Carpenters Local Union No. 329 v. State Ex Rel. Department of Labor

**Union Local Ordered to Pay Back Wages to Worker** This case involved a dispute between a worker and Carpenters Local Union No. 329 over unpaid wages. The worker claimed the union local failed to pay wages they were owed and broke their employment contract. The union argued they shouldn't have to pay, raising several defenses including that the worker was employed "at-will" (meaning they could be fired for any reason) and that federal labor law prevented the state from getting involved. The court sided with the worker. An administrative law judge initially ordered the union local to pay $7,440 in back wages to the worker. When the union appealed this decision, the appellate court upheld the original ruling, rejecting all of the union's arguments about why they shouldn't have to pay. This case matters for workers because it shows that even unions - organizations that typically advocate for workers' rights - must follow wage and hour laws when they act as employers. Workers have the right to receive all wages they've earned, regardless of whether their employer is a private company, government agency, or labor union. The ruling reinforces that employment contracts must be honored and wage theft claims will be taken seriously by courts.