Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Local 638

401 F. Supp. 467, 12 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 712
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJuly 18, 1975
Docket71 Civ. 2877 (HFW)
StatusPublished
Cited by30 cases

This text of 401 F. Supp. 467 (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Local 638) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Local 638, 401 F. Supp. 467, 12 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 712 (S.D.N.Y. 1975).

Opinion

OPINION

WERKER, District Judge.

This is an action filed in 1971 by the United States pursuant to § 707(a) of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-6(a). It was originally part of a larger action against four unions in the building trades industry and their joint apprenticeship committee for engaging in a past and continuing pattern and practice of discrimination in admission and employment of non-whites. 1 Soon after issue was joined in that case separate trials were ordered for each union and its related co-defendants. 2 After severance of the four groups for purposes of trial, the City of New York (the City) was granted leave to intervene in that portion of the action relating to Local Union No. 28 of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (Local 28). United States v. Local 638, Enterprise Ass’n, etc., 347 F.Supp. 164 (S.D.N.Y.1972). 3

The defendants who were on trial before this court from January 13 to February 3, 1975 are Local 28, Local 28’s *471 Joint Apprenticeship Committee and Trust (JAC), and, for purposes of relief only, the New York City Chapter of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (Contractors’ Association). By virtue of third and fourth party complaints filed by Local 28 and JAC, the New York State Division of Human Rights (the Division) is a defendant in this action for purposes of relief. The third and fourth-party pleadings were predicated upon administrative and judicial proceedings instituted by the State Attorney General against Local 28 and JAC in which the defendants were directed to end racially discriminatory selection and admission practices under the supervision and direction of the Division. 4 See State Commission on Human Rights v. Farrell, 43 Misc.2d 958, 252 N.Y.S.2d 649 (Sup.Ct.N.Y.Cnty. 1964). Although a nominal defendant in this case, the Division has in its papers and at trial consistently aligned itself with the plaintiffs’ cause.

The complaint filed by the United States (the government) alleges that Local 28 is engaged in a pattern and practice of resistance to the full enjoyment by non-whites of rights secured to them by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e-2(c) and 2000e-2(d). The pattern and practice alleged includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(a) Failing and refusing to admit nonwhite workmen ... as journeymen members on the same basis as whites are admitted;
(b) Failing and refusing to refer nonwhite workmen for employment (within its jurisdiction) . on the same basis as whites are referred by applying standards for referral which have the purpose and effect of ensuring referral priority to . . . (its) . . . members . . . ;
(c) Failing and refusing to recruit blacks for membership in and employment through . . . (Local 28) . on the same basis as whites are recruited;
(d) Failing and refusing to permit contractors with whom (Local 28) . . . has collective bargaining agreements to fulfill the affirmative action obligations imposed upon those contractors by Executive Order 11246 by refusing to refer out blacks whom such contractors wish to employ;
(e) Failing and refusing to take reasonable steps to make known to nonwhite workmen the oportunities for employment in the . (sheet-metal trade) . . . , or otherwise to take affirmative action to overcome the effects of past racially discriminatory policies and practices.

The government’s complaint does not allege specific acts of discrimination by defendant JAC. To the extent, however, that plaintiffs have succeeded in establishing such violations at trial, the government’s complaint is deemed amended to conform to the proof. See Rule 15(b), Fed.R.Civ.P.

The City’s complaint (¶| 10) alleges that Local 28 is engaged in a pattern and practice of resistance to the full enjoyment by non-whites of rights which are secured to them by § B 1-7.0 of the New York City Administrative Code as well as by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. It sets forth the same allegations as to Local 28 quoted above, and adds as an additional example of discriminatory practice:

(f) Adopting standards for admission to union membership which are not *472 job related and which operate to disqualify a disproportionate number of non-whites for membership.

The City’s complaint, furthermore, alleges that defendant JAC is also engaged in a pattern and practice of discrimination, which includes, but is not limited to:

(a) Failing and refusing to make information concerning apprenticeship opportunities available to non-whites on the same basis as it is made available to whites;
(b) Failing and refusing to make apprenticeship opportunities available to non-whites on the same basis as they are made available to whites;
(c) Adopting standards for the selection of apprentices which are not job related and which operate to disqualify a disproportionate number of nonwhite applicants for apprenticeship.

The allegations of both complaints have been largely substantiated by the evidence produced at trial.

BACKGROUND FACTS

A. Local 28

1. Local 28 is an unincorporated labor union. It is the recognized bargaining agent for journeymen and apprentice sheet metal workers 5 hired by sheet metal contractors within its geographical jurisdiction.

2. The geographical jurisdiction of Local 28 includes the five boroughs of the City of New York.

3. A non-white has never been an officer of Local 28, or a member of the Executive Board of Local 28.

4. Since its inception in 1913 Local 28 has been governed by its own Constitution and By-Laws, and by the Constitution and Ritual of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association. Prior to November 1946, the Constitution of the International Association contained a provision for the establishment of an “auxiliary” local union when there was a “sufficient number of eligible Negro applicants.” As stated in this provision, the auxiliary was:

subordinate to the established and affiliated white local union and shall be represented by said white local union at all conferences and conventions, including International Conventions The same initiation, re-initiation and reinstatement fees shall apply to auxiliary members and the privilege of transfer shall be limited to transferring from one auxiliary to another auxiliary.

5.

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373 F.3d 104 (Second Circuit, 2004)
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Patterson v. Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co.
475 F. Supp. 344 (N.D. Indiana, 1979)
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443 F. Supp. 253 (S.D. New York, 1977)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
401 F. Supp. 467, 12 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 712, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/equal-employment-opportunity-commission-v-local-638-nysd-1975.