In this prolonged employment discrimination litigation, in which this Court has rendered numerous opinions in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, defendant Local 28 of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (“Local 28” or the “Union”) appeals from an order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Robert L. Carter, Judge, see
The Union’s due process argument provides no basis for reversal. The district court found the argument waived because, despite having notice that an escrow requirement would be considered, the Union did not raise a due process argument or contend that additional hearings were needed on that issue until after that court had rendered its decision ordering the escrow. See
Nor are we persuaded by the Union’s contention that the escrow order requires an increase in union dues and assessments in violation of § 101(a)(3)(A) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (“LMRDA”), which provides that “the rates of dues and initiation fees” are not to be increased without a membership vote, 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(3)(A) (1994). In the midst of these protracted proceedings to determine the monetary remedy to be imposed for the Union’s contempt in failing to comply with earlier remedial orders, the Union’s leaders, for articulated business reasons, reduced union dues and assessments, thereby decreasing the amount of money the Union would have available to satisfy backpay awards. It is undisputed that the Union and its members regarded this reduction as “temporary” (e.g., Local 28 brief on appeal at 6 n. 4); and when questioned closely by the district court at the hearing on the Union’s ability to satisfy the back-pay awards, the Union’s president and business manager testified unequivocally that the prior dues and assessment levels could be restored without a membership vote. The district court, in ordering the Union to make periodic payments into the escrow account until all the backpay awards are satisfied, stated that this could be accomplished by the Union’s “restoring its dues and assessments to their earlier levels.”
Finally, we reject the Union’s contention that the escrow order was otherwise inappropriate. In a civil contempt proceeding, the district court has “broad discretion to fashion an appropriate coercive remedy ... based on the nature of the harm and the probable effect of alternative sanctions,” and “[i]ts determination will not be disturbed absent a clear showing of abuse of discretion.” N.A. Sales Co. v. Chapman Industries Corp.,
We have considered all of Local 28’s contentions on this appeal and have found them to be without merit. The order of the district court is affirmed.
