Aluminum Castings Co. v. Local No. 84 of International Molders' Union of North America
Aluminum Castings Co. v. Local No. 84 of International Molders' Union of North America
Opinion of the Court
In this case the bill alleges in general language that strikers, defendants and members of Local No. 84, picket or patrol the premises of complainant; that the individual defendants loiter in the neighborhood of complainant’s plants, and endeavor to prevent persons from entering its employ; that they intimidate workmen, and solicit those who have not left the employ of complainant to do so; and that they threaten others, and have already attacked and assaulted some.
It not only appears in general that strikers have threatened and assaulted various employés, but, in particular, that one Andy Smith, a striking molder, one of the defendants, and a member of Local No. 84, committed acts of intimidation, and threatened to kill the affiant Workman if he did not quit work, and that on April 24, 1912, the defendant Koelzow, a member of Local No. 84, together with strikers Lanka and Knoph, intimidated the workman Kaczmarek, and threatened and assaulted him. By additional affidavits, filed by leave of the court since the granting of the order to show cause, it is shown that the defendant Copkins, also known as Paradowski,'a member of Local No. 84, accompanied by a number of strikers or sympathizers, twice' attacked workman Nowak, andi threatened to injure or kill him unless he ceased working for complainant. Other affidavits show that other individual defendants have made threats, and used improper epithets towards complainant’s workmen, and in different ways have intimidated them, inducing them to leave its employment.
In opposition to the continuance of the restraining order, affidavits have been readl showing, among other things, that Local No. 84 did not declare the strike, but that it was declared or inaugurated by the vice president of the International Holders’ Union of North America, an organization not within the jurisdiction of this court, because of complainant’s refusal to accede to the demands made by its officers that the hours of labor be reduced, and the rate of compensation increased. It is denied that an unlawful combination exists to commit
The affidavits satisfy me that the officers of Local No. 84 condemn and disapprove the commission by its members of acts of intimidation and assault, and are in favor of lawful methods of inducing the complainant to accede to the demands of the strikers and of the union. Indeed, it is shown by the affidavits of Mr. Humphrey, the business agent of Local No. 84, and Mr. Holtz, the chairman of the strike committee, that at the first meeting of the union after the order to show cause why preliminary injunction should not be granted was served the same was read aloud, and each paragraph of the injunction was explained in detail to the 150 members present, 16 of whom were employes of complainant, and they were advised and urged, both at the time and since, at other meetings of the union, and individually in conversations' had with them to strictly comply with the terms of the injunction.
The injunction heretofore issued should continue during the pend-ency of the actions to all defendants save as to Local No. 84.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ALUMINUM CASTINGS CO. v. LOCAL NO. 84 OF INTERNATIONAL MOLDERS' UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Master and Servant (§ 338*) — Labor Strike — Rights of Strikers and of Employer. While employés engaged in a strike have the right to quit the service of the employer singly or in association with others, and even to properly picket or patrol the premises of the employer, and to peaceably induce other workmen to refrain from engaging in his service and to peaceably persuade remaining employés to join them in. the strike, they have not the right, nor has the union of which they are members ihe right, to resort to means which make those workmen who wish to enter or remain in the service of the employer afraid to do so, which is an unlawful interference with his property rights and with the personal rights of the workmen, and will be restrained by injunction. [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Master and Servant, Dec. Dig. § 338.*] 2. Trade Unions (§ 6*) — Dab or Strike — Rights of Unions. It is not unlawful for a local labor union to inaugurate or conduct a strike for the benefit of its members, nor will it lie enjoined because of unlawful acts of its individual members which neither its officers nor eonmittees directed or approved, unless committed in carrying out their orders. [Ed. Note. — For other eases, see Trade Unions, Cent. Dig. § 5; Dec. Dig. % 6.* Restraining boycotts, strikes, and other combinations by employés interfering with commerce or business, see note to Shine v. Fox Bros. Mfg. Co., 8G C. O. A. 333.j