DELONG v. Local Union 1111 UAW Retirees

**Union Retiree Loses Membership Rights After Divorce** This case involved a woman named DeLong who wanted to keep her associate membership in a UAW retirees' chapter after her divorce. DeLong had been a member through her marriage to a UAW retiree, but after their divorce, the union said she was no longer eligible to participate in the retired workers' group. DeLong argued that the union had broken its contract with her by removing her membership rights. She believed she should be allowed to continue as an associate member even after the divorce ended her connection to the UAW retiree. The court sided with the union. The judge ruled that under the UAW's constitution, DeLong no longer qualified as a "spouse" after her divorce, which was the basis for her original membership eligibility. The court also found that associate membership in retiree chapters is optional for unions to grant, not something they're required to provide. **What this means for workers:** If you have union benefits through a spouse's membership, those benefits may end if your marriage ends. Union membership rules are typically strict about eligibility requirements, and courts generally won't force unions to extend membership beyond what their constitutions allow.