Acosta v. Local Union 26, Unite Here

**What Happened** This case involved a dispute over union members' rights to access their collective bargaining agreements. A union member wanted to not only look at their union's collective bargaining agreement but also take notes while reviewing it. Local Union 26, which is part of UNITE HERE (a hospitality workers' union), refused to allow note-taking during the inspection of these important documents. **What the Court Decided** The First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the union. The court determined that while federal labor law gives union members the right to "inspect" their collective bargaining agreements, this right does not automatically include the ability to take notes during that inspection. The union was within its rights to limit access to viewing only, without allowing members to write down information. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling clarifies the boundaries of union members' document access rights. While workers can still review their collective bargaining agreements to understand their workplace rights and benefits, unions can restrict how that review happens. Union members who want copies of contract details may need to request them through other means or work with their union leadership to find alternative ways to obtain the information they need.