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engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection”—at least arguably protected the drivers’ conduct, so the State lacked the power to hold the Union accountable for any of the strike's consequences. The
Washington Supreme Court agreed with the Union, reasoning that “the NLRA preempts Glacier’s tort claims related to the loss of its concrete product because that loss was incidental to a strike arguably protected by federal law.”
468:
appointees, and too narrow for some of her fellow conservatives." AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said the ruling had relied on "unfounded allegations" by
Glacier Northwest, and said that when the facts are shown during the remanded case, it will be clear that the union acted correctly, that the strike is "protected by federal law," and said that the decision would "in no way deter workers from going on strike." Jane McAlevey of
408:. The majority found that the union's "actions not only resulted in the destruction of all the concrete Glacier had prepared that day; they also posed a risk of foreseeable, aggravated, and imminent harm to Glacier’s trucks. Because the Union took affirmative steps to endanger Glacier’s property rather than reasonable precautions to mitigate that risk, the NLRA does not arguably protect its conduct," the decision said.
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directed drivers to ignore
Glacier's instructions to finish deliveries in progress. At least 16 drivers who had already set out for deliveries returned with fully loaded trucks. By initiating emergency maneuvers to offload the concrete, Glacier prevented significant damage to its trucks, but all the concrete mixed that day hardened and became useless.
495:
derided the justices as "political hacks" and argued that the
Supreme Court had "again voted in favor of corporations over working people" by disregarding previous precedent in a press release. He added that the ruling would give companies "more power to hobble workers" if there are attempts to fight
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Local Union No. 174. After a collective-bargaining agreement between
Glacier and the Union expired, the Union called for a work stoppage on a morning it knew the company was in the midst of mixing substantial amounts of concrete, loading batches into ready-mix trucks, and making deliveries. The Union
467:
professor Steve
Vladeck stated that the decision will create uncertainty for "when striking workers can and can’t be sued for damage to their employers" but stated that since Amy Coney Barrett’s analysis "rests on the narrow facts of this case" it was enough to bring in "two of the three Democratic
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called it a "significant blow to workers’ right to strike" and said it will make it easier for "well-moneyed employers to grind down unions with legal fees." Prior to the decision, Stanford Law professor
William Gould, predicted that the court would narrow the jurisdiction of the NLRB and "expose
329:
preempted them. While a federal law generally preempts state law when the two conflict, the NLRA preempts state law even when the two only arguably conflict. In the Union's view, the NLRA—which protects employees’ rights “to selforganization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations,...and to
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president Sarah Nelson stated that the decision will "create even more instability in the workplace" and stated the court has to respect the right to strike or "workers will take it into their own hands." Jane McAlevey wrote that the case was "messy" and argued that in a "cleaner case" the court
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doesn't shield labor unions "from tort liability when they intentionally destroy an employer’s property" and said the company is entitled to "just compensation for...property that the union intentionally destroyed." The
National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which supported Glacier
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using ready-mix trucks with rotating drums that prevent the concrete from hardening during transit. Concrete is highly perishable, and even concrete in a rotating drum will eventually harden, causing significant damage to the vehicle. Glacier's truck drivers are members of the
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Glacier sued the Union for damages in state court, claiming that the Union intentionally destroyed the company's concrete and that this conduct amounted to common-law conversion and trespass to chattels. The Union moved to dismiss
Glacier's tort claims on the ground that the
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The
National Labor Relations Act did not preempt Glacier’s state tort claims related to the destruction of company property during a labor dispute where the union failed to take reasonable precautions to avoid foreseeable and imminent danger to the property.
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Local Union No. 174, Darin Dalmat, said he was "relieved" that the decision did not explicitly overturn precedents and pleased the court "reaffirmed that strikers don’t have to give notice of the timing of a strike, outside of the healthcare industry."
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Northwest, praised the decision, stating that the court had ruled correctly, stating that union officials should not have "immunity from state lawsuits over deliberate property damage perpetrated during union strike actions". Walter Olson of
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On June 1, 2023, the Supreme Court reversed and remanded the judgment of the Washington Supreme Court in an 8–1 vote, finding that the NLRA does not preempt claims for intentional destruction of property. Justice
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that the decision sets a new precedent for "how companies can respond to striking workers, as large-scale strikes become more common in the U.S." Erwin Chemerinsky and Catherine Fisk, both at the
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431:, also filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. These justices agreed with the majority that the conduct of the union was not protected—but would have resolved the case on broader grounds.
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442:'s primary role in adjudicating labor disputes." Jackson also added that the decision will likely create confusion for the lower courts and "risk the erosion of the right to strike."
347:, or "friend of the court" filings, in the case when it came before the Supreme Court. Among the organizations that filed amicus briefs in support of the plaintiff, Glacier, were the
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but said it left open the possibility that unions will be "on the hook for product loss" attributable to employer actions following a strike. CNN analyst and
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Some groups praised the decision. The lawyer for the Glacier Northwest, Noel Francisco, argued that the ruling vindicated the principle that
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filed the sole dissenting opinion. Jackson argued that the Court "fails, in multiple respects, to heed Congress’s intent with respect to the
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984:"Supreme Court Rules Companies Can Sue Striking Workers for 'Sabotage' and 'Destruction,' Misses Entire Point of Striking"
504:, argued that the ruling eroded the right to strike and said "workers will pay the price" for the ruling. Sharon Block, a
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Professor Charlotte Garden, who specializes in labor law, stated that the ruling isn't "as bad as it could have been" for
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stated that the ruling asserted that companies can sue workers if "they believe their activism leads to damages."
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296:. In an 8-1 decision, the Court acknowledged that the right to strike is not absolute, and concluded that the
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professor, said the decision is like "putting a tax on the right to strike" and will chill labor activism.
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786:"Supreme Court sides with cement mixing company over striking workers in latest blow to unions"
654:"Supreme Court rules against union in labor dispute involving truck drivers and wet concrete"
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Others were more critical. General president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
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unions to damages for engaging in strikes," which he described as "really unprecedented."
8:
582:"Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 598 U.S. ___ (2023)"
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did not preempt lawsuits filed against the union, thus allowing litigation to continue.
1017:"Supreme Court ruling erodes the right to strike by empowering employers to sue unions"
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1250:"The Teamsters' Proposed Agreement With UPS Is a Great Victory by and for the Workers"
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Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union No. 174
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stated that the court's decision "showed a good measure of consensus and civility."
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855:"How Should Workers Respond to the Supreme Court's Ruling in "Glacier Northwest"?"
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said that the ruling was a "blow to workers" but not a "knockout punch" that the
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1118:"US supreme court ruling makes it easier for companies to sue striking workers"
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822:"Supreme Court warns unions against strikes that damage an employer's property"
750:"In blow to unions, Supreme Court rules company can pursue strike damage claim"
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679:"Ketanji Brown Jackson issues solo dissent in ruling against Teamsters strike"
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1217:"U.S. Supreme Court poised to give companies new power to sue over strikes"
1151:"Striking workers can be sued by employers for damages, Supreme Court says"
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921:"US Supreme Court hands defeat to organized labor in truckers strike case"
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621:"Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters"
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363:. Amicus briefs in support of the defendant, by contrast, included
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1052:"In a historic step backwards, the US limits the right to strike"
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888:"Glacier Northwest v. Teamsters: The Supreme Court Gets Concrete"
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712:"US Supreme Court's ruling in strike case puts unions on defense"
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
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There were mixed reactions to the decision. The attorney for the
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550:"Justices Allow Company to Sue Union for Strike Destruction (2)"
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against "a growing system of corruption." Jules Roscoe wrote in
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wrote the controlling majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice
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1085:"Supreme Court ruling deals another blow to organized labor"
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would "dismantle the legal right to strike" and that the
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described the decision as a "setback to labor unions".
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United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
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regarding destruction of employer property following a
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Barrett, joined by Roberts, Sotomayor, Kagan, Kavanaugh
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United States Supreme Court cases of the Roberts Court
1184:"The Supreme Court deals another blow to labor unions"
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Chemerinsky, Erwin; Fisk, Catherine (June 1, 2023).
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349:National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation
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784:de Vogue, Ariane; Cole, Devan (June 1, 2023).
245:Alito (in judgment), joined by Thomas, Gorsuch
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288:, concerning the power of employers to sue
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953:"O'Brien: SCOTUS Attacks All U.S. Workers"
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452:International Brotherhood of Teamsters
318:International Brotherhood of Teamsters
311:delivers concrete to customers in the
59:International Brotherhood of Teamsters
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423:, concurred in the judgment. Justice
18:2023 United States Supreme Court case
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1163:from the original on August 21, 2023
762:from the original on August 19, 2023
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615:
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588:. Supreme Court of the United States
525:Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
24:Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. Teamsters
1229:from the original on March 22, 2023
963:from the original on August 3, 2023
955:(Press release). Washington, D.C.:
633:from the original on March 18, 2024
13:
1303:United States trade union case law
1196:from the original on June 22, 2023
1130:from the original on June 20, 2023
1116:Luscombe, Richard (June 1, 2023).
1029:from the original on June 19, 2023
834:from the original on July 26, 2023
798:from the original on June 20, 2023
666:from the original on June 2, 2023.
457:University of Minnesota Law School
282:Supreme Court of the United States
36:Supreme Court of the United States
14:
1314:
1288:United States Supreme Court cases
1215:Kanu, Hassan (October 20, 2022).
1149:Bernardini, Matt (June 1, 2023).
1097:from the original on June 8, 2023
1064:from the original on June 6, 2023
996:from the original on July 9, 2023
933:from the original on July 5, 2023
900:from the original on June 3, 2023
867:from the original on June 3, 2023
820:Savage, David G. (June 1, 2023).
748:Hurley, Lawrence (June 1, 2023).
724:from the original on June 8, 2023
691:from the original on June 8, 2023
610:
474:United States Chamber of Commerce
465:University of Texas School of Law
357:United States Chamber of Commerce
1248:McAlevey, Jane (July 28, 2023).
677:Schonfeld, Zach (June 1, 2023).
652:Gresko, Jessica (June 1, 2023).
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343:A number of organizations filed
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1182:Millhiser, Ian (June 1, 2023).
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1083:Ivanova, Irina (June 2, 2023).
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853:McAlevey, Jane (June 1, 2023).
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1293:2023 in United States case law
982:Roscoe, Jules (June 1, 2023).
886:Olson, Walter (June 1, 2023).
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670:
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1:
919:Kruzel, John (June 2, 2023).
710:Kanu, Hassan (June 7, 2023).
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532:in 2023 is "Glacier-proof."
327:National Labor Relations Act
298:National Labor Relations Act
276:, 598 U.S. 771 (2023) was a
264:National Labor Relations Act
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502:UC Berkeley School of Law
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143:Washington Supreme Court
128:Washington Supreme Court
55:Glacier Northwest, Inc.
43:Argued January 10, 2023
446:Reactions and analysis
145:reversed and remanded.
554:news.bloomberglaw.com
436:Ketanji Brown Jackson
415:, joined by Justices
213:Ketanji Brown Jackson
57:, dba CalPortland v.
427:, joined by Justice
383:Opinion of the Court
109:Opinion announcement
105:Opinion announcement
45:Decided June 1, 2023
371:International, the
313:State of Washington
61:Local Union No. 174
530:UPS-Teamsters deal
506:Harvard University
165:Associate Justices
1022:Los Angeles Times
827:Los Angeles Times
390:Amy Coney Barrett
361:Buckeye Institute
309:Glacier Northwest
286:federal labor law
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205:Amy Coney Barrett
130:, Dec. 16, 2021);
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461:organized labor
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339:Amicus briefs
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493:Sean O'Brien
490:
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413:Samuel Alito
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290:labor unions
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258:Laws applied
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193:Neil Gorsuch
184:
177:Samuel Alito
172:
161:John Roberts
115:Case history
85:
53:
15:
481:federal law
284:related to
242:Concurrence
234:Concurrence
189:Elena Kagan
1282:Categories
1266:August 20,
1255:The Nation
1233:August 20,
1200:August 20,
1167:August 20,
1134:August 20,
1101:August 20,
1068:August 20,
1033:August 20,
1000:August 20,
967:August 21,
937:August 20,
904:August 20,
871:August 20,
860:The Nation
838:August 20,
802:August 20,
766:August 20,
728:August 20,
695:August 20,
626:SCOTUSblog
586:Justia Law
536:References
470:The Nation
375:, and the
365:UNITE HERE
359:, and the
304:Background
67:Docket no.
637:April 20,
406:Kavanaugh
398:Sotomayor
77:Citations
1260:Archived
1227:Archived
1194:Archived
1161:Archived
1128:Archived
1095:Archived
1090:CBS News
1062:Archived
1027:Archived
994:Archived
989:Vice.com
961:Archived
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