Brock v. Local 553, United Ass'n of Journeymen & Apprentices

632 F. Supp. 103, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18359
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Illinois
DecidedJune 28, 1985
DocketCiv. No. 84-3197
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 632 F. Supp. 103 (Brock v. Local 553, United Ass'n of Journeymen & Apprentices) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brock v. Local 553, United Ass'n of Journeymen & Apprentices, 632 F. Supp. 103, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18359 (S.D. Ill. 1985).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

FOREMAN, Chief Judge:

Plaintiff brought this action under Title IV of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of .1959, 29 U.S.C. § 401 et seq. seeking to hold the defendant’s election of December 1, 1983 null and void. This cause was tried before the Court, without a jury, on April 23-24, 1985. Having heard the evidence and arguments of both parties, the Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law, as required by Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a).

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Plaintiff brought this action under Title IV of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (Act), 29 U.S.C. § 401 et seq.

2. Defendant is, and at all times relevant to this action has been, a local labor organization engaged in an industry affecting commerce within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. §§ 402(i), (j), and 481(b).

3. Defendant is, and at all times relevant to this action has been, chartered by and subordinate to the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO, (Union), an international labor organization engaged in an industry affecting commerce within the meaning of 29 U.S.C. §§ 402(i) and 402(j).

4. Defendant is, and at all times relevant to this action has been, an unincorporated association maintaining its principal office at 995 East Airline Drive, City of East Alton, County of Madison, State of Illinois, within the Southern District of Illinois.

5. Defendant, conducted an election of officers on December 1, 1983, which election was subject to the provisions of Title IV of the Act (29 U.S.C. § 481 et seq).

6. Lawrence P. Mefford, a member in good standing and then incumbent president of defendant, filed a protest concerning this election by letter dated December 7, 1983, addressed to the General Secretary-Treasurer of the Union. (Plaintiff’s Exhibit No. 12). Mefford was not running in the election. Among other things, Mefford protested that mailing lists were not made available to all candidates and that a certain candidate was allowed to use the defendant’s postage meter while others were not.

7. By letter dated December 20, 1983, International Representative Oliver H. Dunn denied Mefford’s protest. By letter dated December 23, 1983, Mr. Mefford appealed the denial of his protest to the General President of the Union. By telegram dated January 5, 1984, the General President denied the appeal. Mefford filed a complaint with the Secretary of Labor, which was received on February 2, 1984.

8. Pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 521, and in accordance with 29 U.S.C. § 482(b), plaintiff investigated the complaint, and as a result of the facts shown by this investigation, found probable cause to believe that violations of Title IV of the Act (29 U.S.C. § 481 et seq.) had occurred and had not been remedied at the time of the institution of this action. On March 30, 1984, the plaintiff filed this action alleging that the defendant violated 29 U.S.C. § 481(c) when it discriminated in favor of some candidates and against other with respect to member lists, and that the defendant violated 29 [106]*106U.S.C. § 481(g) in that monies received by the defendant by way of dues, assessments, or similar levy were used to promote the candidacy of certain candidates in the election.

9. The violations of 29 U.S.C. § 481(c) alleged in the plaintiffs complaint specifically relate to charges made in Mefford’s protest. With respect to alleged violation of 29 U.S.C. § 481(g), Mefford lacked the necessary information to be aware of the existence or scope of this allegation. Further, the defendant could have discerned a violation of this provision from Mefford’s protest since he did allude to the postage meter violation.

10. J.L. “Bill” McGhee (McGhee) was the incumbent Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer of the defendant at the time of the election in question. He also was a candidate for and was elected to that position in the December 1983 election. McGhee died on or about October 1, 1984.

11. Reggie Sparks (Sparks) was the business agent of the defendant prior to the December 1983 election. He was also an incumbent member of the Executive Board. In the December 1983 election he was a candidate for and elected to the position of Executive Board Member. Sparks became acting business manager upon the death of McGhee.

12. At all times pertinent hereto Gerald L. Myers (Myers) has been administrator of the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 553 Health and Welfare Insurance Trust (Health and Welfare Fund). He also performed administrative duties in relation to the defendant’s pension fund. Although he had previously been a member of the Executive Board of Local 553, he had not occupied that position for some time prior to the December, 1983 election. In December, 1983 he ran for the office of Executive Board Member and was elected.

13. Larry Gordon Kline (Kline) was an unsuccessful candidate for the position of Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer in the December, 1983 election. Jim Tuetken was an unsuccessful candidate for president in the December 1983 election. Bill Metheny was an unsuccessful candidate for the Examining Board in the December 1983 election.

14. Prior to the election of December 1, 1983, candidate Larry Gordon Kline requested at least twice from McGhee, defendant’s Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer a copy of the membership list for the purpose of conducting a campaign mailing. After some delay, Kline was ultimately shown a list which did not contain addresses and which included individual (contractors) who were not eligible to vote. (Plaintiff’s Exhibit No. 8).

Bill Metheny never made a formal request for a mailing list. Although the testimony indicated that he may have asked Judith Hayes, a union secretary, for the mailing list, he never asked McGhee for one even though he realized that McGhee was probably the only one who could grant such a request. Further, Jim Tuetken never made a request for a mailing list or for any other help from the union for his election.

15.

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Bluebook (online)
632 F. Supp. 103, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18359, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brock-v-local-553-united-assn-of-journeymen-apprentices-ilsd-1985.