Court Opinion

ID: 9657844
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 20:39:12.420643+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:48.774458
License: Public Domain

BABLITCH, WILLIAM A., J.
(dissenting in part). Although I agree with much of the majority opinion, I must respectfully dissent to two of the majority's conclusions: 1) The majority concluded that litigation expenses with respect to concerted activity and collective bargaining are chargeable only if they are directly related to the objecting employee's bargaining unit; and, 2) The majority concluded that organizing expenses are nonchargeable to the objecting employee.
Litigation Expenses'. WERC held that jurisdictional dispute proceedings, impasse mechanisms, and litigation relating to concerted activity and collective bargaining are chargeable. I would defer to that holding. Alternatively, I would hold that such expenses are chargeable so long as the benefit was direct or indirect, and would remand the case to WERC for factual findings. I would set the same standard for litigation expenses relating to jurisdictional dispute proceedings and impasse mechanisms, and remand for appropriate findings.
Organizing Expenses. WERC held that the costs for organizing within and outside the nonmembers' bargaining units, the costs in seeking exclusive representation rights in other bargaining units, and the costs for defending against efforts by other organizations to oust those unions from units they represent are chargeable. I agree with WERC. All such organizing activities are essential to the basic strength of the union structure, and therefore, contrary to the assertion of the majority, germane to collective bargaining. The stronger the structure, the more benefits inure to all employees because of the ability of the union to bargain collectively with the *136employer and to serve all the employees. Lehnert did not address this issue and does not compel the result reached by the majority.
Accordingly, I dissent from the above two parts of the majority opinion.
I am authorized to state that JUSTICE SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON joins in this dissent.