Nlrb v. International Van Lines, 409 U.S. 48 (1972)

National Labor Relations Board v. International Van Lines

No. 71-895

Argued October 12, 1972
Decided November 7, 1972
409 U.S. 48

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

Syllabus

Four employees of respondent refused to cross a picket line formed in connection with a union’s organization campaign. Respondent thereafter advised the employees that because of their failure to report to work they were being permanently replaced, which was not true at the time of the discharges. When respondent refused reinstatement, charges were filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Concluding that the discharges were unfair labor practices under the National Labor Relations Act, and that the employees thereby became unfair labor practice strikers, the NLRB ordered unconditional reinstatement with back pay. The Court of Appeals reversed that portion of the NLRB’s order, holding that the employees were not unfair labor practice strikers, who were entitled to unconditional reinstatement, but economic strikers, who were not entitled to reinstatement if the employer had substantial business justifications for refusing to rehire them.

Held: The unconditional reinstatement of the employees was proper, since their discriminatory discharges prior to the time their places were filled constituted unfair labor practices regardless of whether they were economic strikers or unfair labor practice strikers. Pp. 52-53.

448 F.2d 905, reversed in part.

STEWART, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which BURGER, C. J., and DOUGLAS, BRENNAN, WHITE, MARSHALL, POWELL, and REHNQUIST, JJ., joined. BLACKMUN, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, post, p. 53.