Union Rule: Show Up for Work, or No More Work

Do unions protect lazy, irresponsible workers? The union for theater stage workers operates a hiring hall for productions and trade shows. The union has this rule: If it’s your turn to work, and you are a no-show twice, the union fines you $150 fine. You must pay up to be put back on the list. A third no-show gets you a $200 fine—and after that, you’re permanently kicked off the union’s work list.

A member sued the union, claiming the policy violated its duty of fair representation.

The NLRB ruled in favor of the union, saying that it wasn’t unreasonable for the union to craft such a policy to make sure the workers it refers show up to their jobs. The NLRN cited the union's interest in having a good reputation for supplying reliable labor to employers. The case is International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada, case number 27-CB-093060, before the National Labor Relations Board.

Dead Man Suing NHL

Lawsuits in behalf of dead people are common. Thus, it is somewhat puzzling that the National Hockey League is opposing the addition to the plaintiff class of Larry Zeidel, who was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after he died. His addition to the lawsuit would serve to represent a class of players diagnosed with brain diseases.

The NHL is arguing that former players do not have good cause to their dead colleague, who died in 2014, because the players could have known as long as 18 months ago that he had been diagnosed with CTE.

Zeidel’s diagnosis could not be confirmed until after he died and his brain was autopsied.