496 F.2d 777 | 7th Cir. | 1974
Lead Opinion
Plaintiffs-appellants have taken this appeal from a decision of the district court denying their motion for summary judgment and dismissing their action without prejudice. Plaintiffs-appellants argue that the district court was in error both in denying their motion and in dismissing the action. We agree with the district court and therefore will affirm.
The facts, as set forth in the district court’s memorandum of decision, are not substantially disputed. Plaintiffs-appellants are employees of Northwest Airlines, Inc. (NWA) and members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO (IAM). Plaintiffs-appellants brought this action against IAM’s Local Lodge 1487 and its officers seeking to enjoin union disciplinary proceedings which had been instituted against plaintiffs-appellants for crossing the picket line of a sister union. Plaintiffs-appellants seek to represent themselves and a class consisting of all employees against whom such proceedings have been instituted. A preliminary injunction was issued to delay the disciplinary proceedings during the pendency of this action.
On July 8, 1970, the Brotherhood of Railway and Airline Clerks (BRAC) struck against NWA and established picket lines. Although IAM’s collective bargaining agreement with NWA contained a no-strike provision
IAM, in light of the no-strike provisions of the bargaining agreement does not retain the right to instruct its members to honor the picket lines of a sister Union.
On December 8, 1970, shortly before the SBA handed down its decision, IAM and
There will be no reprisals, recriminations, disciplinary actions, grievances or reprimands by either party against any employee represented by IAM because of any action or non-action during or arising from the strike.
Subsequently, despite the agreement of December 8, 1970, the union local notified plaintiffs-appellants that charges had been preferred against them for conduct unbecoming a union member, consisting of crossing the BRAG picket line, and ordered them to appear for trial on those charges. Plaintiffs-appellants thereupon filed this action to enjoin the disciplinary proceedings, relying upon the no-strike provision of the NWA-IAM collective bargaining agreement, the no-reprisal provision of the back to work agreement, and the decision of the System Board of Adjustment.
On January 26, 1972, an order was issued compelling the union and its officers to hold the disciplinary proceedings in abeyance until the final disposition of all issues in this case. The parties subsequently filed reciprocal motions for summary judgment. On December 14, 1972, the district court entered an order and memorandum of decision denying plaintiffs-appellants’ motion for summary judgment and treated the defendants-appellees’ motion for summary judgment as a motion to dismiss raising matters in abatement and dismissed the entire action without prejudice to plaintiffs-appellants’ right to commence further actions. The basis for the district court’s decision was that plaintiffs-appellants had violated the second proviso of Title 29, U.S.C. § 411(a)(4). The parties had previously signed and filed a stipulation with the court to the effect that NWA was financing plaintiffs-appellants’ suit. The district court found that NWA was an interested employer within the meaning of the proviso and that the suit could not be maintained by plaintiffs-appellants while financed by NWA.
I.
The first question presented is whether the district court erred in its construction of the second proviso of Title 29, U.S.C. § 411(a)(4), in determining that NWA was an “interested employer.” Appellant contends that one of the grounds for relief stated in the complaint is that the guarantee set forth in Title 29, U.S.C. § 411(a)(5), which provides that no union member can be disciplined unless he has been served with written specific charges and given a full hearing after a reasonable time within which to prepare his defense
A.
Title 29, U.S.C. § 412, confers original jurisdiction on the district courts to hear controversies involving the guarantee set forth in section 411(a)(5). In order to safeguard the guarantees set out in 29 U.S.C. § 411-415, § 411(a)(4) prohibits labor unions from limiting the rights of their members to institute actions against the unions or their officers.
Provided, That any such member may be required to exhaust reasonable hearing procedures . . . within such organization, before instituting legal or administrative proceedings against such organizations or any officer thereof [.]
The district court held that plaintiffs-appellants were not required to exhaust union procedures. The court reasoned that such actions would be futile since no internal union remedies existed which were capable of giving plaintiffs-appellants the relief they were seeking since they sought not merely to prevent possible union punishment but sought to prevent the disciplinary hearings themselves. The appellees have not cross-appealed from the decision of the district court, and therefore the propriety of the decision is not properly before us on review.
B.
The principal issue in this appeal is whether NWA is an “interested employer” within the meaning of the second proviso of 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(4). The second proviso states:
And provided further, That no interested employer or employer association shall directly or indirectly finance, encourage, or participate in, except as a party, any such action, proceeding, appearance, or petition.
Appellants argue that although NWA is financing the suit, it gains no legal, financial or business advantage from the suit but is merely asserting a moral responsibility toward its employees who lawfully crossed the BRAC picket line. Appellees in reply argue that NWA is motivated by a desire to lessen the representational strength of IAM as the collective bargaining representative of the NWA employees which IAM represents. Thus, we must determine what is meant by the term “interested employer” and then decide whether NWA is an “interested employer.”
The second proviso of § 411(a)(4) has been construed in Farowitz v. Associated Musicians'of Greater New York, 241 F. Supp. 895 (S.D.N.Y.1965). That court determined that the proviso must be strictly construed and that the language must be given a construction as consistent as possible with the policy of the statute to guarantee the right of union members to sue the union. The court decided that the employers, despite the fact that they had financed several suits against the union, were not “interested” within the meaning of the statute. The court stated that what was at stake was the plaintiff’s livelihood as a musician and that the incidental propaganda benefit which would accrue to the employers did not rise to the level of an interest necessary to fall within the proviso.
The court focused on the statement of Representative Griffin regarding the purpose of the second proviso of § 411(a)(4):
The last proviso in Section 101(a)(4) was added to make sure that the interested employers do not take advantage of rights accorded union members by encouraging or financing harassing suits or proceedings brought by union members against their unions. The purpose of the proviso should be kept in mind and it should not be so narrowly construed as to impose unnecessary or unintended restrictions upon employers in relationship with their employees.
Cong.Rec.App. A 7915 (Sept. 10, 1959). It is a fair reading of the Farowitz opinion to say that the court narrowly construed the word “interested” and decided that in the context of the facts before it the employer was not “interested” and the suit was not a harassing suit.
Certainly, the Farowitz court was correct when it decided that the second proviso of § 411(a)(4) is meant to prevent harassing suits, but that is not its only purpose. In the original bill of rights (of labor organization members) amendment of Senator McClellan, § 101(a)(4) [codified after enactment as 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(4)] did not contain the second proviso. 105 Congressional Record 6475 (1959). The second proviso was added in the so-called Kuehel amendment and did not contain the word “interested.” The Kuehel amendment provided:
That no employer or employer association shall directly or indirectly finance, encourage, or participate in, except as a party, any such action, proceeding, appearance, or petition.
105 Congressional Record 6693 (1959). The word “interested” was later added during the course of debate on the, amendment and after the Senate had expressly stated that it was creating “legislative history” in regard to the reason for its insertion. Senator Goldwater
unless such employer has no dispute, controversy, contract, connection or relationship of any kind in any area of activity, with the labor organization against which such action or proceeding has been or is being brought by such member.
105 Congressional Record 6724 (1959). Senator Goldwater was concerned with the fact that under the Kuchel proviso, a neighbor of a union member, who happened to be a businessman, could not finance the union member’s suit because such neighbor was “an employer.” 105 Congressional Record 6724 (1959). Senator Mundt later added that even a bank was “an employer” so that it could be questioned whether even a bank could lend a union member money to finance a suit without violating the proviso. 105 Congressional Record 6725 (1959). Nevertheless, the sentiment was that Senator Goldwater’s proposed amendment went too far. Therefore, Senator Javits suggested that Senator Goldwater’s proposed amendment would not be necessary and the. problem which he sought to prevent could be avoided by insertion of the word “interested” to make the Kuchel amendment read “no interested employer. - .' . ” 105 Congressional Record 6725 (1959). Senator Goldwater asked Senator Javits to explain what he meant by “interested.” In the explanation of Senator Javits, it was brought out that the word “interested” was inserted to allow a friend or bank to finance a suit but not an employer who may gain an advantage over the union from such suit. Otherwise, an employer with such an interest could bring undue pressure on the union. 105 Congressional Record 6725 (1959).
. the Senate modified the limitation to apply to interested employers only, the legislative history making it clear that employers such as those in the foregoing examples [i. e., banks, friends, or relatives who might also be an employer] were not included in the limitation which would apply only to employers who had a concrete interest in the litigation because of some relationship in the union other than the mere connection with the union member bringing the suit.
From this background of the relevant legislative history, it is clear that Congress meant to prohibit an employer from financing a suit by a union member when the employer had a concrete interest in the litigation due to its relationship with the union. Therefore,
Whether an employer is interested in the litigation, that is, whether an employer is concerned with it or is liable to be affected by it or has some self-interest in it, must necessarily be determined in the factual context which gave rise to the litigation. When viewed against the backdrop out of which the dispute between the appellants and their union developed, there is no doubt but that NWA has a concrete interest in the litigation arising out of their relationship with IAM. NWA has an interest in seeing that agreements which they enter into with the union are carried out in good faith by the union. Their future bargaining position will be influenced by a determination of whether the union has violated the no-reprisal agreement or not. Bargaining strategy will be influenced by a knowledge of whether or not the union can be trusted to adhere to its agreements.
In addition, the employer stands to gain from any divisiveness within the union which could weaken it at the bargaining table where it would be unable to.present a solid front against NWA. Any weakening of the presentational strength of IAM as the exclusive bargaining representative of NWA’s employees in the crafts and classes of service would redound to NWA’s benefit at the bargaining table and in its over-all relationship with labor. Appellants argue that no legal, financial or business advantage is gained by NWA from this suit. It is clear that NWA has a practical business interest in the suit and could gain an improvement in its collective bargaining position. The district court committed no error in deciding that the second proviso of § 411(a)(4) had not been complied with and correctly decided that a suit could not be maintained pursuant to § 412.
II.
Appellants contend that several alternate grounds exist which entitle them to relief which were properly pleaded and are not precluded by 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(4). They argue that they not only relied on the protection of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act’s fair trial provision but also sought relief under the no-strike provision of the NWA-IAM collective bargaining agreement, the no-reprisal paragraph of the back to work agreement and the decision of the System Board of Adjustment. It is argued that the district court erred in dismissing these alternate causes of action.
A.
We agree with appellants initial contention that the proviso of 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(4) does not preclude relief sought pursuant to 45 U.S.C. §§ 151-188 of the Railway Labor Act, if otherwise properly brought. Title 29 U.S.C. § 412 grants original jurisdiction in the district courts for any violations of rights granted in 29 U.S.C. §§ 411-415. Section 413 is a saving provision which states that nothing contained in sections 411-415 shall limit the rights and rem
Appellants argue that the System Board of Adjustment’s award is enforceable in federal court and that the award provides the basis for the relief sought. It is well established that an award of the SBA is entitled to enforcement in the federal courts. Int’l Ass’n of Machinists v. Central Airlines, Inc., 372 U.S. 682, 83 S.Ct. 956, 10 L.Ed.2d 67, rehearing denied, 373 U.S. 947, 83 S.Ct. 1533, 10 L.Ed.2d 702 (1963); Buzzard v. Local Lodge 1040 Int’l Ass’n of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, 480 F.2d 35 (9th Cir. 1973). In such a case jurisdiction would exist pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 or § 1337 provided that the complaint presented a substantial claim arising under the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C. § 151-188. However, the SBA award will not support the relief requested by appellants. The SBA decision expressly stated that the award was not based on any consideration of “matters of discipline ... of individuals for refusing to cross picket lines of sister unions.” Opinion of NWA/IAMAW System Board of Adjustment 5 (1970). Rather, the focus of the SBA was on the no-strike clause and its effect on union conduct. Id. at 2, 4, 5. The issue presented to the SBA by the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit was:
[Wjhether IAM, in the light of the no-strike provisions of the bargaining agreement, retains the right to instruct its members to honor the picket lines of a sister union.
Northwest Airlines, Inc. v. Int’l Ass’n of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, 442 F.2d 244, 246 (8th Cir. 1970). The decision reached by the SBA was that IAM did not retain the right to instruct its members to honor the picket lines of a sister union. Opinion of NWA/IAMAW System Board of Adjustment, supra at 11. Therefore, the SBA award is limited in scope and it does not give appellants a cause of action to enjoin the disciplinary hearings. Since the injunctive relief sought could not be based on the SBA award, the district court committed no error in dismissing that claim. Accord, Buzzard v. Local Lodge 1040 Int’l Ass’n of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, supra, 480 F.2d at 40.
B.
Appellants assert that the district court had jurisdiction to grant the injunctive relief requested based on the alleged breach of the no-strike provision of the collective bargaining agreement and the no-reprisal provision of the back
The only relief sought by appellants was an injunction of the disciplinary proceedings. They did not seek any money damages under any of the alternate theories pleaded. It is well established that equitable relief will not be granted when a remedy exists at law which would completely compensate a party for any damages which he may have suffered. See, Beacon Theatres, Inc. v. Westover, 359 U.S. 500, 79 S.Ct. 948, 954, 3 L.Ed.2d 988 (1959). To be entitled to injunctive relief a party must show that he has no adequate remedy at law and will suffer irreparable harm unless the injunction issues. Appellants stated in their complaint that there was no adequate legal remedy and that they would suffer irreparable harm if forced to submit to disciplinary proceedings in that their standing as members of IAM and with NWA would be jeopardized. However, such potential harm is completely speculative at this time. None of the appellants has had to undergo disciplinary hearings in this matter. None has been fined, suspended or in any way sanctioned by the union. It is anomalous for appellants to argue that their employment with NWA may be jeopardized when, in fact, NWA is financing this suit. Similarly, it is difficult to see how appellants’ position within the union will be jeopardized to any greater extent by requiring them to attend the disciplinary proceedings than it would be by issuing an injunction in their behalf against the holding of such proceedings. This is not to be interpreted that this court sanctions the union’s conduct toward these employees, which conduct is questionable at best. The attempt of the union to discipline its members in the face of the no-strike provision, the SBA award and the no-reprisal agreement presents a serious question of the exposure of the union to damages if it should elect to discipline appellants. The Buzzard court has already determined that a remedy does exist for disciplined union members for violation of the no-reprisal agreement. Buzzard v. Local Lodge 1040 Int’l Ass’n of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, supra. In addition, the decision of the Supreme
Appellants have also argued that it is the holding of the disciplinary proceedings themselves in violation of the no-reprisal agreement which wrongs them. Yet, appellants are unable to show that being subjected to disciplinary proceedings will cause them irreparable harm. If it is decided that the union’s action was a violation of the collective bargaining agreement or the no-reprisal agreement, any harm suffered by appellants could be adequately compensated by money damages. Cf., Sanders v. Air Line Pilots Ass’n Int’l, 473 F.2d 244 (2nd Cir. 1972).
Appellants admit at page four of their reply brief that fellow union members have a right to complain against them. When a complaint is filed, Article L, Section 7, of the Constitution of the IAMAW provides that the president of the local must proceed to bring the accused member to trial.
Since the district court dismissed without prejudice, nothing in the decision of that court and nothing in the opinion in this court precludes appellants from bringing an action pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 412, provided it is not financed by NWA. Appellants also are not precluded from seeking any relief available under 29 U.S.C. § 185.
The decision of the district court in denying plaintiffs-appellants’ motion for summary judgment and in dismissing their action is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
. “It is understood and agreed that the Company will not lock out any employee covered hereby and the Union wjll not authorize or take part in any strike or picketing of Company premises during the life of this Agreement until the procedures for settling disputes as provided herein and as provided by the Railway Labor Act have been exhausted.”
Article XXV, Paragraph (k), Collective Bargaining Agreement between NWA and IAM of January 1, 1969.
. Safeguards against improper disciplinary action — No member of any labor organization may be fined, suspended, expelled, or otherwise disciplined except for nonpayment of dues by such organization or by any officer thereof unless such member has been (A) served with written specific charges; (B) given -a reasonable time to prepare his' defense; (0) afforded a full and fair hearing.
(b) Any provision of the constitution and bylaws of any labor organization which is inconsistent with the provisions of this section shall be of no force or effect. 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(5).
. 29 U.S.C. § 411(a)(4) without its two provisos provides that:
Protection of the right to sue — No labor organization shall limit the right of any member thereof to institute an action in any court, or in a proceeding before any administrative agency, irrespective of whether or not the labor organization or its officers are named as defendants or respondents in such action or proceeding, or the right of any*781 member of a labor organization to appear as a witness in any judicial, administrative, or legislative proceeding, or to petition any legislature or to communicate with any legislator. . . .
. In Farowitz the employers were involved as parties in several suits attacking the union tax. NWA has brought suit as party plaintiff seeking to enjoin the union from instructing its members to honor the picket lines and was unsuccessful. See Northwest Airlines, Inc. v. Int’l Ass’n of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, 323 F.Supp. 107 (D. Minn.1970), on appeal, 442 F.2d 244 (8th Cir. 1970), on remand, 332 F.Supp. 1330 (D.Minn.1971). In Northwest Airlines, Inc. v. Int’l Ass’n of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, 336 F.Supp. 1117 (D.Minn.1972), the court held that NWA did not have standing to seek redress for union members who were disciplined since NWA could not show that it was injured or aggrieved.
NWA is now engaged in financing suits brought by union members against the Union. In light of the prior litigation on its own behalf which was unsuccessful, it would certainly indicate that NWA itself has indicated an interest in the litigation which is not merely an assertion of a “moral responsibility.”
These facts also distinguish the instant action from Faromtz.
. Mr. GOLDWATER. I understand what it means, but we want to make a legislative history. I want the proponents of this interesting word “interested” to explain it.
I yield to the Senator from New York.
Mr. JAVITS. I have in mind the fact that an employer who has an interest in the litigation ought not to bring pressure upon a union. In the eventuation of a relationship of the litigant to the union, an interested employer should not be a party to finance the suit.
We ourselves are so against antibarratry statutes that I do not want to be a party to a law which would prevent a union member from finding a friend, who happens to be an employer of people in a totally unrelated business, a bank or anything else, to loan him the money. We should not have a law to make it impossible to borrow from a friend to start a suit.
Mr. ALLOTT. May I ask a question, for the legislative history?
Mr. GOLDWATER. I yield.
Mr. ALLOTT. Including the word as the Senator has used it, in the opinion of the Senator would the language include “any” employer? Let me assume that the employer is in the general grocery business. Would the word “interested” include any other employer?
Mr. JAVITS. I think it probably would if the litigation involved the union in the whole line of business, because the words of art are “employer or employer association.”
Again we have a balance of convenience. Neither side ought to trim this, and that is why I have given the legislative history.
. Plaintiffs-appellants argue that the district court erred by failing to order that NWA be . joined as a party under Rule 19(a), Fed.R. Oiv.P. The district court was correct in its decision. Rule 19(a) clearly is inapplicable. NWA is not needed for just adjudication and has freely chosen not to participate as a party but merely to finance the action. The court need not disturb NWA’s choice.
. 29 U.S.C. § 413 provides: “Nothing contained in this subchapter shall limit the rights and remedies of any member of a labor organization under any State or Federal law or before any court or other tribunal, or under the constitution and bylaws of any labor organization.”
. 29 U.S.C. § 523(b) provides: “Nothing contained in this chapter [§§ 401-531] and section 186 (a-c) of this title shall be construed to supersede or impair or otherwise affect the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, as amended, or any of the obligations, rights, benefits, privileges, or immunities of any carrier, employee, organization, representative, or person subject thereto; nor shall anything contained in this chapter be construed to confer any rights, privileges, immunities, or defenses upon employers, or to impair or otherwise affect the rights of any person under the National Labor Relations Act, as amended.”
. Apparently contra is Verville v. IAMAW (unreported decision of D.C.E.D.Mich., April 25, 1972). However, the court did not discuss the scope of the question presented to the SBA nor express limitation in the Board’s award.
-. Section 7 provides in relevant part:
t¡t # sj: * í¡t
It is the duty of any member who has information as to conduct of a member covered by Sec. 3 of this Art. to immediately prefer charges in writing against such member. . . .
* * * * *
In the event that any L.L., or the members thereof fail to proceed as prescribed herein, then any officer or representative, or member may file written charges against such member or members with the I.P. Upon the receipt of such charges, the I.P. shall [command] said L.L. to proceed to place the accused on trial under the provisions of this Art.
If said L.L. fails or refuses for 15 days thereafter, to proceed as ordered by the I. P., then the I.P. shall notify the accused and the L.L. of which the accused is a member, of the time and place, when and where a special committee will meet for the purpose of hearing evidence and trying the accused.
Rehearing
ON PETITION FOR REHEARING
This cause is again before the court on plaintiffs-appellants’ petition for rehearing. The petition will be denied.
On April 12, 1974, this court affirmed the order of the district court entered on December 14, 1972, dismissing plain
One point raised by the petition for rehearing merits some discussion. Plaintiffs-appellants argue that this court based its decision in part on a misunderstanding of § 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, 29 U.S.C. § 185. They argue that any person subject to the Railway Labor Act, 45 U.S.C. § 151 et seq., is exempted from § 301 coverage. However, the nonexistence of a remedy under § 301 does not in any way alter our earlier decision. In our opinion, we stated that:
Arguably, the appellants could have maintained an action under § 301. But we need not decide that point since another ground exists for dismissing this action under any theory based on the no-strike or no reprisal agreement. (Emphasis added.)
The other ground upon which the decision was based was that plaintiffs-appellants were not entitled to injunctive relief. Clearly, any arguendo reference to the possibility of a § 301 action in our earlier decision has no bearing on the decision that the suit was not a proper one for injunctive relief. The district court properly dismissed the entire action. Thus, even if plaintiffs-appellants cannot maintain a § 301 action, that ground alone does not entitle them to either a rehearing or a reversal of the district court.
Additionally, it must again be pointed out that the action of the district court in dismissing the action without prejudice does not bar plaintiffs-appellants from seeking future relief. In our earlier opinion, we stated that plaintiffs-appellants were not precluded from bringing an action pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 412 provided that it was not financed by NWA. Plaintiffs-appellants may also bring a suit financed by NWA if properly brought and if the proviso of 29 U.S.C. § 411(a) (4) is not violated. Nor did the dismissal by the district court bar any other relief under the Railway Labor Act, including any possible suit for breach of the duty of fair representation. In summary, if plaintiffs-appellants are disciplined, they are free to seek damages under any theory of action which they decide is applicable as long as the proviso of § 411(a)(4) is not violated.
Accordingly, the petition for rehearing is denied.
