The U.S. Supreme Court case Granny Goose Foods, Inc., et al. v. Brotherhood of Teamsters & Auto Truck Drivers, Local No. 70 of Alameda County, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers of America in 1973 revolved around the issue of whether a federal court could issue an injunction to enforce its own orders while those orders were being appealed by one party involved in the dispute. Granny Goose Foods had obtained temporary restraining orders against the union from a District Court during labor disputes and strikes; however, these were violated by the union members leading to contempt proceedings initiated by Granny Goose Foods. While these proceedings were pending appeal at Ninth Circuit Court level (which stayed enforcement), Granny Goose sought relief from Supreme Court arguing that stay issued was invalid as it prevented them from enforcing their rights under original order. The Supreme Court ruled that automatic stays on district court rulings during appeals do not apply when there is evidence showing irreparable harm if immediate action isn't taken or where public interest is involved - thus allowing for exceptions to be made for issuing injunctions even while cases are under appeal.

In the dissenting opinion for Granny Goose Foods, Inc. v. Brotherhood of Teamsters & Auto Truck Drivers, Local No. 70 of Alameda County, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers of America (1973), Justice William O. Douglas argued that the majority's decision was a departure from established precedent and an overreach by the judiciary into labor disputes best left to arbitration or negotiation between parties involved in collective bargaining agreements under federal law. He contended that courts should not interfere with strikes unless there is clear evidence they are illegal or causing irreparable harm beyond ordinary economic damage suffered during labor disputes; otherwise it could chill legitimate union activity and undermine workers' rights to collectively bargain for better conditions and wages.