Court Opinion

ID: 9625236
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 07:32:45.30396+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:06:04.035614
License: Public Domain

Rosellini, J.
(dissenting) — There is nothing in the statute, RCW 49.32.020, governing injunctions in labor disputes that prohibits organizational picketing. Efforts to induce employees to affiliate with a union, through peaceful organizational picketing, are recognized as legitimate union activities in RCW 49.32.010, which provides in part:
“A case shall be held to involve or to grow out of a labor dispute when the case involves persons who are engaged in the same industry, trade or occupation; or have direct or indirect interests therein; . . . whether such dispute is:
“Between one or more employees or associations of employees and one or more employees or associations of employees.”
It seems clear that the members of the picketing unions in the instant case “are engaged in the same trade or occupation” as the nonunion employees whom respondents seek to induce to affiliate with their union.
In the Washington cases cited by the majority to sustain its view, this court recognized that, where there is a labor dispute and the picketing is peaceful and noncoercive, the statute forbids the issuing of an injunction.
*153In Building Service Employees International Union v. Gazzam, 339 U. S. 532, 94 L. Ed. 1045, 70 S. Ct. 784 (reviewing Gazzam v. Building Service Employees International Union, 29 Wn. (2d) 488, 188 P. (2d) 97, 11 A. L. R. (2d) 1330), the United States supreme court stated:
“The Washington statute has not been construed by the Washington courts in this case to prohibit picketing of workers by other workers. The construction of the statute which we are reviewing only prohibits coercion of workers by employers. We cannot agree with petitioners’ reading of this injunction that ‘whatever types of picketing were to be carried out by the union would be in violation of the decree.’ Respondent does not contend that picketing per se has been enjoined but only that picketing which has as its purpose violation of the policy of the State. There is no contention that picketing directed at employees for organization purposes would be violative of that policy. The decree does not have that effect.” (Italics mine.)
The trial court found that the picketing of the respondents was not maintained nor directed against the appellant but was maintained and directed against the employees of the said appellant, and I have found no legislative declaration of public policy against such picketing. It further found that the picketing was not coercive and that it was, in fact, peaceful. The facts as found by the trial court establish peaceful picketing for organizational purposes, which is not in violation of the law; therefore, I would affirm the judgment.
September 12, 1956. Petition for rehearing denied.