W & M Properties of Connecticut, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board

**What Happened** W&M Properties of Connecticut, a company, refused to hire certain job applicants because they were union members. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) investigated and found that the company was discriminating against these workers simply because of their union membership, not because they were unqualified for the jobs. **What the Court Decided** The Court of Appeals sided with the NLRB against the company. The court upheld the Board's finding that W&M Properties violated federal labor law by refusing to hire people based on anti-union bias. The company had challenged this decision, but the court rejected their appeal and enforced the NLRB's ruling. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case reinforces an important protection for workers: employers cannot refuse to hire someone simply because they belong to a union. Federal law protects workers' rights to join unions and participate in union activities without facing job discrimination. If workers believe they've been denied employment because of their union membership, they can file complaints with the NLRB, which has the authority to investigate and take action against employers who break these rules.