International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO v. Union de Carpinteros de Puerto Rico

CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedJuly 14, 2022
Docket3:22-cv-01267
StatusUnknown

This text of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO v. Union de Carpinteros de Puerto Rico (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO v. Union de Carpinteros de Puerto Rico) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO v. Union de Carpinteros de Puerto Rico, (prd 2022).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

MACHINISTS AND AEROSPACE WORKERS,

AFL-CIO, by its trustee JUAN NEGRON,

Plaintiff

v. CIVIL NO. 22-1267 (RAM)

UNION DE CARPINTEROS DE PUERTO RICO, GERMAN RIVERA-ROSADO, RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ-PAGAN

Defendants

OPINION AND PERMANENT INJUNCTION ORDER On June 9, 2022, Plaintiff International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers AFL-CIO’s (“Plaintiff,” “IAMAW” or “the International”) filed a Complaint for Enforcement of Trusteeship (“Complaint”) for injunctive and declaratory relief pursuant to Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act (“LMRA”), 29 U.S.C. § 185, and Title III of Labor Management Relations and Disclosure Act (“LMRDA”), 29 U.S.C. § 401 et seq., against Union De Carpinteros De Puerto Rico (“UCPR,” “Local” or “LL 2252-C”) and Germán Rivera-Rosado (“Mr. Rivera-Rosado”) and Rafael Rodríguez-Pagán (“Mr. Rodríguez-Pagán”) (jointly, “Defendants”). (Docket No. 1). On June 27, 2017, Mr. Rivera-Rosado and Mr. Rodríguez-Pagán (jointly, “Individual Defendants”) filed a Motion by German Rivera Rosado And By Rafael Rodriguez Pagan, Voluntarly [sic] Submitting To The Jurisdiction Of The Honorable Court And Informing That They Will Not Oppose Nor Raise Any Defense To The Temporary Restaining [sic] Order (“Motion”). (Docket No. 47).1 They averred that per a

Settlement Agreement between the parties, they: (1) would not raise any defenseto the Complaint; (2) consent to the Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) issued on June 10, 2022 and Plaintiff’s pending Injunction Request; and (3) request that Judgment be entered against them without the imposition of any costs or attorney fees. Id.2 The Court subsequently granted the Motion. (Docket No. 50). Plaintiff and UCPR then filed The International’s and the Local’s Response to Defendant’s Motion at ECF No. 47 And Motion For Entry Of Judgment (“Motion for Judgment”) reiterating the execution of the settlement agreement and requesting entry of judgment. (Docket No. 51). The Court highlights some of the

Settlement Agreement’s most salient stipulations:

1 While the Individual Defendants voluntarily submitted themselves to the Court’s jurisdiction, the Court nonetheless had jurisdiction over the present case. To wit, the Complaint properly invoked jurisdiction pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 185(a), which permits suits between labor organizations for contract violations, the main issue here. (Docket No. 1); see United Ass'n of Journeymen & Apprentices v. Local 334, United Ass'n of Journeymen & Apprentices, 452 U.S. 615, 619 (1981) (finding that, since union constitutions are “labor contracts,” the court has jurisdiction to enforce their terms); see also Lydon v. Loc. 103, Int'l Bhd. of Elec. Workers, 770 F.3d 48, 54 (1st Cir. 2014).

2 The parties originally filed a Spanish version of the Settlement Agreement, but later filed a certified translation. (Docket Nos. 51-1, 54-1). A. The Individual Defendants agree to accept every allegation in the Complaint, the TRO and request for injunction (Docket Nos. 1, 3 and 9) in the present case. B. The Individual Defendants agree to not raise any

affirmative defenses and withdraw any allegations in this case.3 C. The Individual Defendants agree to fully cooperate with IAMAW’s trusteeship and audit process and with any other proceeding to which they or other Union members could be subject to. D. The Individual Defendants agree to cooperate with all disciplinary, administrative, and/or any other proceeding of any nature related to the facts of the case, and/or that arise from the audit to be conducted and that the UCPR and/or IAMAW may establish against them or against any

other member, employee, directive, or agent of the UCPR, with their respective Bylaws and/or Constitution. E. Plaintiff waives any request for attorney’s fees and costs.4

3 On June 20, 2022, UCPR filed suit against IAMAW and Trustee Juan Negron requesting relief under Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act (“LMRA”), 29 U.S.C. § 185, Title III of Labor Management Relations and Disclosure Act (“LMRDA”), 29 U.S.C. § 401, and state law. (Civil Case No. 22- 1293, Docket No. 1). It averred the Affiliation Agreement between UCPR and IAMAW is null and void and violates Plaintiff’s Constitution. Id. UCPR later requested voluntary dismissal, which was ordered by the Court. (Docket Nos. 7, 9).

4 Although the parties at all times requested Judgment be entered without the imposition of costs or attorney fees, the translated Settlement Agreement F. The Individual Defendants can continue to be Union members; however, they cannot hold executive or elected offices within IAMAW, LL 2252-C or any IAMAW local lodge in Puerto

Rico for three years. (Docket No. 54-1). The Motion for Judgment also stated that IAMAW “has not waived – and the parties understood that it did not – any right whatsoever with regards to additional proceedings, including taking any disciplinary, legal, or whatever other action that may arise from” IAMAW’s audit. (Docket No. 51 at 2-3). The Court subsequently granted the Motion for Judgment. (Docket No. 53). I. FINDINGS OF FACT5 Based on the Individual Defendants’ failure to contest the Complaint and the Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction and Incorporated Memorandum of Law (), the

record before the Court, and Fed. R. Civ. P. 52 (a), the Court makes the following findings of fact: 1. IAMAW has established prima facie that this Court has jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter herein.

erroneously states that the Individual Defendants request Judgment be issued “with imposition of costs and attorneys fees.” (Docket Nos. 47, 51, 51-1 and 54-1).

5 References to a Finding of Fact shall be cited as follows: (Fact ¶__). 2. IAMAW established prima facie evidence showing that LL 2252-C signed an affiliation agreement (“the Agreement”) with IAMAW on April 24, 2019. (Docket No. 3-3). 3. The Agreement states that upon its ratification, IAMAW

shall charter UCPR as a local lodge, directly affiliated with the IAMAW Grand Lodge, and UCPR will keep its status as an affiliated lodge continuously thereafter. Id. at 2. 4. The Agreement also states that “the newly charter local and its members shall comply with all provisions of the IAMAW Constitution.” Id. 5. Section 7 of Article VI of IAMAW’s Constitution, states that the International President (“I.P.”) is empowered with “the general supervision, direction and control of all L.Ls., D.Ls., councils and conferences and the officers thereof” and which includes the “authority to place under

his/her direct supervision, direction and control any L.L., D.L., council or conference when he/she determines that the good and welfare of this Association or the membership is placed in jeopardy” for reasons justifying a trusteeship, and with the approval of the Executive Council (“E.C.”).(Docket No. 3-2 at 53). 6. Further, Section 5 of Article VII states: The G.S.T.

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International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO v. Union de Carpinteros de Puerto Rico, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/international-association-of-machinists-and-aerospace-workers-afl-cio-v-prd-2022.