Dow Electric, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union No. 910

# Dow Electric v. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ## What Happened Dow Electric, Inc. tried to withdraw from agreements it had made with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union. The company claimed it was no longer bound by the terms of these contracts. However, the union challenged this claim, arguing that Dow Electric had violated the agreements by failing to follow required audit procedures. ## What the Court Decided The court sided with the union. The judge determined that Dow Electric could not simply leave the agreements and that the company remained legally responsible for following them. The court upheld a previous decision awarding the union over $1 million in damages—specifically $1,054,641.37—for Dow Electric's failure to comply with the audit requirements outlined in the collective bargaining agreements. ## Why This Matters for Workers This ruling protects workers by making clear that employers cannot escape their union contract obligations simply by deciding to withdraw. Collective bargaining agreements create binding promises, and employers must honor them. This decision strengthens workers' ability to enforce workplace agreements through their unions.