In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court delivered a resounding win for Glacier Northwest, a concrete company in Washington. And it set precedents for union liability in its legal battle against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
The court ruled 8-1, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett authoring the majority decision, allowing Glacier Northwest to proceed with its lawsuit against the union in state court.
The lawsuit stems from an August 2017 strike, during which union drivers walked away from their jobs, leaving wet cement to spoil inside their trucks and causing significant damage to the company’s property.
Glacier Northwest claims it suffered significant financial losses. This includes $100,000 from failing to fulfill a contract on the day of the strike, and additional damage claims.
Supreme Court emphasizes property rights
The ruling by the Supreme Court clarifies that the conduct of the union in endangering Glacier’s property goes beyond the protection afforded by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
