Byrd v. South Florida Carpenters District Council
Byrd v. South Florida Carpenters District Council
Opinion of the Court
FINAL ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
This cause comes before the court on the defendant’s motion for summary judgment, filed pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. In its motion for summary judgment, the defendant argues that the plaintiff’s action is time-barred and that the Department of Labor’s decision not to bring suit challenging union election procedures is nonetheless dispositive of the case.
The plaintiff’s complaint alleges improprieties with the adoption and implementation of union bylaws, as well as a resulting diminution in the voting rights of a portion of the membership. According to the plaintiff, these bylaws were adopted in violation of the union constitution and the bylaws that were then in existence. The plaintiff's complaint further implies that these bylaws have diluted the voting rights of union members and have caused the subsequent elections of union officers to be invalid.
However, the plaintiff has come forward with no factual support for his allegations. It appears from the uncontroverted facts that the constitution and laws of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, as well as the bylaws of the South Florida District Council, have been followed by the defendant insofar as the allegations made by the plaintiff are concerned. The plaintiff may be dissatisfied with the manner in which the union constitution and bylaws can be amended, but there is nothing to suggest that any impermissible procedure took place with respect to the adoption or implementation of the bylaws.
Notably, the plaintiff has already presented his charges of election impropriety to the Department of Labor. The Department of Labor has found no violation of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act and has reached a determination that no complaint should be filed in federal court. Moreover, the Secretary of Labor is the sole individual authorized by law to institute an action challenging the validity of a union election. See 29 U.S.C. § 482; Trbovich v. United Mine Workers, 404 U.S. 528, 531-32, 92 S.Ct. 630, 632-33, 30 L.Ed.2d 686 (1972). The plaintiff cannot bring an action against the union in this court in order to challenge the validity of past union elections.
Finally, the plaintiff appears to challenge the defendant’s role in matters apart from union elections. The plaintiff’s allegations in this respect involve union conduct in 1985 by the international union, rather than by the district council which is the named defendant in this action. At that time, the representatives of the international union allegedly signed a contract over the wishes of the local membership. The plaintiff also alleges that the South Florida District Council passed the bylaw amendments used in conducting the challenged elections despite a local union vote not to amend the bylaws. This action by the District Council took place on June 4, 1986.
Insofar as the plaintiff’s pro se complaint can be construed to allege violations of the defendant’s duty of fair representation, the defendant argues that the action is barred by a six month statute of limitations. See DelCostello v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 462 U.S. 151, 103 S.Ct. 2281, 76 L.Ed.2d 476 (1983); Erkins v. United Steelworkers, 723 F.2d 837
Accordingly, after careful consideration of this matter, this court
ORDERS and ADJUDGES that the defendant’s motion for summary judgment be, and the same hereby is, GRANTED. The court further
ORDERS and ADJUDGES that all other pending motions are hereby DENIED AS MOOT. This case is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
DONE and ORDERED in chambers at the United States District Courthouse, Federal Courthouse Square, Miami, Florida, this 14th day of June, 1991.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Patrick BYRD v. SOUTH FLORIDA CARPENTERS DISTRICT COUNCIL
- Status
- Published