Int'l Ass'n of Fire Fighters Local Union No. 5058 v. Gillette/Wright/Campbell Cnty. Fire Prot. Joint Powers Bd.

**What happened:** A firefighters' union in Wyoming tried to exclude volunteer and part-time firefighters from their bargaining unit, wanting only full-time career firefighters to be represented. The union argued that volunteers and part-time workers shouldn't count as "paid members" under Wyoming's collective bargaining law for firefighters. This dispute went to court when the fire department's joint powers board challenged the union's position. **What the court decided:** The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled against the union. The court determined that volunteer and part-time firefighters who receive any compensation - even small amounts - must be considered "paid members" under state law. This means they have the right to be included in the bargaining unit alongside full-time firefighters. The court found that the union's attempt to create an all-career-firefighter bargaining unit was improper under Wyoming law. **Why this matters for workers:** This ruling protects part-time and volunteer workers' rights to union representation. It establishes that even workers who aren't full-time employees can't be excluded from collective bargaining if they receive any payment for their work. This decision strengthens workplace democracy by ensuring broader worker participation in union activities and contract negotiations.