Ling v. Norfolk & Western Railway Co.
Ling v. Norfolk & Western Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
The complaint filed herein pursuant to 45 U.S.C. § 151 et seq. alleges that defendant Norfolk & Western Railway Company (hereafter N & W) breached the collective
This cause is now before the Court upon motion of defendant N & W for summary judgment and upon motion of defendant BRAC to dismiss, or in the alternative for summary judgment. Plaintiff has opposed both motions and defendant N & W has replied to plaintiff’s opposition to its summary judgment motion.
It is not disputed that prior to April, 1974, plaintiff held the position of Chief Clerk to the Assistant Superintendent at N & W’s Toledo Terminal. At all material times, plaintiff was a member of BRAC and continues to hold membership therein.
On April 8,1974, defendant N & W issued a bulletin stating that effective April 16, 1974, the position of Chief Clerk at the Terminal Trainmaster Office, Toledo, Ohio was being abolished.
On May 22, 1974, BRAC, through its agent J. T. Walker, filed a claim of unjust treatment on plaintiff’s account, seeking penalty pay reimbursement, restoration to his prior position, and in the absence of the former, a hearing pursuant to Rule 28 of the collective bargaining agreement. (Walker aff. ex. 15). N & W denied plaintiff’s May 22, 1974 claim asserting that no contract violation had occurred since the position of Chief Clerk to the Trainmaster in Toledo was properly abolished on April 17, 1974 by notice dated April 8, 1974, all in accordance with the provisions of Rule 20 of the collective bargaining agreement, and that the remaining duties were properly assigned to the position of Chief Clerk to the Assistant Superintendent. (Walker aff. ex. 16). Defendant N & W further stated
In addition to the May 22, 1974 claim filed by defendant BRAC, plaintiff also filed two claims with N & W and personally contacted the office of N & W’s president, on numerous occasions, with respect to his grievances. (Walker aff. ex. 17, 19, 24-26). Defendant BRAC continued to represent plaintiff up until early 1975 when both claims were withdrawn. (Walker aff. § 21; ex. 19, 20, 27, 29, 33, 35).
Considering first N & W’s motion for summary judgment, it is the position of N & W that contrary to plaintiff’s claim, Rule 20 of the Master Agreement was never violated and that Rule 28 does not apply to plaintiff since he voluntarily exercised displacement under Rule 16 of that agreement. N & W further claims that the instant dispute is one over the application and provisions of the collective bargaining agreement and being a minor dispute within the meaning of the Railway Labor Act, plaintiff has a mandatory duty to pursue his remedies under that Act, which he has not done. In opposing N & W’s motion, plaintiff concedes that ordinarily, the position of the N & W would be correct and that the National Railroad Adjustment Board (hereafter NRAB) would be the proper tribunal for such a dispute between an employee and a carrier. Plaintiff asserts, however, that in this situation, where he seeks to maintain an action against the carrier as well as the union, he need not resort to the NRAB since he can only obtain complete relief in a United States District Court. This Court is not persuaded, as plaintiff would have it be, that merely because plaintiff seeks redress from both N & W and BRAC, he can side-step his Railway Labor Act remedies as provided in 45 U.S.C. § 153.
In opposing N & W’s summary judgment motion, plaintiff infers that N & W and BRAC “ganged up” on him. (Pl. op. to N & W’s s. j. mo. p. 3). This Court does not find, however, that such an inference, without any supporting evidence or even a straight-forward allegation, presents a situation where the Court could consider that the named defendants contrived or acted in concert against plaintiff so as to find that judicial review herein might not be barred. See Glover v. St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company, et al., 393 U.S. 324, 89 S.Ct. 548, 21 L.Ed.2d 519 (1969). This Court finds that jurisdiction of this dispute lies with the NRAB.
Defendant BRAC has moved for dismissal of this action, and in the alternative, for summary judgment. As a basis for the motion to dismiss, BRAC claims that the Court lacks jurisdiction over the subject matter since exclusive jurisdiction lies with the NRAB, and since plaintiff has failed to state a claim for which relief may be granted. As a basis for the summary judgment motion, BRAC claims that there was no breach of duty of fair representation, that plaintiff’s claim is barred by the statute of limitations, and that the plaintiff’s contractual claim is without merit.
Considering BRAC’s summary judgment motion, the Court does not find its claims as to the statute of limitations and the actual merit of plaintiff’s contractual claims to be well taken. As to BRAC’s contention that no breach of fair representation occurred, this Court notes that factual disputes exist between the parties and that it cannot find that BRAC is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
THEREFORE, for the reasons stated herein, good cause appearing, it is
ORDERED that the motion of defendant N & W for summary judgment be, and it hereby is, SUSTAINED, and the clerk shall enter judgment in accordance herewith; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED that the motion of defendant BRAC to dismiss, or in the alternative for summary judgment be, and it hereby is, OVERRULED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
. The abolishment bulletin was corrected on April 9, 1974, changing the date of abolition of the Chief Clerk position to the Terminal Train-master Office to April 17, 1974 (N & W s. j. mo. ex. B; Walker aff.).
. On May 20, 1974, plaintiff personally filed a claim for protective allowances due to his being adversely affected by the merger of the Nickle Plate Railroad and the N & W. (Walker aff. ex. 13). Such claim was denied and apparently never processed further. (Walker aff. § 13).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Charles LING v. NORFOLK AND WESTERN RAILWAY CO.
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published