Reginald Childs v. Pennsylvania Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, and National Railroad Passenger Corporation (1987)

The Third Circuit’s holding in Childs simply does not apply to Becker’s case: “We hold that where the union continued to represent the employee before the NRAB, and tried to remedy the breach of its duty of fair representation, the employee’s action against the union did not accrue until the [NRAB] rejected the employee’s claim.” Id. at 430 (emphasis added).

Fed’n Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 434 (3d Cir.1987); see also Whittle v. Local 641, Int’l Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, 56 F.3d 487, 490 (3d Cir.1995); Miklavic v. USAir, Inc., 21 F.3d 551 (3d Cir.1994); Vadino v. A. Valey Eng’rs, 903 F.2d 253 , 261 n. 11 (3d Cir.1990).

Fed'n Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 434 (3d Cir. 1987); see also Whittle v. Local 641, Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, 56 F.3d 487, 490 (3d Cir.1995); Miklavic v. USAir, Inc., 21 F.3d 551 (3d Cir.1994); Vadino v. A. Valey Eng'rs, 903 F.2d 253 , 261 n. 11 (3d Cir.1990).

Capraro, 993 F.2d at 334 (discussing Childs v. Pennsylvania Fed'n Bhd. of Maintenance of Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 437-39 (3d Cir.1987)). 19 Appellants assert that even if the dispute here is minor, federal courts have jurisdiction because the union had already been decertified by the time they discovered the life insurance premium violation and administrative remedies would thus be futile.

Capraro, 993 F.2d at 334 (discussing Childs v. Pennsylvania Fed’n Bhd. of Maintenance of Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 437-39 (3d Cir.1987)).

Under such circumstances, we believe that a hybrid suit challenging the adequacy of that union representation, if filed by the employee before the issuance of an award in that arbitration, would be "inefficient and premature." See Childs v. Pennsylvania Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 434-35 (3d Cir.1987).

Under such circumstances, we believe that a hybrid suit challenging the adequacy of that union representation, if filed by the employee before the issuance of an award in that arbitration, would be “inefficient and premature.” See Childs v. Pennsylvania Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 434-35 (3d Cir.1987).

Co., 2003 WL 2007936 , at **3 (6th Cir. Apr. 29, 2003) (“Minor disputes include claims involving the meaning or application of an existing collective bargaining agreement provision to a specific situation or case.”); Childs v. Pa. Fed’n Bhd. of Maintenance of Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 437 (3d Cir. 1987) (“[M]inor disputes involve the application of a valid agreement to a specific grievance); Chicago & N.W.

Auth., 882 F.2d at 783 ; Childs v. Pennsylvania Fed’n Bhd. of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 437 (3d Cir.1987); International Ass’n of Machinists v. Northwest Airlines, 673 F.2d 700, 708 (3d Cir.1982); Goclowski v. Penn Cent.

Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 433 (3d Cir.1987).

Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 433 (3d Cir.1987).

Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 433 (3d Cir.1987).

Auth., 882 F.2d at 783 ; Childs v. Pennsylvania Fed'n Bhd. of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 437 (3d Cir. 1987); International Ass'n of Machinists v. Northwest Airlines, 673 F.2d 700, 708 (3d Cir. 1982); Goclowski v. Penn Cent.

Bhd. of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 434-35 (3d Cir.1987); Galindo v. Stoody Co., 793 F.2d 1502, 1509 (9th Cir.1986).

Bhd. of Maintenance of Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 437-38 (3d Cir. 1987).

Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 433 (3d Cir.1987).

Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 434 (3d Cir.1987); see also Whittle v. Local 641, Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of Am., 56 F.3d 487, 490 (3d Cir.1995); Miklavic v. USAir, Inc., 21 F.3d 551 (3d Cir.1994); Vadino v. A. Valey Eng’rs, 903 F.2d 253 , 261 n. 11 (3d Cir.1990).

Childs v. Pennsylvania Fed’n Bhd. of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 434 (3d Cir.1987); see also Whittle v. Local 641, Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, AFL-CIO, 56 F.3d 487, 490 (3d Cir.1995).

See Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U.S. 171 , 87 S.Ct. 903 , 17 L.Ed.2d 842 (1967); Vadino v. A. Valey Engineers, 903 F.2d 253, 260 (3d Cir.1990); Childs v. Pennsylvania Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 433 (3d Cir.1987); Parke v. Bethenergy Mines, Inc., 732 F.Supp. 587, 589 (W.D.Pa.1990).

Because an important policy underlying the Railway Labor Act's scheme is to afford employees means for redress, judicial intervention is warranted when "it appears that without such access to the courts the employee's right to redress would be jeopardized." Childs v. Pennsylvania Fed'n Bhd. of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F. 2d 429, 437 (3d Cir.1987).

Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 433 (3d Cir. 1987)).

LEXIS 98879 , at *17 (citing Childs v. Pennsylvania Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 436 (3d Cir. 1987)). 78 Id. at 18-19. within 90 days of the date this Notice was issued to you (as indicated where the Notice is signed) or the date of the postmark or record of receipt, if later.”80 Because the letter states that a plaintiff has 90 days from the date of receipt to file a claim, a reasonable attorney could non-frivolously argue that Kelle…

Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 433 (3d Cir. 1987)).

Fed’n Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 434 (3d Cir. 1987)).

Way Emps., 831 F.2d 429, 437-41 (3d Cir. 1987) (recognizing the three Sisco exceptions but holding that the fourth exception in Kaschak excused the employee from exhausting administrative remedies). 48 Kaschak, 707 F.2d at 910 (emphasis in original). 49 Id. 50 Schaub v. K & L Distribs., Inc., 115 P.3d 555, 564 (Alaska 2005); see also Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U.S. 171, 186 (1967); United Parcel Serv., Inc., v. Mitchell, 451 U.S. 56, 62 (1981). - 19 - 7082 sue only the employer or o…

Way Emps., 831 F.2d 429, 437-41 (3d Cir.1987) (recognizing the three Sisco exceptions but holding that the fourth exception in Kaschak excused the employee from exhausting administrative remedies). 48 Kaschak, 707 F.2d at 910 (emphasis in original). 49 .

Way Emps., 831 F.2d 429, 432, 441 (3d Cir.1987) (plaintiff sued for breach of the duty of fair representation where union agreed with defendant that plaintiff would not raise new contentions in arbitration, but plaintiff did not move to vacate NRAB’s adverse decision); Peters v. Burlington N.R.

Way Emps., 831 F.2d 429, 434-35 (3d Cir.1987).

Way Emps., 831 F.2d 429, 437 (3d Cir.1987).

Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 437-439 (3d Cir. 1987); cf. Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U.S. 171, 186 , 87 S.Ct. 903 , 17 L.Ed.2d 842 (1967) (approving analogous exceptions in the NLRA context). 21 .

Further, requiring union members to sue whenever a union representative announces plans with which they disagree would put the members in the difficult position of being in an adversarial position against their union — the very same union that simultaneously must represent their interests. 3 Childs v. Pennsylvania Federation Bhd. of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 435 (3d Cir.1987) (noting the danger associated with filing a lawsuit of antagonizing a union that must…

Further, requiring union members to sue whenever a union representative announces plans with which they disagree would put the members in the difficult position of being in an adversarial position against their union — -the very same union that simultaneously must represent their interests. 3 Childs v. Pennsylvania Federation Bhd. of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 435 (3d Cir.1987) (noting the danger associated with filing a lawsuit of antagonizing a union that mus…

Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 436 (3d Cir.1987)).

Bhd. of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 436 (3d Cir.1987).

See Childs v. Pennsylvania Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 433 (3d Cir.1987).

See Childs v. Pennsylvania Fed'n Bhd. of Maintenance of Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 436 (3d Cir.1987) (Railway Labor Act); Hayes v. Reynolds Metals Co., 769 F.2d 1520 , 1522-23 & n. 3 (11th Cir.1985); cf. Vadino v. A. Valey Eng'rs, 903 F.2d 253, 261 (3d Cir.1990) ("Allowing the section 301 claim to be tolled until the unfair representation claim also accrues is consistent with the congressional goal of resolving labor disputes in the first instance through the collectively …

See Childs v. Pennsylvania Fed’n Bhd. of Maintenance of Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 436 (3d Cir.1987) (Railway Labor Act); Hayes v. Reynolds Metals Co., 769 F.2d 1520 , 1522-23 & n. 3 (11th Cir.1985); cf. Vadino v. A. Valey Eng’rs, 903 F.2d 253, 261 (3d Cir.1990) (“Allowing the section 301 claim to be tolled until the unfair representation claim also accrues is consistent with the congressional goal of resolving labor disputes in the first instance through the collectively …

See Childs v. Pennsylvania Fed'n Bhd. of Maintenance of Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 436 (3d Cir. 1987) (Railway Labor Act); Hayes v. Reynolds Metals Co., 769 F.2d 1520 , 1522-23 & n.3 (11th Cir. 1985); cf. Vadino v. A. Valey Eng'rs, 903 F.2d 253, 261 (3d Cir. 1990) ("Allowing the section 301 claim to be tolled until the unfair representation claim also accrues is consistent with the congressional goal of resolving labor disputes in the first instance through the collectivel…

See Childs v. Pennsylvania Fed'n Bhd. of Maintenance of Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 436 (3d Cir. 1987) (Railway Labor Act); Hayes v. Reynolds Metals Co., 769 F.2d 1520 , 1522-23 & n.3 (11th Cir. 1985); cf. Vadino v. A. Valey Eng'rs, 903 F.2d 253, 261 (3d Cir. 1990) ("Allowing the section 301 claim to be tolled until the unfair representation claim also accrues is consistent with the congressional goal of resolving labor disputes in the first instance through the collectivel…

See Childs, 831 F.2d at 431–32.

Id. at 330-32 ; see also Childs v. Pennsylvania Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429 (3rd Cir.1987) (adopting Shum’s recognition of fourth exception to exhaustion requirement).

See Childs v. Pennsylvania Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 435 (3d Cir.1987) (courts may select date of union’s refusal to grieve complaint as the date for the accrual of the statutes of limitations in a suit against the union); Grasty v. Amalgamated Cloth & Textile Workers Union, 828 F.2d 123 , 133 (3d Cir. 1987) (limitations period commenced when the futility of union appeals became apparent), ce rt. denied, 484 U.S. 1042 , 108 S.Ct. 773 …

See also, Childs v. Pennsylvania Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 434-435 (3d Cir.1987) (To require a district court to consider a suit by a plaintiff “who may yet prevail in the pending arbitration proceeding would be an intolerable drain on precious judicial resources.” Id.) Dowty v. Pioneer Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc., 770 F.2d 52, 56-57 (6th Cir.1985), ce rt. denied, 474 U.S. 1021 , 106 S.Ct. 572 , 88 L.Ed.2d 557 (1985) — which the …

See, e.g., Childs v. Federation Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F.2d 429, 436 (3d Cir. 1987) (cause of action against union accrues when final decision of Board rejecting plaintiff’s claim issued, notwithstanding plaintiff’s knowledge of union’s deficient representation before Board); Grasty v. Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers Union, AFL-CIO, CLC, 828 F.2d 123, 133 (3d Cir. 1987) (remanded to consider whether letters, telephone calls, and petitions to Joi…

See Childs v. Pennsylvania Fed'n Bhd. of Maintenance Way Employees, 831 F. 2d 429, 437-441 (3rd Cir.1987); Masy v. New Jersey Rail Operations, Inc., 790 F. 2d 322 , 325-326 (3rd Cir.), cert. den. 479 U.S. 916 , 107 S.Ct. 320 , 93 L.Ed. 2d 293 (1986).