# Brief in Opposition to Petition for Writ of Certiorari — Theatrical Protective Union No. 1 v. Phalen

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385604_0235%3A3

## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Brief in Opposition to Petition for Writ of Certiorari
- **Published:** January 1, 1968
- **Citation:** 393 U.S. 1000

## Text

‘

3

. I dessen Gourt, U.S,
REME COURT. u. &- LT

: pm ‘Court uf tie 2 Ante States
_ October Tera ih
é . 61%

_ THEATRICAL PROTECTIVE UNION NO. 1, INTER.
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL AND’
STAGE — a AF. L. O.. O., *

: nie Petitioner,
} v. . 8 :

HAROLD PHALEN, STEPHEN AMADOR and

| HARRY RYAN. 5
: i ‘ 5

BRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO PETITION FOR A
WRIT OF CERTIORARI

5 Sotomon D. MoxsRHI xn,
1 Attorneꝝ for Harold Phalen, Stephen
1 ies 7 Amador and Harry Ryan,
fat 44 225 Broadway,
4 Ne York, N. T. 10007. i
85 6 a * as 8 : 4 5
T — ; : — . :

*
5 5
* 1 >
*
— t _ * 4
3 D
-
8
.
* + —
ms 0 0
‘
og
.
- . 8
3
8 * . 2
x ‘
PP
2 *
ot “) ‘ .
*
°
5 2 °
— 1 2 5
.
° Sy) : 8
— 5 ?
—
0 *
*
e 2 2 2
— —
* 8
1 .
. we
1 ‘
a „
>
„ „
8 4
*
5 .
«
*
0
—
> a
5 1 a

wom.

a}
2 <
2
423

*
5
e
x! 5
.
.
*

*
0
a.

ve

iWOSk oS

* °

| | x PAGE

Statement of the Case W ee
‘Summary of Argument. JJCCJJVVTVVT ae
Question Presented 5 8 N 1 a :

L The Union has violated ad rights by pte
-unjustifiably barring them from membership &

a Having shown injury. to n rights, }

_ petitioners are entitled to due relief ........’. .
III. The state courts are not rendered in competent 5
„ by the e r ee: doctrine ....... ne oy 18 ——
Conclveron 1 „ — . — .
. Cas Cit j ue
Blende v. Maricopa Céanty Medical Society, 96 oe
. Ariz. 240, 393 P. 2d 926 (1964) 11
Matter of Brenner v. O’Connell, 308 N. V. 636, 17
N. X. d 715 (19566) 3 „„ 8
4
Matter of. Brown v. MeGinnia, 10 N. v. 2d sa, 225 H,
5 N. V. S. 2d 497, 1% N. n CED 5 „
Matter of Caruci v. Dulan, 41 Mise. 2d 859, 246 |
V» N.Y. S. 2d 727 (Sup. Ct: 1964), rev d on other
grounds, 24 A. D. 2d 529, 261 N. V. 8, 2d 677 ae
| . 27·ũ⸗2(-̃355*cé„%∘ 7 17
9 eG Gace
„ f
. ga 5

8 2
Matter of Council v. Donovan, 40 Misc. 2d 74⁴¹ 24 8
N. V. 1 2d 199 (Sup. Ct. * e *

Matter of Deets of Rechester’ v. ee Suit
ok Brighton, 1 N. v. 2d 508, 154 N. V. S. 2d 849,

196 N. E. 20 827 (1956 sess, .
Fedecns- vr Middlesex. ‘County. Medion! 6 34
— N. J. 582, 170 K. 2d 791 (1961) ....... 5 469,10

Firestone v. First District: Dental Society, 24 ~~ v. =
224 268, 268. N. V. S. 2d 5265. (1st Dept. 1965) . es

Green v. Folks, 13 A. D. 2d 744, 215 N. V. 8. 2d
116 (Ist Dept: 1961) „VVV N 19

James v. Marinship Corp, 25 Cal. 2d 721, 155. p. ; ae
c eee —ͤ—ͤ eevee 10

Kronen v. Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists,
Be Cal. App. 2d 389, 46 Cal. mr 808 (Ist
| Re ² AAA T 11

K v. Medical Society of Queens, 3 Misc. 2d
790, 260 N. V. S. 2d 520 (1965) revd, on other
aa 859

(2d Dept. 1965) ........ . . 3
Matter of Mandle v. Brown, 5 N. yz. oe 51, 177

N. Y. S. 2d 482, 152 N. E. 2d 511 (1958) ‘17

Matter of Mancuso v. New York State e |
Retirement System, 42 Mise.-2d 261, 247 N. Y. 8:
2d 956 (Sup. Ct. 164) eve neeeeeees .

Matter of Nowak v. Werestynski, 21 A. D. 2d 427,
250 N. T. S. 2 981 e e A 14

N
2

. aon f
f Real v. Dee ie 42 D Div. 562 158 N. 1 8. 2d ae
809 (ist Dept. 1955⸗ͥ²n⸗ͤ-on 4 e 19

Salter v. New York State Payehological 1
14 N. T. 2d 100, 248 N. T. S. 2d 867, 198 N. E.
24d 250 (1964) b 9,18

Simons v. Borry, 200 * v. 463, 148 N. E. 636 (1925) 10

Matter of Towers Man. Corp. v. Thatcher, 211 N. T.

94, 2 N. H. 2d 278 (1936/̃0ũ q “as

Trautwein v. Harbourt, 40 N. J. Super. 247, 123 A.
2d 30 (1956), certification denied 22 N. J. 220, f
126 A. 2d 988 (1956) . . . .. cians 8 ee

Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U. 8. i. 87 S. o. 903 (1967) me :

~ Matter of Weidenfeld v. Keppler, 84 App. Div. 235,
} 82 N. Y. S. 634 (1st Dept. 1903) * 176 N. *

668, 68 M. M . e b e ee, H, 18
Wilson v. Newspaper and Mail Deliverers’ Union,
123 N. J. Eq. 347, 197 X 720 (1938) 2 10.
| Civil f Practice Law 121 Rules of the State of New 3
Tork: , | ae:
Section 103(b) 5 ee e
Section on 9 5 ere pe 12
TTT
Section 3017 (a) e eee 13

35 8 % eS, Ea
| Section 7806 paras Powe tesiess se efhsvas ead: joes 5 43, 4 :
Labor Menatement Relations Act: | \ a ae . ce ar?
29 U. 8, C. A. 5158 (b) (1) — 93—＋— —— — — * 19
* — Cited - *
Summers, “The Right to Join a wera 47°Colum.
ms I. Rev. 33, 48-44 (1947) ., ea OE REA Ss ear 9
= Weinstein, Korn & Miller, New York Civil Practice ;.
aan OE. 47 inks e e 9 2 9 .d 18
Weinstein, Korn & Miller, 7608.06, v 1 e .
eee f a eee * 4
* de ss 2
¢ |

os “TawararoaL Parsons Umiox No. l, INTERNATIONAL Alua- 8
axon or TUNATAAL anv Stace Buriovans, A. F. L.-C. I. O.,
— 22 0 . Petibioner,

Supreme omen ae Auued ee.

Ocrosus Trnu, 1968

; * ;
wt : 1

~~

7 0 : eee 8 st

\

ances Pusu, — Amavon and rts Bras.

*
*

BRIEF IN OPPOSITION To PETITION FOR A
WRIT OF CERTIORARI,

4

*
oe

Me ” Statement of the Case : \ 2

Harold Phalen, Stephen 1 iad Harry Ryan, peti-
tioners in the court below, brought this suit in the form
of an Article 78 proceeding for an order ‘‘directing re-

spondent union to admit each of the petitioners to member-
ship“ in Theatrical Protective Union No. 1, International
‘Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees, A.F L. C. -I

: (hereinafter called ‘‘the Union.’ (R. 7- 11). 1

The petition and supporting paper allege that the

Union has sole jurisdiction in New York and Bronx

Counties amounting to ‘‘monopolistic power (R. 11)

over the hiring of stage hands and stage maintenance

employees in local theatres. The Union, however, restriets

its membership (R. 11), not dn the basis of reasonable

or objective criteria, such as experience or ability (R. 20),

but generally on the basis that the candidate has been

proposed by his father or a relative (R. 14). The appren-

tice training route is not open to petitioners, who are over
35, even in the unlikely event of sen proposed by a Union
member (R. 14).

Hach of the petitioners had worked for many-years as a
. , Stage hand or stage maintenance man and, before suing,

chad applied many time to respondent for membership
but had been refused“ without valid reasons, every time
(R. 11). Injury resulted to their right to take part in
union activities that vitally effect their livelihood.

‘The ‘‘ prime reason’? for the Union's membership restric-

tive practices is to „perpetate the members economic
status at the expense of the non-member,” allowing mem-

ber’ to easily earn $15,000.00 per annum, whereas non-

members . . . have difficulty earning $4,000 per annum
from covered employers” (R. 14). When they fall below
that figure, their pension rights are imperiled (R. 10-11).

The Unien, as the exclusive bargaining agent for stage
hands and stage maintenance employees in theatres in its
area, negotiates work conditions and pay scales for non-
members as well as members (R. 12). Although petitioners
must pay 4 per cent of their gross weekly salary to the
Union (R. 12), they are never consulted about rates of pay
and working conditions (R. 13), and self evidentially are
taxed without representation. Adding to the injustice, the
non-members’ assessments are used to provide funeral
expenses and other benefits for members only (R. 24).

The Union has unreasonably and illegally denied peti-
tioners a right to economic security and to earn a living
(R. 20). Some of the ways in which the denial works are
vividly pictured in the affidavits. Petitioner Phalen re-
counts his difficulties in finding and holding a stage hand’s
job with normal continuity, of competing on. an equal basis
with the members of the Union, and of getting enough

work to earn a living (R. 13). Petitioner Ryan’s affidavit

*

+

3

*
4 *

documents the continual interruptions / his employment:

over a six year period (R. 16-49). lay-off led him to
file an unfair labor prac complaint with the National

Labor Relations Board. dispute was settled shortly

afterward, when the Union agreed’ to get him a stage
hand’s job if he withdrew the complaint (R. 23).

Summary 4

„The Union 125 violated petitioners’ rights by its un-
reasonably restrictive admission practices. Their injuries
include wrongful exclusion from a part in oe the
Union’s policies and choosing its officers; and denial of a
vote on the amount of dues or assessments or a voice as to
terms to be proposed or accepted in bargaining collectively ß
with employers. Petitioners have been left out of some of
the economic benefits enjoyed. by members, and taxed and
regulated without representation. They have been -indi-
rectly damaged in their right to earn a living and to have
equal access on merit to jobs m their chosen trade.

Those results of the Union’s persistent, unjustifiable ex-
elusion of petitioners from membership amount to action-
able wrongs.

The courts of New York are . ende to give relief

from these wrongs. They can assure that petitioners will
be considered for membership on the basis of fair and

lawful criteria. An order under Article 78 would oe:

the needed relief; but if for any reason such an order is

not available, the courts are free to award whatever
remedy is appropriate. 1

The state courts are not rendered incompetent in this
ease on a theory of federal pre-emption, for no paramount
federal interests are involved in this challenge to the
Union’s ee admission practices.

eS

oe, Question Presented
Does the National Labor Relations Board have power
to grant union membership to a non-member working
within e of a local or does Section 154 (b) (1)
of 29 U. S. C. A. oust the National Labor Relations Board.
in that area of granting an order directing union mem-
- bership but relegating the individual to state courts as only

the state cous have jurisdiction over issues involving
the internal workings of a union.

| The nion has violated petitioners’ rights by unjusti-
fiably them from membership.

The main issue raised by the petition for a Writ of
Certiorari is a. fundamental one: Is it true that no New
York court has any concern about who is admitted to or
barred from membership in a union, or why—on the rea-
soning that no person has any legal right to join a union?
Petitioners say it is not true. They rely on considerations
‘of fairness, sound policy and justice, as well as a strong
trend i in the developing statutory and case law. The Uni on
answers Yes and invokes analogy and old precedents.

The main argument from analogy runs, in effect, No
one could enlist the law to force his fellowship on the

members of a golf club, a beach club, a lodge or a fra-

ternity. No more can he do so to get into a union.“

Underlying that argument is the unspoken but false

assumption that the motive and effects involved in joining
are similar in the two cases. Appiicants for membership

in a golf club have a yen for fun and fellowship. But men

who want to become members of a union have their liveli-
hood uppermost in mind. This difference became appar-
ent. nearly a ee ago: .

*

—
e

It is one thing t. ‘to exclude a person 1 from partici-
pating i in enjoyable social functions, but it is another
thing to exclude him from participating in determin-
ing the rules which will govern his working hours
and his economic well-being.“ Summers, The
Right to Join a Union,“ 47 Colum. L. Rev. 33, 43-44
A

Exclusion 9 taking suit in ee the rales

under which they earn a living precisely describes the kind

of injury petitioners have suffered. For such an injury
judicial remedy exists and no musty learning can stand in
the way of its recognition.

The dicta that long ago asserted that unions, as vol-
untary associations, have an absolute right to select their
members without interference from any quarter, rested
on social conditions long since outdated and theories now
discarded. They were uttered before the dawn of the era
in which the economic well-being of the workingman be-
came intimately bound up with labor union activities. They
depended on a view of what unions are, what role they

play in the lives of workingmen in many lines of work,

that i is totally unreal today.

In those days the relationship created by joining a
union was thought to be one of a highly personal nature.
Recognizing the futility of attempting to force one man’s
companionship on another,“ the courts were loath to or-
der.-unions to admit applicants. - Some decisions laid it
down that the unions had as much power to exclude ‘as
a fraternal lodge—for any reason at all or no reason
whatever. Those days have passed. For at least a genera-

tion it has been absurd to apply legal rules vovering clubs,

fraternities and other social groups to the problem of ad-

mission to labor unions.

6.

As the record in this case shows, membership in the
respondent Union is for these petitioners the key to an
efffctive voice in labor relations and working conditions
and to a chance for equal job opportunity. Non-members
are not consulted:in the collective bargaining process with
regard to such matters as the work conditions or pay
scales they seek (R. 13). They have no voice in determin-
ing the Union’s officers or policies, although both will affect
their livelihood. Ryan’s affidavit shows a regular assess-
ment of 4 per cent of gross earnings, payable to the union,
in part to defray benefit@ for members only (R. 24). Their ? |
employment tends to be sporadic, irregular, constantly in- ; |
terrupted (R. 13, 16-19). In the Union’s hiring hall tog *
are at a disadvantage compared to members. a

On the record here all those well · pleaded W dN by
petitioners stand admitted. —

Likewise beyond dispute is the Special Term’s finding |

that the Union’s. arbitrary refusal to admit petitioners -
into membership has either effectuated or threatens to

effectuate, a divestment» of their * fund benefits 12
3 : r Sat

pa’ In the face of Webs demonstrations of i injury to import- |
ant interests, no modern court would hold that petitioners
have failed to set forth a claim that substantial * have

deen invaded.

The majority of the Appellate Division; in dismissing
the petition, did not deny the substantive validity of peti-
tioners’ claims: Their decision went on a procedural
point, namely that suit under Article 78 in the nature
of mandamus is not an allowable remedy against a union
„in the absence of a violation of a statutory duty’’ (43).
We show in Point II, below, that this was a needlessly
ee ee een

*

i 5 ? 5
The critical point bere is not procedural- but substan-

tive. These’ petitioners have substantial rights in rela-
tion to the Union, and those rights ‘were violated.

True, no non- member can point to a statute or deci-
sion that in terms gives him an absolute right to join this
union of that. But every non-member can assert a right
not to have his application rejected e unreason-.
ably, or on unjust grounds.

Limits on unions’ power to exclude 8 have ap-

peared increasingly in both legislative ‘and judicial pro-
nouncements. In the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Congress
put the stamp of national concern on the problem. Many

years earlier the legislature of this State had given im-
petus to the movement by adopting Section 43 of the 5
Civil Rights Law., Both statutes forbid unions to exelude
individuals from membership on grounds of race, color,
religion, sex or national origin. They establish that the
so-called free choice’? and voluntary association” |
dogmas of yesteryear have no application to contemporary .

unions. They recognize that unions hold too much power
over economic opportunity for too many people to be left
to follow whims and caprices under the mask of free. choice.

The, fact that the national and state legislatures have
banned discrimination for specified reasons does not mean
that unions have carte blanche to practice it for other

reasons. The legislation does not license them to behave
arbitrarily or unjustly in their admission. practices as long
as they avoid the enumerated prohibitions. Legislative
action has not meant judicial paralysis. Far from exclud-
ing parallel judicial trends, the enactments have rein-
5 foroed them.

A clear * of authority has emerged, ditiigtahing
between social groups on the one hand and professional or é
vocational groups on the other. The Order of Eastern
Aren may as ‘a social group bar whichever ladies it will

for’ 8 reasons it will, but the same is not true of
an organization that wields economic power over would-be ~
members’ lives. See Trautwein v. Harbourt, 40 N. J.
Super. 247, 123 A. 2d 30 (1956), certification denied 22

N. J. 220, 125 A. 2d 233 (1956). A clear expression of the
difference has appeared in cases testing whether a medical

society may exclude a doctor on grounds that are unre-
lated to objective standards.

Older cases mechanically applied the die that a
medical society is a voluntary association with absolute
control over its own membership rolls. Recent authority

. holds that the group’s virtual monopoly over the practice

in a locality makes membership a practical necessity.
‘Fairness in admission policies and practices will be en-
5 forced by courts with increasing readiness. The leading

case is Falcone v. Middlesex County Medical Society. 34

N. J. 582, 170 A. 2d 791 (1961), where the doctrinal meta-
morphosis i is carefully traced 5 N. J.; eat 5. 596, 170 A.
2d, at 5 799): ‘

. When courts originally 0 to scrutinize
Aa practices of membership associations they
were dealing with social clubs, religious organiza-

tions and fraternal] associations. Here the policies |

against judicial intervention were strong and there
were no significant countervailing policies. When
the courts were later called upon to deal with trade
and professional associations exercising virtually
monopolistic control, different factors. were in-
‘volved. The intimate personal relationship which
pervaded the social, religious and fraternal organi-
gations were hardly in evidence and the individual's
opportunity of earning a livelihood and serving
society in his chosen trade or profession appeared

as the controlling policy consideration. Here there

have. been persuasive indications that in a’case

6 :
5 — . ad
——— — —P¹äGz—;]ĩ?2783³6—.ͥ [-

presenting sufficiently n factual and wield
considerations, judicial relief will be available to
oompel admission to membership. . 43 9

Dr. Falcone was ordered admitted to 3 in

the Society. He had been kept out because, although he

had attended a State - aceredited medical school for a full

course and satisfied the written by-laws’ standards, and:

was a qualified physician, his main medical training was

ve in a school not approved by the A.M.A. The Society’s .

ethics committee imposed an wnwritten requirement of
A. M. A. approval and rejected Dr. Falcone. The. Supreme
Court of New Jersey declared that membership in the
Society was an economic necessity”’ and that (id., at p.
592, 170 A. 2d, at p. 797):

4%. . . in dealing with such an 8 the
court must be particularly alert to the need for
‘truly protecting the public welfare and advancing
the interests of justice by reasonably safeguarding —

the individual’s opportunity for earning a liveli-
hood while not impairing the proper standards and.
objectives of the organization. e

In 1964 the Court of Appeals of the State of New York
carefully considered and strongly approved the Falcone
decision as one in which the court had ordered the appli-
cant admitted to membership because he proved both
monopoly and ‘economic necessity. Salter v. New York
State Psychological Association, 14 N. Y. 2d 100, 107, 248
N. V. S. 2d 867, 872, 198 N. E. 2d 250, 253 (1964). How-
ever, Salter’s situation was different, for he failed to
satisfy the Association’s objection requirement of post-
graduate work. The Court of Appeals of the State of
New York accordingly, declined to hold the Association’s
action improper. (See, also, Firestone v. First District
Dental Society, 24 A. D. 2d 268, 265 N. V. S. 2d 525 (Ist
Dept. 1965); Kurk v. Medical Society of Queens, Inc., 46

Mise. 94 790, 260 N. L. S. 2d 520 (1965), revd. on other
grounds, 24 A. D. 2d 897, 264 N. V. S. 2d 859 (2d Dept.
o

The Faloone doctrine applies with ‘ecual force to arbi-
trary exclusion practices by a labor union with monopolis-

tic powers when economic injuries result, as they have to

these petitioners. As long ago as 1925 this Court, in a

labor union case, Simons v. Berry, 240 N. V. 463, 465, 148

1 N. E. 636, 637 (1925), declared (per Judge Cardozo) :

Equity will enjoin the denial to a member of
a privileges of membership where tH denial, if
continued, will work irreparable injury. *

Simons had been a member of a local printing press-
men's union, the charter of which was revoked by the
parent international union. He applied for membership in

the international, but was rejected. The Appellate Divi-
sion dismissed his complaint that asked for membership,
an injunction and damages against the union, but the

Court of Appeals for the State of New York reversed, —
making clear that union membership privileges are valu-

able rights, deserving of protection against illegal denial.

Outside New York, a parallel trail was marked by far-
‘sighted New Jersey and California, decisions. In Wilson.
v. Newspaper and Mail Deliverers’ Union, 123 N. J. Eq.

347, 350-351, 197 A. 720, 722 (1938), the court admonished
the union that had refused Wilson’s application for mem-

' bership: the holders of the monopoly must not exercise

tbeir Power in an arbitrary, e manner s0 as to
bring injury to others.

The theme that a union’s greater oer iniposes Stake

responsibility to play fairly with applicants was recog-

_ nized ‘a California in James v. Marinship Corp., 25 Cal. 2d

721, 731, 155 P. 2d 229, 335 (1944), the Supreme Court
stating: | he

* °

11

; ne hide sake sl einai ao
eee of the supply of labor by mean’ of closed
shop agreements and other forms of collective labor
action, such a union occupies a quasi-public position

similar. to that of a public service business and it
has certain corresponding obligations. It may no

longer claim the same freedom from legal restraint .

enjoyed by golf clubs or fraternal organizations. Its
asserted right to choose its own members does not
merely relate to social relations; it affects the fun-
damental right to work for a living. wie 2" ä

See, also, Blende v. Maricopa County Medical . 96
Ariz. 240, 393 P. 2d 926 (1964); Kronen v. Pacific Coast
Society of Orthodontists, 237 Cal. App.. a 289, 46 Cal.

Rptr. 808 (1st Dist. 1965). g

To forbid a union to discriminate for race or religion,

as the statutes do, or for other arbitrary and unreasonable ©

. considerations, as the courts increasingly do, does not Iéave
the unions helpless to control admission. They remain
entirely free to adopt fair criteria of admission and to
administer them with equality and 1rJasonable_ objectivity.
Applying fair criteria, they could keep out individuals who
are incompetent at their trade or occupation, who engage
in spying or other activities calculated to injure the union,
- who have criminal records, or: who are otherwise unfit.

No such grounds have been’ shown here or could be. The
Union has made no effort to justify its refusal to admit
_ petitioners to membership. It does not pretend that they
are unqualified—morally, physically, mentally, or by reason
of incompetence at their work. It does not try to relate
their rejection to any objective criteria. It stands on an.
uncompromising assertion of a presumed right to bar
them, whatever the injury to their economic well-being and
regardless of its power over Weir ocoupations.

= 5

In pursuing that course, the Union 15 substantially
injured the petitioners in respect to substantial legal inter-
ests. The question that remains is what kind of judicial
redress is appropriate for their injury. *

‘ 1 *

c . Having shown r to substantial righ petitioners
are entitled to due relief. :

Petitioners’ basic right to 1 considered for Wen r
in the Union by fair and reasonable criteria was not chal-
lenged by the court below. Its order of dismissal was dic-
tated by its view that applicable procedural rules hold an.
Article 78 proceeding for mandamus does note": in these
circumstances. 7

If mandamus is not available, what about oles types of
relief 7. The possibility of awarding ‘a different remedy ~
seems not to have occurred to the e Division
majority. .

Its order thus rested upon the mistaken view W the

rh court was bound by old and narrow precedents that pre-*
’ ° elude mandamus-style relief; and upon the wrong impres- -

sion that if the requested remedy i is not —, * court

a has no alternative. but to dismiss. -

That may have been the law in centuries past, big peti-
tioners before New York courts who today show an inva-
sion of their legal interests become entitled to a ‘remedy,
even if the court thinks they have mistaken its forni. “Sec- .
tion 103(c) of the Civil Practice Law and Rules of the:
State of New Vork i is clear and categorical that 5 | ;

a civil judicial proceeding shall not be .
solely because it is not brought in the proper
form.

4

Instead of dismissing the suit, , the court shall make what- . \
ever order is required for its proper prosecution.”’ This

applies not only traditional actions but also ta special :

proceedings of the Article 78 type, as CPLR $103 (b) of 5
tlie State of New Vork makes clear:

Procedure i in special * shall be: ‘the
same as in actions, and the provisions of the civil
practice law and rules applicable to actions — 8 ̃
* to special proceedings. i

5

These provisions are à firm directive 40 the courts to
bend their efforts to cure defects in matters of form. A
court with jurisdiction over the parties may not resign in
the face of a merely formal mistake. It must make what-
ever order is required for the proper prosecution of the
case. There is no longer a procedural no man's land.“
Weinstein, Korn & Miller, New York Civil Practice = 03,

pp. 4-7.

Perhaps in using the eryptie mie „mandamus does
not lie’? the court was challenging more than the particular
writ and was ruling that no Article 78. relief of any kind
would lie. If so, its ruling is erroneous for failing to take
i n of CPLR $§3017 and 7806 of the State of New
Tork. Those provisions make plain that the result of seek-
ing an incorrect or unavailable remedy is a corrective
order, not a dismissal. , : : ä

- | Section 3017 (a) of the CPLR of the State of New Nen
15 provides i in its relevant part that

„the court may grant any. e of relief within its
jurisdiction appropriate to the proof whether or not 5
demanded, imposing such terms as may be just.

t

Under that grant of authority the courts have general
power to award whatever relief is called for by the case
made, with ‘conditions added as circumstances require, in
' the interests of justice.

14
To fortify that general authority in Article 78 proceed-
ings, CPLR §7806 of the State of New York specifically
provides that the judgment in a special proceeding ‘‘may
grant the petitioner the relief to which he is entitled, re
gardless of his prayer. -

When the Appellate Division, First Department, Supreme
Court of the State of New York reached the conclusion that
mandamus-style relief under Article 78 was not appro-

priate against the Union by reason of the absence of a

‘*statutory duty, it was obliged to consider other relief—

declaratory judgment, equitable injunction, or whatever
' remedy it might fashion to assure am efficacious result.
(See Matter of Nowak v. Wereszynski, 21 A. D. 2d 427,
430, 250 N. Y. S. 2d 981, 983 (4th Dept. 1964).) Any
remedy that does not depend on whether the duty breached
fe.‘‘statutory”’ ‘might have qualified.

Petitioners’ grievances should have been decided on
their merits, not dismissed on a procedural nicety. To
dismiss for assumed technical restrictions is contrary to
both the letter and spirit of the CPLR of the State of * ew
York. .

But even if the court were in truth restricted to award-

ing mandamus or nothing, it should have decided for
mandamus. Petitioners’ rights were violated by the Un-
ion’s continuing determination not to consider their ap-
plications on fair criteria. That action was ‘‘arbitrary
and capricious’’ and an abuse of discretion. There being
no contractual or other private legal relationship, a pro-
ceeding under Article 78 is the indicated remedy; and of
the Article 78 remedies a directive order in the nature

of mandamus is more suitable than a certiorari-style re-

view, or an ‘order of 3 which attacks jurisdic-
tion.

The arguments in said r Division were e that the
— remedy i is 3 because there is an ade-

„ *

quate remedy at law, because no r duty”? exists,

and because the Union, as an unincorporated group, is im-
mune from a mandatory order. Those arguments rest upon

TCE

language of Article 78.

Nowhere in the CPLR of the State of New York is Article
78 relief restricted or conditioned in any of fhose ways.
Nothing in the CPLR of the State of New York makes
Article 78 a second-class or a last-extreme remedy com-
pared to other types of proceedings. There is no hint of
an adequate remedy at law’’ restriction on relief under
the Article. If the New York State legislature had intended
that these proceedings be available only when no other legal
‘remedy is open, it would have found the words to say so,
explicitly, as it did in Section 7801 of the State of New
York in requiring finality and exhaustion of remedies

as prerequisites to Article 78 review. Those requirements

are obviously designed to prevent resort to the courts while
administrative or other non-court channels of correction
are still open. Those requirements have no applicability
here, where there are no non-judicial stones unturned. Cf.
Matter of Towers Man. Corp. v. Thatcher, 271 N. Y. 94, 98,
2 N. E. 2d 273, 274 (1936). The Union’s repeated rejection
of petitioners’ application is final. They have no fur-
ther recourse. No unused opportunity for rehearing exists.
There is no appellate path to obtain a review of the Union’s
actions.

While random expressions ‘appear in some of the cases
indicating | that the abgence of an adequate remedy at law
is a condition to maintaining mandamus-type proceedings,
the expressions obviously do not rewrite the 1963 statute.

These petitioners aid all they were required to do by
way of exhausting ‘nOn-judicial remedies when they ap-

*

16

plied and reapplied to the Union for admission to mem-
bership and received unqualified rejections. Being prop-
erly before the court on substantial claims of right, they
ought not be ejected on the ground that since they chose
to enter by the wrong door, they must now depart, and
return by a different one. Their petition asks for an or-
der ‘‘directing respondent to admit’’ them, and they are
not disposed to cavil about how the court accomplishes
that result.

The absence of a ‘‘statutory duty“ or a duty spe-
cifically enjoined by law““ once deterred many courts
‘ from. ordering mandamus, but it is no longer crucial, now
that other grounds nage tan added. Under the present
provisions of Article separate and sufficient grounds
for mandatory relief are present if the challenged deter-
mination was arbitrary and capricious’’ or an abuse
of discretion. CPLR 57803, subd. (3) of the State of e
New York. The leading commmentators in the field sum-
marize as follows the impact of the new provisions ( Wein-
stein, Korn & Miller, $7803.06, p. 78-41) :

„CPLR 7803 (3) now specifically — that a
_ Claim of an abuse of discretion’ or of ‘arbitrary

and capricious’ action is reviewable under Article
78. The addition of this explicit language should
serve to vindicate the substantial body of previous
authority permitting review of the exercise of dis-.
cretion and rejecting the inference that the ‘duty
enjoined by law’ language (stated the exclusive
ground.

NA the previous authority were (pre-1963 deci-
7 sions by said Court of Appeals allowing mandamus-style
proceedings to challenge actions as ‘‘arbitrary and ca- | |
pricious or an abuse of discretion. ’” Matter of Brown | 55

e

v. McGinnis, 10 N. T. 2d 531, 225 N. T. S. 2d 497, 180 N. E.
2d 791 (1962); Matter of Mandle v. Brown, 5 N. T. 2d 51,
177 N. V. S. 2d 482, 152 N. E. 2d 511 (1958); Matter of
Diocese of: Rochester v. Planning Board of Brighton, 1
N. V. 2d 508, 154 N. V. S. 2d 849, 136 N. E. 2d 827 (1956)
Matter of Brenner v. O'Connell, 308 N. Y. 636, 127 N. E.
2d 715 (1955). *

Since 1963, mandamus has been utilized on those grounds
in several cases decided in the lower courts. See, e. g.,
Matter of Mancuso v. New York State Employees’ Retire-
ment System, 42 Misc. 2d 261, 247 N. Y. S. 2d 956 (Sup.
Ct. 1964); Matter of Caruci v. Dulan, 41 Misc. 2d 859,
246 N. V. S. 2d 727 (Sup. Ct. 1964), rev'd on other

grounds, 24 A. D. 2d 529, 261 N. V. S. 2d-677 (4th Dept.
1965); Matter of Council v. Donovan, 40 Mise. 2d 1 244
N. V. S. 2d 199 (Sup. Ot. 1963).

Whether or not the Union’s rejection of petitioners’
applications was a determination,“ it was by any test
arbitrary and capricious and an abuse of the discretion
lodged in the Union by law. It i is properly challenged by

‘the proceeding filed.

The contention that mandamus ‘will not lie against a
voluntary association is ultimately based on Matter of
Weidenfeld v. Keppler, 84 App. Div. 235, 82 N. V. S. 634
(Ist Dept. 1903), af d 176 N. Y. 562, 68 N. E. 1125.
Weidenfeld is a thin reed to support so heavy a burden.
The petitioner there brought mandamus against the presi-
dent of the Stock Exchange to secure reinstatement to
membership. In denying him relief, the Appellate Divi-
sion thought the single question in the case was whether
‘‘mandamus is the proper remedy, and concluded it was
not. The Court of Appeals for the State of New York.
affirmed without opinion.

eee | : b 26 - ;
18

The reasoning in the Weidenfeld case was that since
the state had not chartered the Exchange, the latter de-
rived no rights from it; hence, the enon presented did |
not partake of a “public nature.” 5

That reasoning has no applicability to a union exercis-
ing the kind of economie control over petitioners’ liveli-
hood that the record in this case describes. Whether or
not Weidenfeld would today be upheld on its facts need
not concern us. Times are different, the law has moved
and the Union in 1967 is not the Stock Exchange of 1903.

7 This Court has recently recognized that an Article 78
proceeding is a proper means of obtaining judicial re-
view of a denial of membership in a voluntary association.
In Salter v: New York State Psychological Association.
supra, 14 N. V. 2d 100, 248 N. V. S. 2d 867, 198 N. E. 2d
250 (1964), a mandamus-style petition was brought, was

entertained in the lower courts without dissent, and was
sanctioned by this Court. Dr. Salter was-not able to meet
the Association’s reasonable requirements, but his case
shows that the court below erred in its view that man-
damus does not lie“ in a membership rejection proceeding.

* | III
The state courts are not rendered incompetent by the
federal pre-emption doctrine.”

New York courts are not ousted from 3 over
this suit on any theory of federal pre-emption. There is
no great federal question here involving strikes, boycott,
collective bargaining or other labor- management issues of
national impact. No employer has been sued. Employ-
ment relations come into the pieture only in the most tenu-
ous and peripheral manner, if at all. 5

The relief sought defines the controversy as one within

state court competence. Petitioners seek an order

directing ve to admit each of said n to

membership... (R. 11). „

This ae ia not one the Congress hie committed to
the exclusive competence of the National Labor Rélations
Board. On the contrary, the Labor Management Rela-

——— —

tions Act, while investing the Board with jurisdiction over

„unfair labor practices, deliberately preserves the
union's control of membership by en 29 U. 8. C. A.
§158(b) (1)):

‘©... Provided, That this 8 chall not

impair the rights of a labor organization to pre-

seribe its own rules with respect to the ieee

or retention of membership therein. L

In Judge Breitel's words, this = provision seems to

make clear Congress’ unconcern with internal rules gov-

erning membership in a union or their application, rightly
or wrongly, to particular members.“ (See Real v. Curran,
285 App. Div. 552, 556, 138 N. V. S. 2d 809, 813 (Ist Dept.
1955); s alo Green v. Folks, 13 A. D. 2d 744, 215
N. V. S. 2d (ist Dept. 1961). In those cases, both
involving claims for wrongful expulsion from union mem-
bership, the couft held it had jurisdiction. Admission to

membership is equally within the New York courts’ compe-

tence. In both the Real and Green cases, supra, the. Court
in both instances inert the defense of the Reems of pre-
emption.

After the decision below was rendered, the Union States
Supreme Court in Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U. S. 171, 87 S. Ct.

903 (1967), review and reiterated the bounds of the
. pre-emption doctrine in a way that puts the issue to rest

—

*

i in favor of state court competence. Owens, a union mem-

ber, sued officials of his Union in a state court claiming in

part that they had breached their duty to represent him

fairly in disputes’ with the employer by arbitrarily re-

> fusing to carry his grievance to arbitration. (Owens’ claim

was that his blood pressure. was not too high for him to
work in Swift & Company’s plant, despite medical opinion
to the contrary.)

On its motion to dismiss, the Union argued-ti that Owens’

suit was ‘‘arguably and basically’’ one for an unfair labor

practice within the NLRB’s exclusive jurisdiction. The
Supreme Court rejected that contention after a careful
analysis of the pre-exemption doctrine and its own decisions
thereon. It concluded that (id., 386 U. S. 171, at - 179,
87 S. Ct., at p. 911):

This pre-emption doctrine . . . has never been
rigidly applied to cases where it could not fairly be
inferred that Congress enten exclusive jurisdic-
tion to lie aoe the NLBB. .

- Exclusivity ‘will not be presumed; to infer it requires

-~Justification.. Only if allowance of state remedies will
bring down adverse effects ‘upon the administration of

national labor policies’’ is pre-emption warranted. There
is to be no ouster of state courts with out a showing of
„need“ (id., . 8. 171, at pp. 180-181, 87. S. Ct., at p. i
912) 2
„A primary justification for the 8
doctrine—the need to avoid conflicting rules of sub-
stantive law in the labor relations area and the
desirability of leaving the development of such rules
to the administrative agency created by Congress
for that purpose—is not applicable to cases involv-
ing alleged breaches dd * union m duty of fair repre-
sentation.

21

Even less is. pre-emption applicable to the present issue
_ of prescribing and applying fair criteria for admission to
union niembership.

The opinion of the Court of Appeals for the State of
New York unanimously reversed the order of the Appel-
late Division and is reported in 290 N. V. 8 2d 881 (22 N. X.
Al d).

The opinion of J ia Fuld, appears at 290 N. Y. S. 2d
page 887 where he said the following in discussing the doc-
trine of pre-emption, acquisition or retention of member-
ship, authority of the state to pass on the issue of member-
ship and the right of unions to arbitrarily b bar workers from
membership at page 887 :

I agree with Judge Burke for reversal but I cannot
accept the assumption—which seems, in part, to underly his
reasoning—that labor organizations ‘‘enjoy ‘full freedom
of association’ ’’ and are under no duty to open their mem-
bership to persons whom they would rather not admit to
their company, except in certain extraordinary, but unde-
ſined, circumstances (opinion, 22 N.Y. 2d p. 41, 290 N. V. S.
2d p. 886, 238 N. E. 2d p. 299). Nor am I able to subscribe to
the suggestion (opinion, pp. 39-40, 290 N. V. S. 2d 885, 238
N. E. 2d 298) that an aggrieved individual will have ade-
quate relief, in an action against the union for breach of its
duty of fair representation, the court merely enjoins con-
tinuance of discriminatory conduct in the future and awards
damages stemming from past discrimination. For these
reasons, I am impelled to write a a separate opinion.

It is my view that, if a late organization arbitrarily
refuses to admit to. membership persons, ‘otherwise fully

qualified. by experience and ability, they are entitled, in a

case not covered by section 43 of the Civil Rights Law, to
an order or injunction directing the union to admit them

me 7 22°
* 5

to membership.’ On u motion to dismiss a pleading, be it

complaint or petition, we read, the allegations most favor-
ably to the pleader (see, o.g., Kober v. Kober, 16 N. v. 2d
191, 193-194, 264 N. V. S. 2d 364, 365-366, 211 N. B. 2d 817,

818; Condon v. Associated Hosp. Sorv., 287 N. V. 411, 414,

40 N. R. 2d 280, and, so read, the allegations in the chal- -
_lenged pleading are sufficient to make out a cause of action
entitling the petitioners to such an order.

_ National labor policy has been built on the premise that
u majority labor’organization ie the most effective vehicle
for obtaining improvements in wages, hours and working
conditions. Consequently, it has been said, that policy ex-
tinguishes the individual employee’s power to order his
own relations with his employer and creates a power vested
in the chosen representative to act in the interests of ull
employees. (NLRB v. Allis Chalmers Mfg. Co., 388
U.S. 175, 180, 87 S. Ot. 2001, 2006, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1123). The
importance of the union in the economic life of the em-
ployee today cannot be overemphasized and, accordingly 5
its authority to act as exclusive representative is subject
to the concomitant obligation to represent all members of
the bargaining unit without hostility or discrimination to-
_ ward any, to exervise its discretion without complete good
_ faith and honesty, and to avoid arbitrary oonduet.“ ( Vaca

: Ie e scion 807 at the Labor Law have no
ie application to a proceeding by an employee against a labor organiza-
tion to admit him to membership. Section 807—derived from sec-
tion 876-a of the Civil Practice Act (the little Norris-LaGuardia
Act) —is simply designed to prevent the issuance of injunctions,

principally’ on the application of employers, in labor disputes, a
derm so defined in subdivision 10 (par. le]) of the statute as to
deurty exclude controversies between a union and its members
or potential members. (See e.g., Wolchok v. Kovenetsky, 274 App.
Div. 282, 284, 83 N. v. S. 2d 431; Caliendo v. McFarland, 13 Misc.
2d 183, 175 N. V. S.2d 869.) x

v. ‘Ripe, 986 U. 8. 171, 177, 87 S. Ot. 908, 17 L Ha 20 842;
Humphrey v. Moore, 375 U.S. 335, 342, 84 S.Ct. 363, 11
L. Hid. 2d 370.) A union which breaches its statutory man-
date to represent all employees fairly and without disorim-
ination is subject to an action for damages and an injune-

tion to prohibit the continuance of the discriminatory con-

duet. (See Steele v. L. & N. R. Co., 323 U.S. 192, 207,
65 S. Ot. 226, 89 L: Ed. 173; Tunstall v. Brotherhood, 323 U.S.
210, 65 S. Ct. 235, 89 L.Ed. 187; Syres v. Oil Workers Int.
Union, 350 U. S. 892, 76. . Ot. 152, 100 L. Ed. 785.)

. The Supreme Court in the Steele case (323 U.S. 192, 65
S.Ct. 226, 89 L.Ed. 173, supra), declared that the Railway .
Labor Act imposed on the union, a duty, ‘‘in collective

' bargaining and in making contracts with the carrier, to
represent non-union or minority union members of the

craft without hostile discrimination, fairly, . impartially, ~~

und in good fait (323 U.S., at p. 204, 65 S. Ct. at p. 233).

ue - And. i in ensuing years, the courte have applied the doc-

trine to cases involving racial, see, e. g., Conley v. Gibson,
355 U.S. 41, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L. Ed. 2d 80; Brotherhood of Rail-
road Trainmen v. Howard, 343 U.S. 768, 72 S. Ot. 1022, 96
L. Ed. 1283), as well as nonraecial (see, e. g., / Vaca v. Sipes,
386 U.S. 171, 87 S.Ct. 903, 17 L. Ed. 2d 842, supra; Hum-
phrey v. Moore, 375 U.S. 335, 84 S. Ot. 363, 1 L.Ed.2d 370,

20n the same day on which it decided Steele (323 U.S. 192; 65
S.Ct. 226, 89 L.Ed. 173, supra), the Supreme Court also interpreted
the National Labor Relations Act to require fair representation,
saying that a union, as the agent of all the employees, was “charged
with the responsibility of representing their interests fairly and im-
partially.“ (Wallace Corp. v. Labor Bd., 323 U.S. 248, 255, 65
S.Ct. 238, 242, 89 I.. Ed. 216; see, also, Ford Motor Co. v..Huff-
man, 345 U.S. 330, 73 S. Ct. 681, 97 L. Ed. 1048; Cyres v. Oil

Workers Int. Union, 350 U.S. 892, 76 S. Ct. 152, 100 L.Ed. 822,
supra; Humphrey v. Moore, 375 US. 335, 84 S.Ct. 363, 11 L.Ed.
24d 370, supra.) d

2

Pd

: supra; Ford N Co. v. ‘Hilton. 345, U. 8. 330, 73 8. Ct.

5 _ .681, 97 L. Ed. ai discrimination.

However, an action for breach of the duty of fair rep-

resentation by one who has been discriminated against, al-

though it may afford him an important remedy, is no sub-
stitute fer democratic participation in the affairs of the

union. Unless an individual is a member of the union, he

can have no voice in the selection of its officers who are his

N representatives in the collective bargaining process. Nor
can he, if a non-member of the union, express his approval

or disapproval of the terms of the collective bargaining
agreement, which most vitally affects every day of his

_ working life, embodying as it does the wages and terms
and conditions under which he is to work. Again, as a

nonmember, an employee will have no say (within the
union) as to questions pertaining to grievances. arising

under collective bargaining agreement even though the

interpre tion and enforcement of the en may have

a most serious impact upon him.

Furthermore, a union is free to take positions between

sets of conflicting employees represented by it and is

allowed a wide range of reasonableness in sérving the

unit it represents so long as it acts in good faith. (See

Humphrey v. Moore, 375 U.S. 335, 349, 84 S.Ct. 363, 11
L. Ed. 2d 370, supra; Ford. Motor Co. v. Huffman, 345 U.S.

330, 338, 73 S.Ct. 681, 97 L. Ed. 1048, supra; Vaca v. Sipes,

386 U.S. 171, 87 S.Ct. 903, 17 L. Ed. 2d 842, supra.) The line
of demarcation between the reasonable exercise of discre-
tion and arbitrary abuse of power is often shadowy, and
membership in the union of all qualified workers will fur-

nish at least minimum assurance that the statutory bar-

gaining agent has acted in good faith and in a nonarbitrary
manner. A union official might well think twice before dis-

25°
* | 7 :
7
5
- 3

f criminating against a worker, or a class of workers, if:
those discriminated against might, as members of tue union,
prevent his re- election.

Labor organizations, given the power to act as exclu-
sive bargaining agents, are quasi-public organizations and |
ancient dogma, which described them as voluntary asso,
ciations} with unfettered: control over their membership
rolls, must be revised in the light of the realities of present-
day” industrial life. Membership in a union is, today, a
matter which critically affects a person’s ability to earn
a living. It follows, therefore, that a labor organization
may not arbitrarily exclude an employee from membership
and that any discriminatory exclusion from such member-
ship must be condemned’ and stricken under state law (see

Note, 59 Col. L. Rey. 490, 199-200).

Tusse views/are not in conflict with what the court said
in Gaynor ¥ Rockefeller, 15 N.Y.2d 120, 256 N.Y.S.2d 584,
204 N.E.2d 627. We there held that the courts ‘will not) at
least in the first instance, issue an injunction mandating
a labor organization to admit to membership persons. ex-
~ eluded because of race, creed, color or national origin. But
that conclusion was dictated; in large part, by the fact that
in that case the plaintiffs. against whom racial discrimina-
tion & as being practiced were given a full and adequate
remedy by resort to the State Commission for Human
Rights (Civil Rights Law, 543). In the case before us,
however, no such relief is available to the petitioners and,
consequently if there is to be redress, it must be by way

of a judicial proceeding. The Legislature did not con-

sider whether the arbitrary exclusion of an employee for:

any reason other than race, color, creed or national origin

requires the specially flexible and sensitive procedures
available to the Commission for Human Rights (Executive

—

.
antes si
Law, §297, subd. 2). But, certainly, designation of that
commission to deal with racial and religious discrimination
did not take from the courts the broad powers vested in
them to. grant to parties aggrieved by wrongful conduct 5
such relief as the situation demands.

It is tone that the petitioners, by applying to the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board or by bringing a Steele-type
action, could have obtained an injunction against the union,
forbidding continuation of their discriminatory conduct,
as well as damages suffered by them (National Labor Rela-
tions Act. §8, subd. [b], par. [2]; see, e. g., Steele v. L.
& N. R. Co., 323 U.S. 192, 65 S.Ct. 226, 89 L. Ed. 173, supra).
But the National Labor Relations Board is powerless to
order that they be admitted to membership (infra, p. 47),
and an injunction which merely enjoined the union from
continuing its wrongful conduct would be utterly inade-
quate and incomplete relief. Lawsuits and injunctions are.

no substitute for the processes of democracy. Nothing less
than membership in the union can give the petitioners—
assuming they prove their allegations—their rightful op-
portunity to participate, however, indirectly, in the making
of decisions which affect them so materially. Nor will a
court injunction against discriminatory conduct enable
them, in seeking jobs, truthfully to represent to prospective
employers that they are members of the union having
jurisdiction over the work involved—a_ representation
which, as a practical matter, may be an indispensable
prerequisite to obtaining employment.

This does not, of course, mean that a union must open
its doors to felons (see Sovern, Legal Restrains on Racial
Discrimination in Employment, ch. 6, p. 152, n. 43), to
persons not qualified to perform the work of the bargaining
unit or to persons who for any reason have undertaken to

\ ae oe:

destroy the union.“ It does mean, though, that the union
must admit all workers to membership without discrimina-
tion and that if, in bad faith or arbitrarily, it rejects an
applicant, it may be compelled by order of the court or
in the case of racial discrimination by direction of the
Human Rights Commission—to admit him to membership..

On the question of Federal pre-emption, I would say but
a few words. Although I agree with Judge Burxe that the
present action is not federally pre-empted, I hesitate to
place sole reliance, as he has, on Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U.S.
171, 87 S.Ct. 903, 17, L.Ed.2d 842, supra, in view of the very
restricted meaning which had been given that decision by
knowledgeable commentators. (See, e. g., Lewis, Fair
Representation in Grievance Administration: Vaca v. Sipes,
1967 Supreme Court Review 81, 99.) My reason for con-
cluding that there is no. Federal pre-emption in this case is
very simple: the National Labor Relations Board does not
have the power to direct a labor union to admit a worker to
membership.

Section 8(b) (1) (A), which makes it an unfair labor
practice for a. union to restrain or coerce employees. in
their right to engage or ref rain from engaging in collective
activities, adds the proviso It Ihat this paragraph shall
not impair the right of a labor organization to prescribe
its own rules with respect to the acquisition or retention
of membership therein’’. (See, e.g., NLRB v. Allis-Chal-
mers Mfg. Co., 388 U.S. 175, 184, 186, 87 S. Ot. 2001, 18
L.Ed.2d 1123, supra.) The Supreme Court, construing that

ln Tawas Tube Prods. (151 N.L.R.B. 46. 48), the board held
that a union did not violate section 8(b) (1) (A) because of its
expulsion of members who had filed a decertification petition since
the. proviso to section 8(b) (1) (A) “would necessarily allow a
union to expel members who attack the very existence of the union
as an institution.”

. : —
. a * é
. 0 ‘ 1 ‘ . °
‘ 3

proviso, held in International Association of Machinists v.
Gonzales, 356 U.S. 617, 78 S.Ct. 923, 2 L.Ed.2d 1018, that
a state court was not precluded, by virtue of the pre-emption |

* doctrine, f restoring to membership a union member
who had wrongfully ousted from the union and that
the state had the power to award consequential damages
even though those damages might be for conduct which

- constituted an unfair labor practice. (See, also, Local .
100 of the United Assoc. of Journeymen & “Apprentices
Union v. Borden, 373 U.S. 690, 696-697, 83 S.Ct. 1423, 10
L.Ed.2d 638.) In the course of its opinion, the court de-
clared that to preclude a state court from exerting its
traditional jurisdiction to determine and enforce the rights

of union membership would in many cases leave an unjustly —
ousted member without remedy for the restoration of his
important union rights. Such a drastic result, on the re-
mote possibility of some entanglement with the Board’s
enforcement of ‘the national policy, would require a more
compelling indication of congressional will than can be
found in the interstices of the * Act“ (356 U.S.
at p. 620, 78 S.Ct. at p. 925) “

In 1963, five years after — the court summarized its
holding in that case in these words (Local 100 of the United Assoc.
of Journeymen & Apprentices’ P. Union v. Borden, 373 U.S. 690.
696-697, 83 S.Ct. 1423, 1427, 10 L.Ed.2d 638, supra): “It was

in that case [Gonzales, 356 U.S. 617, 78 S.Ct. 923, 2
L.Ed.2d 1018} that restoration of union membership was a remédy
that the Board could not accord and indeed that the internal affairs |
of unions were not in themselves a matter within the Board’s com- — |
petence. The Court then went on to hold that, in the presence of ' |
admitted state jurisdiction to order restoration of membership, the

State was not without power ‘to fill out this remedy’ by an award
of consequential damages, even though these damages might be :
‘for conduct that constituted an unfair labor practice under federal
law.” a lat

*

Thus, it is indisputable the National Labor Réla-
tions Board lacks the power to/regulate admission. of work-
ers to union membership, an order issued by a state
court requiring a union to t membership to a worker
would not conflict with any boa, y. It is hardly
necessary to add that there is no ivable difference, in
the present context; between restoring to membership an
employee wrongfully ousted and admitting one who has
beén wrongfully excluded from such membership. The
injustice suffered by the worker in either case is precisely
the same. ; 8

In sum, the petition sufficiently alleges that the respond-
ent union violated the petitioners’ right to be considered
for membership on the basis of fair standards, fairly ap-
plied. If, followipg interposition of an answer by the
respondent and a hearing at Special Term, the petitioners’
allegations are proven, they are entitled to an order re-
quiring the respondent to admit them to/membership and to
such other additional relief as may be appropriate.“

5 Even though the petitioners may have requested relief to which

they are not entitled, CPLR 3017 (subd. [a]) provides—as Judge

Burke observed in his opinion (22 N.Y.2d p. 41, 290 N.Y.S.2d
p. 887, 238 N.E.2d p. 299)—that “the court may grant any type of
relief within its jurisdiction appropriate to the proof whether or not
demanded”. (See, also, 1 Weinstein-Korn-Milſer, N.Y.Civ.Prac..
par. 401.03, pp. 4-7, where it is said, “Under the new practice there
is no “procedural no-man’s land.)

q

_. Conclusion

The Union has violated petitioners’ right to be consid-
. ered for membership in the Union on the basis’ of fair
standards, fairly applied. Its arbitrary and unjustifiable
rejection of their applications has injured these working-
men in substantial ways. They are entitled to judicial re-
dress for their i injuries.

| The petition-for a Writ of Certiorari should be denied.
— : Respectfully submitted,

e D. Moxshixx,
Attorney for Harold Phalen, Stephen
Amador and Harry Ryan.

‘ aw = x 8
2 . . *
* 2 * og * . * .
= ie N °. “ * He
2 8 . *
4 . . ‘
—
. 1 A ;
bed —
. * 4 . 3 A >
N 85 .
. a ¢ . ft re 7 by .
* 5 23 8
.
: *
. 9 : N : 2. i j P
K 2 — ＋
* : a
: . — * 0 *
. ; :
; 8 — . }
. : g :
0 :
* 5 :
. 0
e : R
N * * = =
. . F *
* * g Se . * f
. at 1
. Sa! .
. ° °
2 .
. e 4 z
. g ; ß g
5 8
‘ .
8 — * 3 Q .
„ . s
— > 2
. 0 . ; 4
° * ‘ > ;
. : g .
. : 9 4
° 2 :
.
. £ — 3
5 = - g 8
1 . . = .
5 . ° .
‘ .
. 5 f
8 N 8 N
> — . 9 .
8 8 * 0
a *
; *
8 .
* - 9 : g
* —
— 2 6 A .
i i
. 5 ; b 5
.
* " s * — 0 N
* 0
; 2 ; |
n N 8 g
* 7 . * 5 .
5 22 ——
. a 7
— 5

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385604_0235%3A3. Public record. Not legal advice.
