Smittle v. Gatson

McHUGH, Chief Justice:

This unemployment security appeal concerns the denial of benefits to certain employees 1 of Contractors Supply, Inc. (“Contractors”) based on a finding that “a stoppage of work ... exists because of a labor dispute” and that none of the statutory exceptions applies. 2 The employees maintain that they are entitled to benefits because Contractors locked them out by refusing to operate under the expiring contract in an attempt to force a wage reduction. After the Circuit Court of Kanawha County upheld the decision of the Board of Review of the West Virginia Department of…