National Labor Relations Board v. Enterprise Association of Steam, Hot Water, Hydraulic Sprinkler, Pneumatic Tube, Ice Machine & General Pipefitters of New York and Vicinity, Local Union No. 638

Decided February 22, 1977. Byron Raymond White delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 75-777 · 429 U.S. 507 (1977) · Cited 175 times

Holding

The union's refusal to install the climate-control units was secondary activity prohibited by 8(b)(4)(B), rather than primary activity beyond the reach of that provision.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 6–3.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• National Woodwork Manufacturers Ass'n v. National Labor Relations Board · 386 U.S. 612 (1967)
• Local 1976, United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners v. National Labor Relations Board · 357 U.S. 93 (1958)
• Fibreboard Paper Products Corp. v. National Labor Relations Board · 379 U.S. 203 (1964)
• Securities & Exchange Commission v. Chenery Corp. · 318 U.S. 80 (1943)
• Udall v. Tallman · 380 U.S. 1 (1965)
• National Labor Relations Board v. Denver Building & Construction Trades Council · 341 U.S. 675 (1951)
• Federal Trade Commission v. Sperry & Hutchinson Co. · 405 U.S. 233 (1972)
• Packard Motor Car Co. v. National Labor Relations Board · 330 U.S. 485 (1947)
• National Labor Relations Board v. Babcock & Wilcox Co. · 351 U.S. 105 (1956)
• National Labor Relations Board v. United Insurance Co. of America · 390 U.S. 254 (1968)
• Federal Power Commission v. Texaco Inc. · 417 U.S. 380 (1974)
• National Licorice Co. v. National Labor Relations Board · 309 U.S. 350 (1940)
• Bedford Cut Stone Co. v. Journeymen Stone Cutters' Ass'n · 274 U.S. 37 (1927)
• National Labor Relations Board v. Boeing Co. · 412 U.S. 67 (1973)
• Bayside Enterprises, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board · 429 U.S. 298 (1977)
• National Labor Relations Board v. Local 825, International Union of Operating Engineers · 400 U.S. 297 (1971)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• National Labor Relations Board v. International Longshoremen's Ass'n · 447 U.S. 490 (1980)
• National Labor Relations Board v. Local Union No. 103, International Ass'n of Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers · 434 U.S. 335 (1978)
• First National Maintenance Corp. v. National Labor Relations Board · 452 U.S. 666 (1981)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

Explore from here

Byron Raymond White’s profile · All Supreme Court opinions · The Supreme Court

Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (1977). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).