Wartman v. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 653

The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's order granting the Union's motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. In this case, plaintiffs filed suit alleging that the Union had engaged in unfair labor practices, in violation of section 8(b)(4) of the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. 158(b)(4). The court held that the Union's conduct did not violate the statute absent a "cease doing business" object beyond the disruption of relationships with customers and suppliers, which any picketed business would suffer. The cessation of business between the Markets and their customers and suppliers was not an object prohibited by section 158(b)(4)(ii)(B). The court held that enmeshing a secondary party in the union's conflict with the owner of a now-defunct business was not conduct sufficient to constitute a violation of the statute. View "Wartman v. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 653" on Justia Law