US Chamber Special State Laws for Unions Study

7/31/2019 US Chamber Special State Laws for Unions Study

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SABOTAGE, STALKING &

STEALTH EXEMPTIONS:

SPECIAL STATE LAWS

FOR LABOR UNIONS


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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the worlds largest business federation representing

the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well

as state and local chambers and industry associations.


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SABOTAGE, STALKING &

STEALTH EXEMPTIONS:

SPECIAL STATE LAWS

FOR LABOR UNIONS


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Introduction .......................................................................................... 4

The Labor Union Exemption for Committing Crimes...6

Stalking........................................................................................................6

Trespassing....................................................................................................8

HomeisWheretheHeartis.........................................................................10

OntheSubwayorBus.................................................................................11

Sabotage.......................................................................................................12

ThreatsofBodilyInjury...............................................................................13

RighttoViolence?........................................................................................14

Systemic Favoritism.............................................................................. 15 HamstringingCourts....................................................................................15

Reading,Writing,and...Unions?...................................................................16

ConscriptingChildCareandPersonalCareProviders..................................17

Conclusion................................................................................................ 20

Endnotes..................................................................................................... 21

Sabotage, Stalking & Stealth Exemptions:special state laws for labor unions


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Introduction

Formorethanacentury,laborlawintheUnitedStateshasbeenthesource

ofnumerousandoftenpassionatedebatesabouttheroleofunionsintheworkforce.Overtheyears,thishasresultedinseveralsignificantchangesinfederalpolicy.TheNationalLaborRelationsActof1935,theTaft-Hartleyactof1947,andtheLabor-ManagementReportingandDisclosureActof1959representsignificantfederallegislationthathasshapedthelandscapeforinteractionsamongworkers,employers,andunions.

Whilethefederalgovernmentplaystheleadingroleintherelationshipsamongthethreeaforementionedgroups,stategovernmentsalsohavethepowertoestablishcertaingroundrules.Thisisparticularlytrueforpublicemployees,butstategovernmentscanalsosetlaborpoliciesintheprivatesectoraslongastheydo

notinterferewiththeschemeestablishedbyfederallawsandregulations.Oneofthemostobviousexamplesistheabilityofthestatestopassright-to-worklaws,which23statesnowhavedone.

However,manystatelawswithregardtounionsarenotaswellknownorpublicizedasaright-to-workstatute.Someofthesestatelawscarveoutalaborexemptionfromlawsregulatingconductthatwouldotherwisebeconsideredcriminalactivity.Forexample,invadingthehomeofauniversityprofessorwouldnormallybeconsideredtrespassing,butremarkably,suchbehaviorisnotacrimeinCaliforniaifthetrespasserisinvolvedinunionactivities.

StatecarveoutsfromthecriminalcodearelikelyanoutgrowthofaUnitedStatesSupremeCourtdecisionfrom1973[United States v. Enmons,410U.S.396],inwhichthecourtruledthatviolenceinpursuitofuniondemandscannotbeprosecutedunderfederallaw.IntheEnmonscase,workersonstrike

Some of these state laws carveout a labor exemptionfrom laws regulating conduct

that would otherwise beconsidered criminal activity.


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atGulfStatesUtilitiesCompanywerechargedwithfiringhighpoweredriflesatthreeCompanytransformers,drainingtheoilfromaCompanytransformer,andblowingupatransformersubstationownedbytheCompany.1Incredibly,theSupremeCourtfoundthattheseactivitieswerenotwrongful,anelement

neededtoconvictinafederalextortioncase.Federallegislationhasrepeatedlybeenintroducedtoreversetheeffectsofthisruling,butithasneverbeenpassed.2Thus,theresultremainsthatprosecutionforviolentactionsisleftuptothestatesbasedontheirindividuallaws,andsomeofthesestatelawsseemoverlyprotectiveofunions.

Otherstatelawsseemtoprovideexpressfavoritismtowardsunions.Forexample,insomestates,officialshaveattemptedtogiveunionsaclearpathtoorganizingparticularcategoriesofworkers,suchaschildcareandpersonalcareproviders.Inotherstates,thegovernmenthaspassedlawsthatseemdesignedsolelytoprotectunionsfrompoliciesthatapplytoeveryothercitizenbutmightnegativelyimpactunionmembers.Whilefewlawmakersormembersofthepublicaregenerallyawareofthesespecialprovisions,theyseemclearlyintendedtotilttheplayingfieldinfavorofunionswithpotentiallysignificantimpactsonworkers,employers,individualcitizens,andtheoveralleconomicandpoliticalclimatein

astate.

Thisstudylooksatunion-friendlylawsonthebooksinseveralstates,focusingonthosewiththelargestuniondensity.Itisbynomeansacomprehensiveanalysisofeveryprovisionofstatelawthatcouldbeconstruedasfavoringunions,butithighlightscertainprovisionsthatseemglaringlyatoddswithcommonsense.Somearesimplyperplexing.Otherswouldseemtoexcusemalfeasance,orworse,violence.

Thisstudydoesnotattempttotracethelegislativehistoryofhowthehighlightedprovisionsfoundtheirwayontothebooks.Nordoesitattempttoassignblamefortheirexistence.Rather,theintentissimplytoeducatethepublicaboutanumberofunusualunion-relatedlegalregimesthatuntilnowhaveremainedoutofthespotlight.


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The Labor Union Exemptionfor Committing Crimes

Themostglaringexamplesofunionfavoritismunderstatelawstendtooccurincriminalstatutesandallowindividualswhoengageintrulyobjectionablebehaviortoavoidprosecutionsolelybecausetheyareparticipatinginsomeformoflaboractivity.Theseexemptionsexistinlawscoveringsimplyobnoxiousbehavioraswellasthosethatregulatepotentiallyseriousthreatstothesafetyofthepublic.

Unionrepresentativesoftenengageinunsavorybehavioraimedpurelyatharassingindividualswithwhomtheydisagree.Thesetypesofactivities,likestalking,areunsettlingtojustaboutanybodywhoexperiencesthem,butsurprisingly,unionsoftendefendthesetacticsasjustpartoftheirrighttoairgrievances.Incredibly,unionsalsoenjoyexemptionsfromcriminallawsinvolvingviolenceandintimidation.Theseexemptionscangivelicensetobadactorstoharassothersorcommitactionsthatinanyothercircumstancewouldbegroundsforjailtime.

Stalking

EverystateinAmericahasdeclaredstalkingtobeacrime.Andforgoodreason.Fewthingsaremoreunsettlingthanbeingfollowedormaliciouslyharassed,threatenedorintimidated.Manystateshaveclassifiedthecrimeasafelonyandimposesignificantpenalties,withevenmoreseverepenaltiesforrepeatoffenses.Insomestates,thoseconvictedofstalkingcanbeorderedtoundergomentalhealthevaluations.Yet,despitethefrighteningeffectthatstalkingcanhaveonitsvictimsandindeedthatfrighteningeffectisoftentheverypurposefortheperpetratorsactionsseveralstateshavecarvedoutanexemptionfromthecrimewhenitiscommittedbysomeoneengagedinlabororganizingactivities.

Forexample,thestateofPennsylvaniadefinesstalkingasengaginginacourseofconductorrepeatedlycommittingactstowardanotherundercircumstances

thatdemonstrateintenttocausesubstantialemotionaldistresstotheperson.ButPennsylvania,andotherstateswithasignificantunionpresence(e.g.,CaliforniaandNevada),carveoutanexemptionfromthecrimeofstalking,inthecaseofPennsylvaniabynotingtheprohibitiononstalkingshallnotapplytoconductbyapartytoalabordispute.3Illinoishascreatedanevenarguably


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broaderexceptiontostalkingwhentheactionisrelatedtoanycontroversyconcerningwages,salaries,hours,workingconditionsorbenefits...themakingormaintainingofcollectivebargainingagreements,andthetermstobeincludedinthoseagreements.4Ironically,theveryexistenceoftheseexemptionscalls

attentiontothefactthatthetacticsemployedbyunionsintheirorganizingactivitiescaninflictthesamelevelofemotionaldistressandintimidationcausedbyastalker.

Harassmentofopponentsisoftenpartofaunionsefforttoconfrontadversariesandpressurethemtogiveintoitsdemands,andstalkingisoneaspectofthis

behavior.Unionshavebeenknowntoemploythistacticevenagainstotherunions.Forexample,in2008,theCaliforniaNursesAssociation(CNA)obtainedatemporaryrestrainingorderagainsttheServiceEmployeesInternationalUnion(SEIU)becausetheSEIUrepeatedlysentactiviststothehomesofCNAboardmembersduringalong,acrimoniousdisputebetweenthetwo

rivalunions.5

Sometimes,though,theharassmentgoesevenfurtherandcrossesintothetrulyscary.Theownerofanon-unionelectricalservicesbusinessinOhio,forexample,wastherepeatedvictimofstalkingandotheractsofviolenceagainsthimduringabitterunion

organizingeffort.Inadditiontohavingrocksthrownthroughthewindowsathisplaceofbusiness,hiscarstirespuncturedmultipletimes,andanassaultononeofhisemployees,thisbusinessownerwasactuallyshotinthearmbyanintruderheconfrontedinhisfrontyardafterhediscoveredthepersonvandalizinghiscar.6

Otherownersandemployeesofopenshopcontractingcompanieshavecomplainedthatstalkingandotherintimidationtacticsarecommonplaceand

thattheyfrequentlyfeelthreatenedbythepresenceofunionrepresentativeswhofollowthemconstantlyandsitoutsidetheirhomesintheircars.FollowingtheOhioshooting,theAssociatedBuildersandContractorsofthePacificNorthwestcalledonunionstoendthistypeofharassmentagainstitsmembers.Amazingly,unionsrespondedbysayingtheirmonitoringtacticsarecompletelylegal.7


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Trespassing

Therightofapropertyownertoexcludeothersfromthatpropertyisalegalprinciplethathasexistedaslongastherehasbeenprivateownershipofproperty.

Privateownershipofpropertyisafoundationalelementofcapitalismandafreemarketeconomy,andvirtuallyeveryoneisfamiliarwiththeubiquitousnotrespassingsignthatwarnsagainsttheentryontoanotherslandwithoutpermission.Thelegalprincipleisanimportantonethathelpsensurelandownerscanmaintaintheirpropertyfortheirownuseandenjoyment.Butunioninterestsaroundthecountryevidentlyseeprivatepropertyrightsasahindrancetotheirlabororganizingobjectivesandhavesecuredanumberofexemptionsfromcrimesrelatingtotrespassing.California,inparticular,providesseveralrelevantexamplesinitsPenalCode.

Inanefforttoenablepropertyownerstoprotecttheirlandfromunwantedintruders,CaliforniahasadoptedintheMaliciousMischieftitleofthePenalCodeanextensivedescriptionofthe

variousactsthatconstitutethecrimeoftrespass.Theseactsincludetherefusaltoleavepropertybelongingtoanotherthatisnotopentothepublicafterbeingrequestedtoleavebytheowner,theownersagent,orapeaceofficer.Significantly,however,Californiaexplicitlyexcludespersonsengagedinlaborunionactivitiesfrombeingsubjecttothecrimeoftrespassingforrefusingtoleavesomeoneelsesproperty.8

Thestatealsohasaseparatetrespassingprovisionfocusedonagriculture,declaringthatanypersonwhowillfullyenterslandsundercultivationorenclosedbyafenceorwhoenterswheresignsforbiddingtrespassaredisplayedcanbeguiltyoftrespassing.Butagain,thestatealsoexemptspersonsengagedinlaborunionactivities.9

Inadditiontoprohibitingentryontoland,Californiaalsoprohibitsanyonefromwillfullypreventing,hindering,orobstructinganotherpersonfromenteringorleavinglandinwhichthatpersonhasaninterestandprovidesafineofupto$500forviolators.Butonceagain,thestatealsoprovidesanexemptionfromthiscrimeiftheoffenderisengagedinlaborunionactivities.10

Incredibly, while prohibitingeveryone else frominterfering with a business,California has given laborunions carte blanche under

state law to obstruct orintimidate businesses andtheir customers.


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Californiaseems,atleastatfirstblush,torecognizethatbusinessesrelyonthefreeflowofcommerceandinteractionwithcustomersinordertosucceed.Afterall,thestatehasdeclaredthatapersonwhointentionallyinterfereswithanylawfulbusinessbyobstructingorintimidatingthoseattemptingtocarry

onbusiness,ortheircustomers,isguiltyofamisdemeanorpunishablebyafineandimprisonmentinthecountyjailforupto90days. 11Thisappearstobejustthetypeoflawintendedtohelpbusinessownersprotectthemselvesfromharassmentandinterferencewiththeirabilitytomakealiving.Butjustasitdoeswithsomanyothertrespass-relatedprovisions,thestatehascreatedaspecialexemptionsothatthislawisnotappliedagainsttheonegroupwhereitpresumablywouldfrequentlyapply:laborunions.12Incredibly,whileprohibitingeveryoneelsefrominterferingwithabusiness,thestatehasgivenlaborunionscarte blancheunderstatelawtoobstructorintimidatebusinessesandtheircustomers.

Amongotherspecialtytrespasslaws,Californiaevenhascreatedaspecificviolationfortrespassingorloiteringnearindustrialproperty.13Giventhestatesnumerousotherexemptionsforlaborunions,itisperhapsnosurprisethatthestatealsodecidedthatanyactivitiesrelatingtounionorganizingeffortsorthe

investigationofworkingconditionsonbehalfofalaborunionarenotcoveredbytheprohibitionagainsttrespassingonindustrialproperty.14

Protectingonespropertyfromunwantedintrusiongoeshandinhandwiththeconceptofprivateproperty,asanyhomeownerwouldunderstand.Unfortunatelyforbusinesses,Californiastrespassexemptionsforlaborunionshaveturnedthisnotionupsidedown,asthegrocerychainRalphslearnedwhenitopenedastoreinFresnothatdidnotemployunionizedworkers.

BeginninginOctober2008,representativesoftheUnitedFoodandCommercialWorkersUnion(UFCW)Local8begantopicketoutsideaRalphsstoreonasidewalkownedbyRalphs.Accordingtocourtdocuments,theserepresentativescarriedplacardsandhandedoutleaflets,whichisallstandardfareatapicketline.15However,thepicketersalsoprovokedconfrontationswithstoreemployeesandharassedcustomerscomingtoshop,sostoreemployeescalledthepolice.

UnfortunatelyforRalphs,thepolicerefusedtoremovetheprotesters,eventhoughthedisruptivebehaviorandconfrontationswereoccurringonthestoresownproperty.

Inresponsetothissituation,Ralphsfiledalawsuitagainsttheunionseekinganinjunctiontoendtheuniontactics.Thetrialcourtdeclinedtoissuethe


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injunctionclaimingthatitwaspreventedfromdoingsobecauseofanotherCaliforniastatelawprohibitinginjunctionsagainstunions.Anappealscourt,

however,ruledinRalphsfavorafterfindingthestatelawcitedbythetrialcourt

wasunconstitutionalbecauseitgrantedgreaterrightstounionsthantoothers.AsofJuly2012,thecasewaspendingappealintheCaliforniaSupremeCourt.

Overall,Californiagivesunionsnumerousavenuestointerferewithbusinessownersprivatepropertyrights.Notonlyisthisdeprivationofpropertyrightshardtojustifyintellectually,itmakesdoingbusinessthatmuchharder,whichmaybe

onereasonstateswithsuchonerouslawsandpolicieshaveseenbusinessesandindividualsmoveelsewhere.16

Home is Where the Heart is

Californiaalsohassomeotherpeculiarandspecifictrespass-relatedlaws.Recently,thestatedecideditsgeneraltrespasslawprovidedinsufficientprotectiontothepropertyinterestsofcollegestudents,teachersandemployees.Asaresult,thestatepassedtheResearcherProtectionActestablishingamisdemeanorcrimeoftrespassforanypersonenteringtheresidenceofanacademicresearcherwiththeintenttointerferewiththeresearchersacademicfreedom.17Notsurprisingly,thestatelegislatureincludedaloopholeforunionintereststoensurethatanypersonengagedinlaborunionactivitiescouldnotbechargedwithatrespassingviolationshouldtheyhappentoinvadeanacademicshouse.18

Unfortunately,historyshowsthatunionstargetprivatehomesfordisruptiveprotestsinordertointimidatetheirtargets.Take,forexample,thecaseofthedeputygeneralcounselofBankofAmerica,whobecamethetargetoftheSEIU

in2010.WhilethisfatherwasoutwithoneofhiskidsataLittleLeaguegame,approximately500SEIUprotestors14schoolbusesworthshowedupoutsideofhishousetoprotestBankofAmericaspolicies.19Thoughthegentlemanwasnotathome,hisyoungteenagesonwasinsidebyhimself,petrifiedbythethrongsofprotestorswhosurroundedthehouseandcameupontothefrontporch.Waitinguntilhisfatherreturnedhome,theyoungmanbarricadedhimselfina

Not surprisingly, theCalifornia legislature includeda loophole for union intereststo ensure that any personengaged in labor unionactivities could not becharged with a trespassing

violation should they happento invade an academics house.


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bathroom.Whenthefatherarrived,hewasgreetedwithjeersandtauntsbytheunrulyunionmobashetriedtoextricatehissonfromthescenewhilewaitingforpolicetoarrive.

Thisincidentwasreportedbyoneofthevictimsneighbors,aFortunemagazinereporter,whodescribedthewholelamentablescene.Sheaccuratelytermedthiskindofprotestoutsideoneshomeasthepoliticsofpersonalintimidation.20

On the Subway or Bus

TheCalifornialegislatureseffortstoexemptlaborunionpersonnelfrombeingchargedwithcrimesapplicabletoeveryoneelseevenextendstopublictransportation.IntheMiscellaneousCrimestitleofthePenalCode,thestatehasdeclaredthatwillfullyblockingthefreemovementofanotherpersoninapublictransitsystemfacilityorvehicleispunishablebyafineofupto$400

and90daysimprisonmentinthecountyjail.21Thatis,unlesstheoffendersactionscanbesaidtoberelatedtocollectivebargaining.Inthatcase,thestatelegislaturehascreatedanexemptionfromthecrime,andsolongastheoffenderispursuingunionobjectives,itispermissibletoblockthefreemovementofcommutersinthetransitsystem,peoplewhoareinvariablyjusttryingtogettoworkoranappointmentontime.22

Astatesadoptionofavarietyofprohibitionsagainsttrespassingishardlyremarkable,anditreflectsthecommonsentimentthataprivatelandownershouldbeabletocontrolaccesstohisproperty.Whatisremarkable,however,isthatCaliforniainparticularhascreatedmultipleunionexemptionsfromthesetrespassing-relatedcrimes.Theseexemptionsexclusivelyforunionsareevenmoresurprisingconsideringthatthestatestrespassinglawshavebeenbroadly

interpretedbytheAttorneyGeneraltoenableevenapartmentcomplexownersandhomeownerassociationstoprohibitpoliticalcandidatesfromdistributingcampaignmaterials.23Ashortvisitbyapoliticalcandidatedistributingliteraturecouldhardlybesaidtobeasdisruptivetohomeownersrightsashundredsofunionorganizersoccupyingthepremises,butthestatenonethelessgivesmoreprotectiontoheavy-handeduniontacticsthantopoliticiansrunningforoffice.


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Sabotage

Whensettingstatepolicywithregardtotreasonanddisloyalacts,theWisconsinlegislature,notsurprisingly,declaredsabotagetobeafelony.24Anyonein

Wisconsinwhointentionallydamages,interfereswith,ortamperswithpropertybelievingthattheiractionwillhinder,delay,orinterferewiththeprosecution

ofmilitaryactionorthepreparationfordefensebytheUnitedStatesoritsalliesisguiltyofthecrimeofsabotage.

Whatissurprisingisthatinthesamestatutoryprovision,theWisconsinlegislaturefounditnecessarytoexplicitlyprovidethatthecrimeofsabotagecannotbeconstruedinanywaythatwouldimpairorcurtailanylabororganizingactivities.Presumably,thechancesareslim

thatsomeoneintentondisruptingamilitaryactioncouldsuccessfullymountanIwasjusttryingtoimproveourpositioninunioncontractnegotiations

defense.Nonetheless,thefactthatsuchanexemptionevenexistsindicatestheextremelengthstheunionmovementwillgotoinordertoshieldtheirmembersfromaccountabilityfortheiractionsandtheextenttowhichlegislatorsinsomestateshaveaccommodatedsuchefforts.

Inaddition,Wisconsinstatutesalsospecifytheeffortspropertyownersandpublicutilitiescantaketoguardagainstsabotage,includingtheabilitytoexcludeothersfromtheirproperty.25Thestatehasastatutethatspecificallydescribesthepowerofsecurityguardsandpeaceofficerstostop,interrogate,andarrestthosesuspectedofviolatingapropertyownersrighttoexcludeothers.Butagain,thestatuteincludesasignificantexemptionfromthelawforthoseengagedinlabororganizingactivities.Ineffect,thelawexemptsanyoneinvolvedinlaborrelationsactivityfromthecrimeofunlawfullyenteringproperty.

WhileWisconsinsstatutesdealwithsabotageintherarecontextofmilitary

action,incidentsofsabotageinlabordisputesare,regrettably,asadrealityinmanyothersituations.TherecertainlywasnoshortageofangerduringthecontentiousdebateoverunionreformsinWisconsinin2011,andregrettably,unionmemberswereallegedtohavesabotagedequipmentbelongingtosupportersofGov.ScottWalker. 26

The Wisconsin legislaturefound it necessary toexplicitly provide that the

crime of sabotage cannot beconstrued in any way thatwould impair or curtail anylabor organizing activities.


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BeyondWisconsin,unionshaveengagedinoutrageousactsofsabotageintheirfightsagainstemployers.In2011,VerizonwaslockedinabitterdisputewiththeCommunicationsWorkersofAmerica(CWA)andtheUnitedBrotherhoodofElectricalWorkers(IBEW).Verizonoutlinedatleastadozenactsofsabotage

againstitsfacilities,includingseveredfiberopticlines,stolenequipment,andtamperingwithaheatingsystematanofficebuilding.27

Similarly,inWashingtonStatein2011,theInternationalLongshoreandWarehouseUnion(ILWU)stagedalengthyprotestagainstanemployerforhiringworkerswhobelongedtoadifferentunion.MembersoftheILWUallegedlydumpedgrainonrailroadtracksandvandalizedotherpropertybelongingtotheemployer,evenafterafederaljudgeorderedthemtostoptheirdestructivebehavior.28

Ventingfrustrationinadisputebypicketingorchantingiswidelyrecognizedasanappropriatemeansofexpression,butactsofsabotageunderanycircumstancesshouldnotbeconsideredlegallypermissiblesimplybecausethemotivationisunion-related.

Threats of Bodily Injury

Californiastatelawestablishesanoffensepunishablebyimprisonmentofuptooneyearandafineofupto$2,000formakingacrediblethreattocauseseriousbodilyinjurytoanother,andthenwithin30daysthereafterenteringtheresidenceorworkplaceofthetargettocarryoutthethreat. 29Thestateevidentlytakesthiscrimeseriously,consideringtheheightenedpenaltyuptoayearinjailthatapplieswhencomparedwithothertrespassing-relatedoffenses.Butifthestateisseriousaboutpunishingthiscrime,onewonderswhyCaliforniahasalsocreatedaspecialexemptionallowingapersonengagedinlaborunionactivitiestogetawaywithsuchbehavior.30

Unionactivistssometimesturnablindeyetoviolenceinlabordisputes,andsomeevendefendsuchtransgressions.Asoneleaderputitwithregardtoaunionsviolentactions,Imsayingifyoustrikeamatchandputyourfinger

in,commonsensetellsyouyouregoingtoburnyourfinger.31Theimplicationissimple:ifyoucrossaunion,youcanexpecttobesubjectedtoexactlythesekindsofthreatsandphysicalreprisals.


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Storiesaboutthreatsofviolenceandactualassaultsaboundand,indeed,theyaresoplentifulitisdifficulttoknowwhichonestohighlight.OneunfortunateexampleoccurredinCalifornia,wherealabordisputebetweentheUnionofNeedletrades,IndustrialandTextileEmployees(UNITE)Local482andHollanderHomeFashions

resultedinastrike,duringwhichUNITErepresentativesallegedlythreatenedandassaultednumerousindividuals.Duringthestrike,HollanderhiredapersonnelplacementagencytofindandescortworkerstothelocationofHollandersfacility.Theofficemanagerandseveralotheremployeesoftheplacementfirmwereonthereceivingendofmultiplethreatsagainstthemfortwomonths,accordingtoalawsuitthemanagerfiledagainsttheunion(themanagerhimselfreceivedheadwoundsfromanassaultbyseveralunionmilitants).32Thepublicmayneverknowtheoutcomeofthatsuitduetoanon-disclosureagreementthatapparentlywaspartofasettlement,butsufficetosaythatbeingbeatenduringanydispute,evenonerelatedtounions,shouldnotbetolerated.

Right to Violence?

WestVirginiadeclaresthatallpersonsinthestatehavetherighttobefreefromanyviolence,orintimidationbythreatofviolencecommittedagainstthemor

theirpropertybasedonrace,color,religion,ancestry,nationalorigin,politicalaffiliationorsex.33ThesebroadprotectionsforcivilrightsarecommonlyfoundatthestatelevelandevenexceedtheprotectionsaffordedbyfederallawandtheU.S.Constitution.WhatisunusualisthatinthecaseofWestVirginia,thelegislaturefounditnecessarytoessentiallyallowsomeonetoviolateanotherscivilrightsiftheviolationoccursinthecourseofconductinglaborunion

activity.Remarkably,thestatescivilrightsprotectionsprovideanexemptionthatsaysthelawcannotbeconstruedinsuchawayastoimpedeortointerferewithanypersonconductinglaborunionorlaborunionorganizingactivities.34

AnyonefamiliarwithlaborhistoryinWestVirginiaknowsthatunionviolence

intheMountainStatehasastoriedpastindeed.Forinstance,in1991,SteelworkersLocal5668engagedinawidespreadpatternofviolenceduringacontentious

labordisputewithRavenswoodAluminumCorporation.Unionmembersandrepresentativesallegedlycommittedover700actsofviolenceandintimidationagainstreplacementworkers,includingbombings,shootings,arson,anddeath

Remarkably, West Virginiascivil rights protections providean exemption that says thelaw cannot be construed insuch a way as to impede orto interfere with any personconducting labor union

or labor union organizingactivities.


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threats.35In1993,anotherdisputeinvolvingtheUnitedMineWorkersresultedinaworkerbeingshotintheheadbecausehewasanon-unioncontractor.36

Givingalegalcarveoutforlaborunionstothreatenandharassothersleaves

victimslikethesewithlimitedoptionstoprotecttheirsafety.Allofwhichmakesithardtosayjusticeisbeingservedbytheseexemptions.

Systemic Favoritism

Legalfavoritismtowardsorganizedlabordoesnotstopwiththeuniverseoflawsthatpermitunionstogetawaywiththreateningordisruptivebehavior.Otherlawsonthebooksofferthemdifferenttypesofadvantagesorprotections.

Hamstringing Courts

Formorethan75years,Pennsylvaniahashadsomeunusualprovisionsinstatelawprotectingquestionablebehaviorinthecourseofalabordispute.Thestates

LaborAnti-InjunctionAct,whichwaspassedin1937,imposesanumberofrestrictionsonstatecourtsandgenerallypreventsthemfromissuinginjunctionsinalabordispute.Notably,theActstripsfromcourtsthepowertoissueaninjunctioninmostcases,evenwhenthoseparticipatinginthelabordisputeareengagedinanunlawfulconspiracy.Moreover,itpreventsjudgesfromgrantinginjunctionswhenillegalactshavebeencommittedorthreatenedandwhentheendssoughtinthelabordisputeareillegal.37


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TheLaborAnti-InjunctionActhasbeenusedtopreventcompaniesfromobtaininginjunctionswhenunionrepresentativesdisruptbusinessby,forexample,comingintostorestodistributeliteraturedespiteacompanysstatedNoSolicitation/NoDistributionpolicy.38Undernormalcircumstancesthose

actionswouldconstitutecriminaltrespassing,butthePennsylvaniaSupremeCourthasruledthatabsentphysicaldamagetoastoreorothergrossmisconduct,thecourtswereprecludedfromissuinginjunctiverelieftoapropertyownerwhosimplydoesnotwantindividualstrespassingonhisorherpropertytohandoutlabor-relatedmaterial.39Likewise,Pennsylvaniacourtshaverefusedtointerveneinlabordisputes,evenwhenunionrepresentativesblockeddeliverytrucksfromenteringacompanyspremises,tamperedwithlocks,flattenedtires,andfollowedpeoplehomefromworkduringastrike.40

Reading, Writing, andUnions?

Somestatesrequirethatstudentsbeintroducedtotheconceptoflaborunionsaspartofthepublicschoolcurriculum.Forexample,aBoardofEducationmayincludeintherequiredcourseofstudyinhighschoolamandatethatstudentsbetaughtaboutunionsaspartofsocialstudies.Certainlythereisabenefitto

teachingstudentsaboutvariouseconomicactorsandtheroledifferentgroupshaveplayedinthehistoryoftheUnitedStates.Butatatimewhenthereare

concernsthatchildrenarenotgraspingthebasicsofreading,writingandarithmetic,somestatesseemtohaveplacedanoutsizedemphasisonlearningaboutunionsinparticular.

InNevada,wherelaborunionshavelongbeenanimportantpoliticalconstituency,thestatehastakenanunusuallycomprehensiveapproachtoeducationaboutunions.TheofficialswhoseteducationalpolicyintheSilverStateseemintentonensuringthestatesschoolchildrenknowabouttheimportanceof

laborunionsfromaveryearlyage.TheStateBoardofEducationinNevadamandates,aspartoftherequiredcourseofstudy,thatchildrenlearnabouttheroleoflaborunions

beginninginthesecondandthirdgrade.41Byfifthgrade,inadditiontoknowingabouttheroleofunions,studentsmustalsobeabletonamespecificlabor


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unions.42Byeighthgrade,childreninNevadamustbeabletodescribethegoalsandaccomplishmentsoflaborunionsinthestateandintheU.S.,aswellasdescribetheservicesaunionprovidestoitsmembers.43Incidentally,inarecenteducationevaluationbytheU.S.DepartmentofEducation,42%ofallfourth

gradersand31%ofeighthgradersinNevadascoredBelowBasicinreading,rankingitbehindalmost40otherstates/jurisdictionssurveyed.44

Wisconsinlegislatorshaverequiredbystatutethatthestatesteachersincorporatethehistoryoforganizedlaborandthecollectivebargainingprocessintotheteachingofsocialstudies.45InIllinois,thelegislaturemandatesthattheteachingofhistoryshallincludeastudyoftheroleoflaborunionsandtheirinteractionwithgovernmentinachievingthegoalsofamixedfreeenterprisesystem.46The

StateBoardofEducationinIllinoishasalsoincludedthestatutoryrequirementin

itsregulations.Amazingly,neithertheIllinoisstatutenortheBoardregulationsspecificallyrequireteachinganythingabouttheAmericanRevolution.47

Conscripting Child Care and Personal Care Providers

Childcareandpersonalcareproviderswhoareinsomewaycompensatedthroughstatefundsarenottypicallythoughtofasstateemployees.However,unionsseethemasalargepoolofindividualsfromwhomtheycancollectdueswithouthavingtodomuch,ifanything,inreturn.Unfortunately,stategovernmentshavefacilitatedsuchduescollectionsinaglaringexampleofgovernmenttakingthesideofunions.

Inrecentyears,severalstateshavetakenstepstofacilitateunionizationof

childcareandpersonalcareproviders.Asofearly2012,fourteenstateshadauthorizedchildcareproviderstounionizeandbargainwiththestate,ofteninstate-wideunits,andnearlyasmanyhavedonethesameforpersonalcareproviders.48Almosteverystatethathastakenthisactionhasdonesobyanexecutiveorderutilizingvirtuallyidenticallanguage,apracticethathasbeenchallengedinstateandfederalcourts.49

The State Board ofEducation in Nevadamandates, as part of therequired course of study,that children learn about

the role of labor unionsbeginning in the secondand third grades. By thefifth grade, in addition toknowing about the role ofunions, students must alsobe able to name specific

labor unions.


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Thelegalgymnasticsrequiredtounionizechildcareandpersonalcareprovidersaresubstantialconsideringthatmostoftheseworkersareself-employedandarenotlegallydefinedasemployees.Rather,theyareprimarilyindependentcontractorswho

workontheirowntermsforindividualclients,and,assuch,aretypicallynoteligibletounionize.50

Thus,inordertocreateanemployerwithwhichbargainingcanbeconducted,manyofthesestatesdesignatesomesortofstateagencyorboardastheemployerofrecordforchildcareandpersonalcareproviders.Othersseizeonthefactthatmanychildcareandpersonalcareprovidersservelow-incomefamiliesthatreceivesubsidiesfromthestate,and,basedonthatfundingstream,claimtheworkersarepublicemployees.Thestate-providedsubsidiesalsoofferaconvenientmechanismbywhichthestatecandeductmandatoryunionduesanddivertthemtotheunionthatpurports

torepresentindividualchildcareandpersonalcareproviders.Notsurprisingly,theseproviderstendtoberepresentedbyaunionthatalreadyrepresentsgovernmentemployees,andanalystsestimatethisforcedunionizationschemehasgeneratedmillionsofdollarsinannualuniondues,whichunionscanthenusetofundpoliticalandotheractivities.51

InIllinois,thenow-infamousgovernor,RodBlagojevich,becametheposterchildforthiskindofschemewhenheissuedanexecutiveorderopeningthedoorfor20,000homehealthcareproviderstojoinaunionin2003,followedbyasimilarordercovering50,000childcareworkersin2005.52Amazingly,eventheexecutiveordersthemselvesexplicitlystatethattheseworkersarenotreallystateemployees,sayingtheseprovidersarenotStateemployeesforpurposesofeligibilitytoreceivestatutorilymandatedbenefitsbecausetheStatedoesnothire,superviseorterminatethem.53Nevertheless,theSEIUultimatelygarneredthesenewmembersafteraheatedbattlewiththeAmericanFederationof

State,County,andMunicipalEmployees(AFSCME).Incidentally,theSEIUreportedlyprovidedapproximately$1.8milliontothedisgracedgovernorselectioncampaigns.54

In Michigan, this type ofpolicy covering home healthcare providers forced twoparents with disabled children,along with thousands ofother Michiganders providing

similar services, into a unionagainst their will.


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InMichigan,thistypeofpolicycoveringhomehealthcareprovidersforcedtwoparentswithdisabledchildren,alongwiththousandsofotherMichigandersprovidingsimilarservices,intoaunionagainsttheirwill.Theseparentsspendmanyhourseachdaytakingcareoftheirtwochildren,whoarecompletely

disabledbycerebralpalsy.TheStateofMichiganprovidesthemfinancialassistancethroughMedicaidtohelpcoverthecostofprovidingthefull-timecaretheirchildrenneed.Thisarrangementactuallysavestaxpayersmoneybecausethepaymentforthishomecareislessthanitwouldcosttoputthechildreninastate-fundedhealthcarefacility.55

CourtesyofapolicyestablishedunderformerGov.JenniferGranholm,however,thatmoneycamewithacatchtheseparentsdiscoveredin2006thattheysomehowbelongedtotheSEIU,whichforcedthemtoturnover$30amonthinunionduespayments.Makingmattersworse,thesepaymentswereautomaticallydeductedfromtheirMedicaidcheck.Astheiremployersare,infact,theirchildren,thefamilyreceivednoservicesofanykindinexchangefortheirforceddues.TheSEIUswillingpartnersinstategovernmenthadsimplyriggedthesystemaspartofaschemetobolstertheunionsduesrevenues.

Thankfully,underanewgovernorandlegislature,Michiganreversedthispolicy.InMarchof2011,Michigandisbandedthegovernmentagencythathadclaimedtoemploythousandsofchildcareprovidersinthestate,andinApril2012,thegovernorsignedlegislationtoendtheforcedunionizationofthousandsofhomehealthcareproviders.However,despitethewillofthelegislatureandgovernor,theSEIUisstillinlinetocollectmillionsmorefromunwillingunionmembers.InJune2012,afederaljudgeorderedthestateofMichigantocontinueitspaymentstotheSEIUonbehalfofhomehealthcareworkers.56

Connecticuthasalsotakenstepstounionizechildcareandpersonalcareproviders.In2011,GovernorDannelMalloysignedapairofexecutiveordersthatdirectedthestategovernmenttofacilitateunionelectionsamongtheseworkersamail-inballotinwhichonlyafractionofindividualsvoted(notsurprisingly,fortheSEIU).57Fullcollectivebargaining,however,wouldonlybeestablishedoncethestatelegislaturepassedalawpermittingit,whichitdidin

May2012.Courtesyofthisaction,thousandsofworkerswillbecomeunionduespayers,whethertheywishtoornot.58


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Conclusion

Fromexemptionstothecrimeofstalkingtoimmunityfromtrespassingstatutes,

laborunionshavesuccessfullyengineeredavarietyofstatelawstoservetheirends.Asmanyworkersandemployersknowalltoowell,aggressivecorporatecampaignsoftenrelyontacticssuchastrespassing,intimidation,andevenstalkingactionsthatwouldbeillegalunderanyothercircumstances.

Itgoeswithoutsayingthat,formostpeople,itishardtocondonehundredsofprotestorsterrorizingachildaloneinhishouse,ortoacceptthatstalkingandpropertydestructionarelegitimatemeanstowardanyend.Likewise,itishardtorationalizeastatepolicythatwoulddeductunionduesfromMedicaidfundsafamilyusestotakecareoftheirdisabledchildren.Yetthesetypesofpoliciesareenshrinedinthelegalregimesofnumerousstates.

UnionshaveplayedanimportantroleinthehistoryoftheUnitedStatesbothpoliticallyandeconomically.Atthesametime,itisdifficulttojustifylawsthatplacetheirconcernsaboveallothers.


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Endnotes

1UnitedStatesv.Enmons,410U.S.396.

2Seee.g.,S.3178,FreedomFromUnionViolenceActof2012,112thCong.(2012).318Pa.Cons.Stat.2709.1.

4720Ill.Comp.Stat.5/12-7.3.

5LisaVorderbrueggen,CNAwinsrestrainingorder,ContraCostaTimes,April16,2008.

http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2008/04/16/cna-wins-restraining-order/.

6Rewardisofferedinshootingofbusinessman,ToledoBlade,August23,2011,

http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2011/08/23/Reward-is-offered-in-shooting-of-businessman.html

7NickBjork,Open-shopcontractorscomplainofunionintimidation,DailyJournalofCommerce,

August24,2011.

8Cal.PenalCode602(o).

9Id.602.8(a),(c).

10Id.420.1.

11Id.602.1(a),(c)(1).

12Id.

13Id.552.1.

14Id.15RalphsGroceryCo.v.UnitedFoodandCommercialWorkersUnionLocal8,192Cal.App.4th200(2011).

16See e.g.,JanNorman,Report:254companiesleftCaliforniain2011,Orange County Register,March2,

2012;SmallBusinessSurvivalIndex2011:RankingThePolicyEnvironmentForEntrepreneurshipAcrossThe

Nation,SmallBusiness&EntrepreneurshipCouncil,November2011.http://www.sbecouncil.org/uploads/

SBSI2011%5B1%5D.pdf.

17Cal.PenalCode602.12(a),(c).

18Id.

19Ironically,theSEIUowedBankofAmericanearly$80millionforamortgageandlineofcreditin2011

accordingtotheunions2011FormLM-2LaborOrganizationAnnualReportfiledwiththeU.S.Department

ofLabor.Seewww.unionreports.gov.

20NinaEaston,WhatsreallybehindSEIUsBankofAmericaprotests?,Fortune,May19,2010.

21Cal.PenalCode640.

22Id.

2381Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen.71.

24Wis.Stat.946.02.25Wis.Stat.175.05.

26JimHoft,UnionProtesterArrestedforTryingtoSabotageMadisonTeaPartySoundSystem, FoxNews.com,

February20,2011,http://nation.foxnews.com/justice/2011/02/20/union-protester-arrested-trying-sabotage-

madison-tea-party-sound-system.


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27VerizonNewsRelease,August8,2011,http://newscenter.verizon.com/assets/wrapper/2011-bargaining/

Verizon-update-release.pdf.

28BillMongelluzzo,ILWUDefiesCourtOrderinLongview,Wash.,Picketing,The Journal of Commerce;

September7,2011;NationalLaborRelationsBoardInvestigatesLongshoremenUnionforStrikeGone

Wrong,FoxNews.com;September9,2011.http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/09/nlrb-investigates-

longshoremen-union-for-strike-gone-wrong/.

29Cal.PenalCode601.

30Id.

31JohnPowell,HeJustSaidWhat?!,Freedom@Workblog,December6,2007.See

http://www.nrtw.org/es/blog/he-just-said-what.

32InternationalUnionSuedForViciousAssault,Foundation Action,July/August2002,

http://www.nrtw.org/foundation-action/julaug02.pdf.

33W.Va.Code61-6-21.

34Id.

35MariaMallory,ACompanyTownTormentedandTorn,Businessweek;December8,1991.

36MattHarvey,Non-unionWorkerShottoDeath, Spartanburg Herald-Journal,July24,1993.

3743Pa.Cons.Stat.206g.

38SeePhar-Mor,Inc.v.UnitedFoodandCommercialWorkersUnionLocal1776,541Pa.49,660A.2d583

(1995).

39Id.40SeeSolventMachineryv.TeamstersLocal115,343Pa.Super.505,495A.2d579(1985).

41Nev.Admin.Code389.2437and389.254.

42Id.389.2942.

43Id.389.372.

44TheNationsReportCard:Reading,2011StateSnapshotReport,NationalCenterforEducation

Statistics,2011.http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/stt2011/2012454NV4.pdfandhttp://nces.ed.gov/

nationsreportcard/pdf/stt2011/2012454NV8.pdf.See alsoLeadersandLaggards:AState-by-StateReport


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CardonEducationalEffectiveness,U.S.ChamberofCommerce,2007.http://www.uschamber.com/

reportcard/2007.

45Wis.Stat.115.28(55).

46105Ill.Comp.Stat.5/27-21.

47Id.;23Ill.Admin.Code1.420.48Conn.Exec.OrderNo.9(2011);Minn.Exec.OrderNo.11-31(2011);Kan.Exec.OrderNo.07-21

(2007);Pa.Exec.OrderNo.2007-06(2007);Md.Exec.OrderNo.01.01.2007.14(2007);N.Y.Exec.Order

No.12(2007);Wis.Exec.OrderNo.172(2006);IowaExec.OrderNos.45and46(2006);Me.Rev.Stattit.

228308;N.J.Exec.OrderNo.23(2006);N.M.Stat.50-4-33;OhioExec.Order2008-02S(2008);Or.

Exec.Order06-04(2006),Or.Rev.Stat.657A.430;Wash.Rev.Code41.56.028;Ill.Exec.Order2005-1

(2005).

49See e.g.,Harrisv.Quinn,656F.3d692(7thCir.2011).

50PeggieR.Smith,The Publicization of Home-Based Care Work in State Labor Law,92Minn.L.Rev.1390,

1400-03(describingthelackofanecessaryemploymentrelationshipasahurdletounionizationefforts).

51PatrickJ.WrightandMichaelD.Jahr,MichiganForcesBusinessOwnersIntoPublicSectorUnions,Wall

Street Journal,December25,2009.

52BrettMcNeil,Homehealthcareworkerstogetunionrights:Blagojevichorderwillaffectasmanyas20,000

instate,ChicagoTribune,February17,2003.BarbaraRose,Unionforchild-careworkers:Votemeans

coveragefor50,000providers,Chicago Tribune,April8,2005.

53Ill.Exec.Orders2003-8(2003)and2005-1(2005)54KrisMaherandDavidKesmodel,IllinoisScandalSpotlightsSEIUsUseofPoliticalTactics,Wall Street

Journal,December20,2008.

55JoelGehrke,SEIUSiphonsDuesfromMich.MedicaidPayments,The Washington Examiner,September

10,2011.

56JackSpencer,DespiteLaw,SEIUGetsToContinueTakingMedicaidCheckMoney,Michigan Capitol

Confidential;June20,2012.http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/17115

57Conn.Exec.Orders9&10.(Sept.21,2011).

58Conn.Pub.ActsNo.12-33.


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US Chamber Special State Laws for Unions Study

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