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Smith v. Arkansas State Highway Employees, Local 1315

United States Supreme Court

441 U.S. 463, 99 S. Ct. 1826, 60 L. Ed. 2d 360 (1979)

Facts

Arkansas State Highway Employees (the union) (plaintiffs), a union representing employees of the State Highway Commission (the commission) (defendant), initiated grievance proceedings against the commission. However, the commission, per its own policy, would only hear grievances submitted in written form by individual employees submitted to the designated employer representative. The union sued, contending that such a procedural requirement denied employees the opportunity to submit grievances in violation of the First Amendment. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas agreed with the union. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed, and the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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