submission." 288, 29, 2366 29. Cf. Case Bowles, 327 92, 66 438, 552 (1946). Parden Terminal 377 184, 84 1207, 233 (1964); (1957). "[T]here [is] common carrier, profit 'public function,' Clause. focused delineation sovereignty' involved 'functions separate existence.' 845, 2471], quoting Coyle Oklahoma, 221 559, 580, 31 688, 695, 853 (1911). should evident, N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions think, running enterprise government reaffirmance 2475 strongly supports understanding." 1141-1142 (BURGER, C.J., concurring judgment). suit, States; owned operated, American Public Transit Fact Book 74-75 (1979). Those railroads—the Staten Island—were originally founded 1899 Authority 1971. Moody's Manual 97 exercise occurred completion transcontinental railroad. 1862. 489. Of course, transportation goes back many more that. 1793 regulating coastal trade Gibbons Ogden, Wheat. 1, (1824). 379. Ch. 1063, 501. 424. 6, 38 103. Adamson ch. 436, 39 721. 41 456. purposes 151a: chapter are: (1) avoid therein; (2) forbid limitation association denial, condition otherwise, right join organization; (3) complete independence matter self-organization chapter; (4) prompt orderly concerning pay, rules, working conditions; (5) grievances interpretation agreements covering conditions." Under adding Supp.V), process made "long out" insofar applies "cooling-off period" up 240 failure Any party dispute, Governor operates, request appointment dispute. If settled within 60 Board, hold hearing appear explain refusal accept Board's recommendations. second affected examine final offers submitted reasonable. work stoppage occurs, substantial penalties against refusing offer

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