golden state transit los angeles argued october decided december held respondent city violated federal law conditioning renewal petitioner taxicab franchise settlement pending labor dispute petitioner union golden state transit los angeles golden state district enjoined city reinstate franchise however concluded authorize compensatory damages award since supremacy clause create individual rights may vindicated action damages since even though city conduct national labor relations act nlra golden state direct violation statute act comprehensive enforcement scheme precluded resort appeals affirmed held petitioner entitled maintain action compensatory damages pp supremacy clause force create rights enforceable clause source federal rights rather secure federal rights according priority whenever come conflict state law chapman houston welfare rights organization pp however nlra grants petitioner rights enforceable remedy precluded existence comprehensive enforcement scheme since nlra provides mechanism address state interference federally protected labor rights moreover city argument conduct violate rights secured nlra rejected since petitioner intended beneficiary statutory scheme gives parties agreement right make use economic weapons expressly set forth nlra free federal state governmental interference machinists wisconsin employment relations violation federal right implicit statute language structure much direct violation right violation clearly set forth text statute pp stevens delivered opinion brennan white marshall blackmun scalia joined kennedy filed dissenting opinion rehnquist joined post zachary fasman argued cause filed briefs petitioner john haggerty argued cause filed brief respondent kenneth geller andrew pincus stuart abrams daniel barney robert digges laurie baulig william busker filed brief american trucking associations amicus curiae urging reversal benna ruth solomon charles rothfeld filed brief national league cities et al amici curiae justice stevens delivered opinion golden state transit los angeles golden state held respondent city violated federal law conditioning renewal petitioner taxicab franchise settlement pending labor dispute petitioner union remand district enjoined city reinstate franchise concluded ed authorize award compensatory damages reasoned supremacy clause create individual rights may vindicated action damages section supp cd cal even though city conduct national labor relations act nlra stat amended et seq ed supp cause action lie direct violation statute act comprehensive enforcement scheme precluded resort appeals affirmed granted certiorari limited question whether nlra granted petitioner rights enforceable section provides federal remedy deprivation rights privileges immunities secured constitution laws language statute plainly indicates remedy encompasses violations federal statutory well constitutional rights repeatedly held coverage statute must broadly construed see felder casey maine thiboutot cf price provides remedy forms official violation federally protected rights monell new york city dept social services determination available remedy statutory constitutional violation involves inquiry first plaintiff must assert violation federal right see middlesex county sewerage authority national sea clammers section speaks terms rights privileges immunities violations federal law deciding whether federal right violated considered whether provision question creates obligations binding governmental unit rather express congressional preference certain kinds treatment pennhurst state school hospital halderman interest plaintiff asserts must vague amorphous beyond competence judiciary enforce wright roanoke redevelopment housing authority also asked whether provision question intend ed benefit putative plaintiff see also dissenting citing cort ash second even plaintiff asserted federal right defendant may show congress specifically foreclosed remedy smith robinson providing comprehensive enforcement mechanis protection federal right see also middlesex county sewerage authority national sea clammers preiser rodriguez availability administrative mechanisms protect plaintiff interests necessarily sufficient demonstrate congress intended foreclose remedy see wright cf rosado wyman rather statutory framework must llowing plaintiff bring action inconsistent congress carefully tailored scheme smith burden demonstrate congress expressly withdrawn remedy defendant see wright national sea clammers lightly conclude congress intended preclude reliance remedy deprivation federally secured right wright quoting smith robinson respondent argues supremacy clause force create rights enforceable agree hat clause source federal rights secure federal rights according priority whenever come conflict state law chapman houston welfare rights organization see also swift wickham given variety situations preemption claims may asserted state federal obviously incorrect assume federal right action pursuant exists every time federal rule law state regulatory authority conversely fact federal statute certain state action preclude possibility federal statute may create federal right provides remedy cases availability remedy turns whether statute terms interpreted creates obligations sufficiently specific definite within competence judiciary enforce wright intended benefit putative plaintiff foreclosed express provision specific evidence statute ii nub controversy parties whether nlra creates rights labor management protected governmental interference city argue action precluded existence comprehensive enforcement scheme although national labor relations board nlrb board exclusive jurisdiction prevent remedy unfair labor practices employers unions authority address conduct protected nlra governmental interference thus comprehensive enforcement scheme preventing state interference federally protected labor rights foreclose remedy substantial question holding golden state city conduct within competence judiciary enforce rather city argues held liable conduct violate rights secured nlra basis previous cases reject argument agree petitioner intended beneficiary statutory scheme prevents governmental interference process nlra gives rights enforceable governmental interference action nlra congress occupied field legislation passed solely interests general public mind circumstances congressional benefits particular parties incident federal scheme regulation private damages remedy may available nlra however creates rights labor management one another state terms act confers certain rights generally employees merely employer hill florida ex rel watson stone concurring part dissenting part see also motor coach employees missouri motor coach employees wisconsin employment relations automobile workers thus stated state law regulates conduct actually protected federal law follows matter substantive right brown hotel employees rights protected state interference moreover limited explicitly set forth protected private interference nlra long understood protect range conduct state private interference wisconsin dept industry gould see also new york telephone new york dept labor powell dissenting congress left unregulated important regulations imposed sought leave labor management essentially free bargain agreement govern relationship contrary city contention esort economic weapons peaceful measures avail right employer well employee machinists wisconsin employment relations quoting american ship building nlrb golden state based doctrine identified decision machinists wisconsin employment relations supra doctrine fundamentally different rule san diego building trades council garmon state jurisdiction conduct arguably protected prohibited nlra interest maintaining uniformity administration federal regulatory jurisdiction see trainmen jacksonville terminal machinists reiterated congress intended give parties agreement right make use economic weapons explicitly set forth act free governmental interference congressional intent enacting comprehensive federal law labor relations required certain types peaceful conduct must free regulation machinists rule creates free zone regulation whether federal state excluded city contrary argument nlra secure rights state duties state expressly set forth text statute persuasive held based language structure history nlra act protects certain rights labor management governmental interference true rule machinists case set forth specific text enumerated section nlra might well also said respect number rights obligations found implicit statute language rule law product judicial interpretation vague ambiguous incomplete statutory provision less binding rule based plain meaning statute violation federal right found implicit statute language structure much direct violation right violation right clearly set forth text statute machinists rule designed garmon rule answer question whether state federal regulations apply certain conduct rather akin rule denies either sovereign authority abridge personal liberty much welfare benefits maine thiboutot right prescribed portion rent wright roanoke redevelopment housing authority interest free governmental regulation peaceful methods putting economic pressure upon one another machinists right specifically conferred employers employees nlra course congress authority retract statutorily conferred liberty state wright thiboutot relieve federal obligations declining federal funds cf guardians assn civil service new york city opinion white rosado wyman rule remains effect guarantee freedom private conduct state may abridge held golden state respondent refusal renew petitioner franchise violated petitioner right use permissible economic tactics withstand strike case come within recognized exception broad remedial scope reverse judgment appeals case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes every person color statute ordinance regulation custom usage state territory district columbia subjects causes subjected citizen person within jurisdiction thereof deprivation rights privileges immunities secured constitution laws shall liable party injured action law suit equity proper proceeding redress city correctly notes violate nlra section specifically since party collective bargaining agreement golden state teamster drivers rather merely collateral third party collective bargaining process section nlra create rights obligations respect third parties parties collective bargaining agreement way come contact collective bargaining process rather section defines concept collective bargaining obligations parties engaged collective bargaining language issue case failure make concession collective bargaining negotiations unfair labor practice thus case relied section holding city action preempted effect forcing bargaining concession golden state strain language purpose nlra misconstrue import opinion find city directly violated section solely virtue fact took action preempted section article vi cl constitution provides constitution laws shall made pursuance thereof treaties made shall made authority shall law land judges every state shall bound thereby thing constitution laws state contrary notwithstanding chapman involved predecessor ed jurisdictional counterpart provides jurisdiction civil actions redress deprivation color state law statute ordinance regulation custom usage right privilege immunity secured constitution act congress providing equal rights citizens persons within jurisdiction observed first prepositional phrase referring constitutional claims included rights secured solely supremacy clause additional language providing jurisdiction claims based acts congress providing equal rights citizens superfluous see chapman order give meaning entire statute held reference constitutional claims therefore include rights secured solely supremacy clause ibid true respect supremacy clause understood secure constitutional rights reference laws wholly unnecessary follows supremacy clause claim based statutory violation enforceable statute creates rights privileges immunities particular plaintiff appeals thus mistaken ruling nlrb exclusive jurisdiction redress violations nlra labor management federal courts jurisdiction address claims governmental interference interests protected act cases repeatedly stressed distinctions two types claims see brown hotel employees machinists wisconsin employment relations trainmen jacksonville terminal section act ed pertinent part purpose policy chapter prescribe legitimate rights employees employers relations affecting commerce garmon divests state jurisdiction actions state law prohibits conduct arguably prohibited nlra see sears roebuck carpenters belknap hale actions involving conduct arguably protected nlra provided injured party means bringing dispute board see longshoremen davis rule avoids potential jurisdictional conflict state courts agencies nlrb ensuring primary responsibility interpreting applying body labor law remains nlrb brown hotel employees apart notions primary jurisdiction objection state courts nlrb exercising concurrent jurisdiction conduct prohibited federal act sears roebuck omitted referring substantive aspects process wrote decisions hold congress meant activities whether employer employees regulable nlrb neither board afforded flexibility picking choosing economic devices labor management shall branded unlawful nlrb insurance agents rather without authority attempt introduce standard properly balanced bargaining power omitted define economic sanctions might permitted negotiating parties ideal balanced state collective bargaining machinists cf bomar keyes hand statutory privilege sit federal jury protected interference state cert denied justice kennedy chief justice justice join dissenting majority concludes ed requires city los angeles pay compensatory damages golden state transit violating company right national labor relations act nlra et seq ed supp employ economic weapons collective bargaining without state interference respect dissent although agree much majority discussion nlra consider statutes provide golden state remedy decision golden state transit los angeles golden state held city power condition renewal golden state operating franchise upon settlement company labor dispute imposing condition interfere nlra although city lack power sense immunized golden state interference city view nlra secure immunity within meaning district however jurisdiction enjoin city action federal statutes earliest cases interpreting constitutional law recent ones acknowledged private party assert immunity state local regulation ground constitution federal statute allocate power enact regulation national government exclusion litigant standing contend proper allocation power requires particular outcome dispute whether dispute individual parties see gibbons ogden wheat willson black bird creek marsh pet hauenstein lynham dispute involves state subdivisions see cooley board wardens port philadelphia city burbank lockheed air terminal ray atlantic richfield injured party need vest right assert attempted exercise jurisdiction control violates proper distribution powers within federal system submit interpret give cause action damages wrong committed state local entities misapprehending precise location boundaries state federal power dispute taxicab franchise involves greater transgression nlra preemption create legal interest golden state interest city infringed follow golden state may obtain relief ii nlra creates two relations encompass different legal interests statute creates first relation golden state striking union statute establishes duties golden state union correlatives duties rights nlra example duty bargain good faith correlatives duties right bargain good faith see appeals correct determine allegations injury case implicate rights duties flow first legal relation see nlra also creates jural relation city golden state although nlra provide detailed way city act renewing operating franchise statute effect supremacy clause analyzed machinists wisconsin employment relations ruled although nlrb affords power regulate activities within peripheral concern power authority influence substantive terms agreements applying machinists golden state held city power interfere nlra conditioning golden state franchise renewal upon settlement labor dispute see city lack power gives rise correlative legal interest golden state discuss golden state majority chosen call interest right see ante prefer follow familiar hohfeldian terminology say golden state immunity city interference nlra see hohfeld fundamental legal conceptions applied judicial reasoning yale defining correlative power immunity terminology best reflects congress intent create free zone bargaining described machinists see iii section provides federal remedy deprivation rights privileges immunities secured constitution laws case us today asks applies claims answered question decisions ruled allegation incompatibility federal state statutes regulations give rise claim secured constitution within meaning majority agrees within meaning chapman houston welfare rights organization discussing ed jurisdictional counterpart federal statute instead must secure right privilege immunity order provide remedy preceding analysis shows golden state immunity arose relation created nlra unlike majority however think nlra secures immunity contemplated chapman section uses word secure mean protect make certain hague committee industrial organization opinion stone sense securing person individual rights carter greenhow section thus distinguishes secured rights privileges immunities interests merely resulting allocation power state federal governments representative shellabarger sponsored bill became see cong globe recognized explained distinction follows provisions constitution restrain directly relate tenth section first article state shall make treaty grant letters marque coin money emit bills credit relate divisions political powers general governments relate directly rights persons within persons therein prohibitions upon political powers nature even occasion arose enforced courts declaring void state acts encroachment federal powers thus thus sufficiently enforced provisions constitution class secures rights liabilities persons within persons app concerns federal structure nation rather securing rights privileges immunities individuals although majority finds machinists doctrine akin rule denies either sovereign authority abridge personal liberty ante describes interest free governmental regulation right specifically conferred nlra employers employees agree federal law secures legal interest within meaning golden state contend federal statute protects city primary conduct apart governmental character machinists noted rests upon allocation power rather upon individual rights privileges immunities see machinists dispute golden state city exists federal government exercised power commerce clause regulate golden state labor relations nlra thus deprived city power effect regulations relations although recent decisions wright thiboutot suggest congress secure individual interests golden state statute congress secure nlra golden state immunity defined machinists nothing substance requirement imposed collective bargaining immunity instance prevent exercising power commerce clause authorize actions taken city immunity rather permits company object wrong sovereign attempted regulate labor relations golden state immunity benefit company individual instead results supremacy clause separate protection federal structure division power constitutional system federal law secure immunity golden state within meaning case us differs one governmental character action constitutes element primary wrong injured party seeks vindicate constitution see monroe pape case unlike statutory cases maine thiboutot plaintiffs thiboutot sued state officials withholding welfare benefits violation social security act particular claimed many words social security act imposed upon defendants duty plaintiffs pay benefits correlative duty gave plaintiffs right defendants benefits paid expansive interpretation allowed plaintiffs recover damages deprivation statutory right thiboutot case however provides help golden state nlra affords golden state counterpart plaintiffs individual interests social security benefits iv concluding golden state may obtain relief leave company without remedy despite one might think increase litigation statute recent years provide exclusive relief federal courts offer held golden state company survive summary judgment machinists doctrine claim purport make ruling respect even cite provision omission discussion perhaps stemmed recognition plaintiffs may vindicate machinists claims seeking declaratory equitable relief federal district courts powers federal jurisdictional statutes see ed ed new york telephone new york dept labor plaintiff sought declaratory injunctive relief machinists claim statutes limit jurisdiction show deprivation right privilege immunity secured federal law within meaning golden state asked relief complaint see app district jurisdiction enter injunction behalf company reasons stated view golden state claim dissent