Umwa Local 1972 v. Decker Coal Co‪.‬

A parent labor union, its local administrative subsidiary, and ninety union members seek reversal of their contempt convictions arising out of a labor dispute with their employer. The convictions were founded on allegations that the two unions - Page 1276 and their individual members violated a preliminary injunction by blocking a state highway to prevent nonunion "replacement" workers from traveling to the employers coal mine and by damaging the employers pickup truck. The district court fined each union member $100 and suspended the fines on the condition that they would not further violate the injunction. The district court entered a judgment in favor of the employer and against the unions in the sum of $6,725.67 for property damages plus attorneys fees incurred by the employer in prosecuting the contempt action. In addition to this assessment, each union was required to post a $40,000 bond subject to forfeiture if any further violations of the district courts order occurred.