Walling, Wage and Hour Administrator, v. Nashville, Chattanooga & ST. Louis Railway (330 U.S. 158)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided February 17, 1947 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 330 U.S. 158 · 67 S. Ct. 644
- Decided
- February 17, 1947
- Term
- October Term 1946
- Vote
- 9–0
- Majority author
- Justice Black
- Issue area
- Unions
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome
- Petitioning party lost
- Ideological direction
- Conservative
Opinion excerpt
Me. Justice Black delivered the opinion of the Court. The petitioner, Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, United States Department of Labor, filed this action in a Federal District Court to enjoin alleged violations by the respondent railroad of §§15 (a) (2) and 15 (a) (5) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. 52 Stat. 1060, 1068. These sections require that minimum wages be paid to employees covered by the Act and that appropriate records be kept concerning their employment and pay. The railroad was charged with having violated the Act with regard to two types of alleged employees: First, persons in training to become yard and main line firemen, brakemen, and switchmen; second, others in training to become clerks, stenographers, callers, messengers, and other similar general miscellaneous workers. The District Court held that the first group were not “employees” and therefore were not covered by the Act. On this ground alone the injunction was denied as to them. It also denied relief as to the second group, clerks, etc., partly on this same ground. Another ground for denying relief as to the second group was the court’s finding that the railroad “for several years past has been complying with the Act as to them, and apparently intends in good faith to do so in the future.” 60 F. Supp. 1004, 1007-1008. The Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed. 155 F. 2d 1016, one judge…
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