Hot Cargo Law and Legal Definition
Hot cargo is a labor law term used to refer to goods handled or produced by employers who are in dispute with the union. Pursuant to a hot cargo clause in a union contract, employees can refuse to handle or work on goods shipped from a struck plant or to provide services to an employer listed on a union unfair list. Most hot cargo clauses were made illegal by the Taft-Hartley Act. However, there are some exceptions.
The following is an example of a case law on te term:
Hot cargo' means any combination or agreement resulting in a refusal by employees to handle goods or to perform any services for their employer because of a dispute between some other employer and his employees or a labor organization, or any combination or agreement resulting in a refusal by employers to handle goods or perform any services for another employer because of an agreement between such other employer and his employees or a labor organization. [In re Blaney, 30 Cal. 2d 643, 646 (Cal. 1947)].
