Court Opinion

ID: 9699357
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 20:20:45.839739+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:49.288252
License: Public Domain

POMEROY, Justice,
dissenting.
Among the facts established by the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review was that the cancellation of *332orders by airline companies, and the consequent cessation of work at the employer’s place of business, was a direct result of the inability of the parties to reach some agreement which would maintain the status quo as of April 30, 1974 for a reasonable period. Indeed, the majority concedes that the nexus between these two facts is “relatively easily identifiable.” Opinion, ante at 330. As I see it, the inability to maintain the status quo was in turn the result of the employees’ refusal to continue to work for a time under the terms and conditions of the then existent contract. See Vrotney Unemployment Compensation Case, 400 Pa. 440, 163 A.2d 91 (1960). While the actions which the employer unilaterally took subsequent to April 30 are regrettable and not to be condoned, they do not change the fact that the airlines ceased conducting business with Gladieux as the result of the labor dispute which existed on April 30. To ignore the fact that the work stoppage here involved was a direct result of the dispute is to ignore the clearly expressed legislative desire to deny unemployment benefits to persons who precipitate their own unemployment.
I agree with and would adopt the opinion of BLATT, J., in the Commonwealth Court and would deny unemployment benefits. Hence, this dissent.