Boys Markets, Inc. v. Retail Clerks Union
398 U.S. 235 · Decided June 1, 1970 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
Boys Markets, Inc. v. Retail Clerks Union was decided on June 1, 1970 by a vote of 5–2. The Court reversed the lower court's decision and remanded the case. Justice William J. Brennan Jr. wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Arbitration in labor-management disputes” in the Unions area. SCDB codes this decision as formally altering one or more of the Court's own precedents.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 398 U.S. 235 · 90 S. Ct. 1583 · 26 L. Ed. 2d 199 · 1970 U.S. LEXIS 79
- Docket number
- 768
- Decided
- June 1, 1970
- Argued
- April 21, 1970
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Reversed and remanded
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 5–2
- Majority opinion
- William J. Brennan Jr.
- Opinion assigned by
- Warren E. Burger
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Arbitration in labor-management disputes
- Issue area
- Unions
- Legal provision
- Norris-LaGuardia Act
- Type of law
- Federal statute
- Altered precedent
- Yes — formally altered the Court's precedent
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Hugo L. Black | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice William O. Douglas | Majority | |
| Justice John M. Harlan II | Majority | |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Byron R. White | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
| Chief Justice Warren E. Burger | Majority |
Did not participate: Thurgood Marshall.
Full case caption
Boys Markets, Inc. v. Retail Clerks Union, Local 770
SCDB identifiers: case 1969-102, docket 1969-102-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Arbitration in labor-management disputes”
- International Union of Operating Engineers v. Flair Builders, Inc.
- Republic Steel Corp. v. Maddox
- Independent Petroleum Workers of America, Inc. v. American Oil Co.
- Hines v. Anchor Motor Freight, Inc.
- Buffalo Forge Co. v. United Steelworkers of America
- John Wiley & Sons, Inc. v. Livingston
Cases on the same legal provision: Norris-LaGuardia Act
- Ramsey v. United Mine Workers of America
- American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada v. Carroll
- Sinclair Refining Co. v. Atkinson
- Atkinson v. Sinclair Refining Co.
- Order of Railroad Telegraphers v. Chicago & North Western Railway Co.
- Marine Cooks & Stewards v. Panama Steamship Co., Ltd.
Same Term, same area (Unions)
- Detroit & Toledo Shore Line Railroad Co. v. United Transportation Union
- Czosek v. O'Mara
- H. K. Porter Co., Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board
- National Labor Relations Board v. Raytheon Co.
- Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co. v. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error