Price v. International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America

772 F. Supp. 1330, 136 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2641, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18801, 1990 WL 306075
CourtDistrict Court, D. Connecticut
DecidedJanuary 4, 1990
DocketCiv. No. H-84-1221 (PCD)
StatusPublished

This text of 772 F. Supp. 1330 (Price v. International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Price v. International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America, 772 F. Supp. 1330, 136 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2641, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18801, 1990 WL 306075 (D. Conn. 1990).

Opinion

RULING AND ORDER

DORSEY, District Judge.

In the Ruling on Pending Motions dated May 31, 1989, this court ordered the parties to brief the retroactive effect of the Supreme Court’s decision in Communications Workers of America v. Beck, 487 U.S. 735, 108 S.Ct. 2641, 101 L.Ed.2d 634 (1988), and the appropriateness of a remedy for pre-Beck violations. While retroactive application of judicial decisions is neither compelled nor prohibited by the Constitution, “the general rule is that Supreme Court decisions are given full retroactive application.” Barkman v. Wabash, Inc., 674 F.Supp. 623, 627 (N.D.Ill.1987), citing Solem v. Stumes, 465 U.S. 638, 642, 104 S.Ct. 1338, 1341, 79 L.Ed.2d 579 (1984). Accordingly, the party seeking prospective-only application bears the burden of showing that such limited application is justified. See Saunders v. H.K. Porter Co., 643 F.Supp. 198, 201 (E.D.Va.1986) (“strong presumption in favor of retroactivity cannot easily be overcome”).

Defendant UAW contends that the Beck decision should not be applied retroactively [1332]*1332under the principles established in Chevron Oil Co. v. Huson, 404 U.S. 97, 92 S.Ct. 349, 30 L.Ed.2d 296 (1971).1 Plaintiffs assert that Beck itself demonstrates that it is to be applied retroactively and thus a Chevron analysis is inappropriate. Further, they argue that, even if such an analysis is appropriate, it would result in a finding of retroactivity.

Had the Supreme Court given no indication whether Beck should apply retroactively, a Chevron analysis would be necessary to resolve the issue. Welyczko v. U.S. Air, Inc., 733 F.2d 239, 241 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1036, 105 S.Ct. 512, 83 L.Ed.2d 402 (1984). However, where an appellate court applies its decisions to the parties before it, but is silent as to whether the decision is to be given general retroactive effect, courts generally find further analysis of the retroactivity question to be unnecessary. See, e.g., Smith v. General Motors Corp., 747 F.2d 372, 375 (6th Cir.1984) (en banc).

The Court in Beck held that agency shop agreements were limited by the union’s duty of fair representation to exacting from non-union member employees “only those fees and dues necessary to ‘performing the duties of an exclusive representative of the employees in dealing with the employer on labor management issues’ [, i.e.,] ... those germane to collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievance adjustment.” Beck, 487 U.S. at 762-65, 108 S.Ct. at 2657-58, quoting Ellis v. Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, 466 U.S. 435, 448, 104 S.Ct. 1883, 1892, 80 L.Ed.2d 428 (1984). While the Court did not expressly consider the issue of retroactivity, it did apply its holding to the claim in issue in the case before it, affirming the judgment of the Court of Appeals which provided, in part, that the “objecting employees are entitled to a refund of any amount collected of them by the union beyond” those found to be properly exactable from non-union members. Beck v. Communication Workers of America, 776 F.2d 1187, 1209 (4th Cir.1985), aff'd on reh’g en banc, 800 F.2d 1280 (4th Cir.1986). Where the Supreme Court itself has given retrospective application to a newly-adopted principle, “no sound reason exists for not doing so here.” Holzsager v. Valley Hosp., 646 F.2d 792, 797 (2d Cir.1981). This court must defer to the Supreme Court’s implicit directive on this issue. Welyczko, 733 F.2d at 241.

On June 30, 1988, the Supreme Court granted plaintiffs’ petition for writ of certiorari and vacated the Second Circuit’s opinion, Price v. UAW, 795 F.2d 1128 (2d Cir.1986), and remanded for further consideration in light of Beck. Price v. UAW, 487 U.S. 1229, 108 S.Ct. 2890, 101 L.Ed.2d 924 (1988). Implicitly, the Supreme Court remanded to apply Beck to past facts. Had the Court intended Beck to apply only to claims arising between the date of its ruling and the ultimate resolution of this action, it surely would have outlined this extraordinary limitation on the application of its ruling in its order of remand. In view of the implicit endorsement of retroactive application, an analysis under Chevron is not found to be appropriate. Accordingly, it is found that defendant UAW has not met its burden of showing that prospective relief is warranted and Beck will be applied to plaintiffs’ duty of fair representation claim for the period between September 1984 and June 30, 1988. The next issue on which briefing was ordered is the appropriateness of a remedy for pre-Beck violations of the duty of fair representation. Plaintiffs request that this court order the equitable restitution, with interest, of all service fees deducted since September 1984, from plaintiffs’ salaries. This court has previously ruled that plaintiffs’ post-Beck claims of unfair representation cannot presently be sustained because the Union has adjusted plaintiffs’ assessed fees to 85.4% of that of its members and placed such payments in an interest bearing escrow account until an independent arbitrator has reviewed the Union’s prelimi[1333]*1333nary percentage determination. Price v. UAW, 722 F.Supp. 933, 937-38 (D.Conn.1989).

It is undisputed that, prior to Beck, plaintiffs paid their dues and initiation fees in compliance with the union security clause. Ruling on Pending Motions (4/11/85) at 2. Plaintiffs protested the payment of any amounts which the union will expend for purposes other than collective bargaining or contract administration. Id. The union, however, insisted that plaintiffs pay their dues and initiation fees in full, and threatened to seek discharge of any member of the bargaining unit who refuses to pay. Id. The union also informed plaintiffs of a procedure provided by the constitution of the International, which permits members to seek a rebate of that portion of their dues spent on political causes which one finds objectionable. Id. Accordingly, the expenditure of fees collected from plaintiffs, over their objections, for purposes unrelated to collective bargaining activities is a violation of the Union’s duty of fair representation. Beck, 487 U.S. at 762-63, 108 S.Ct. at 2657; 29 U.S.C. § 158(a)(3).

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Related

Vaca v. Sipes
386 U.S. 171 (Supreme Court, 1967)
Chevron Oil Co. v. Huson
404 U.S. 97 (Supreme Court, 1971)
Solem v. Stumes
465 U.S. 638 (Supreme Court, 1984)
Communications Workers of America v. Beck
487 U.S. 735 (Supreme Court, 1988)
Harry E. Beck, Jr. Doris R. Ambrose Jacqueline S. Brandon Mary Anna Cox Sally B. Dimauro Rue T.F. Downey Kathleen A. Heil John J. Hurley Harriett Lipschultz Clay B. Lutz Barbara McGaughey Roland R. Merkle Ethel T. Merryman Doris J. Morrow Marion F. Northrop Frances M. Philips Vivian Reedy Barbara A. Russell Lois A. Stallings Harry B. Swartz, Sr. v. Communications Workers of America (c.w.a.), an Unincorporated Labor Organization C.W.A. Committee on Political Education (c.w.a. Cope) C.W.A. District II Local 2100 of C.W.A. Local 2101 of C.W.A. Local 2108 of C.W.A. Local 2110 of C.W.A., and Local 2350 of C.W.A. American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (Afl-Cio), a Federation of National and International Labor Organizations Afl-Cio Committee on Political Education Maryland State Afl-Cio American Telephone & Telegraph, a Corporation C & P Telephone Company of Maryland, a Corporation, Harry E. Beck, Jr. Doris R. Ambrose Jacqueline S. Brandon Mary Anna Cox Sally B. Dimauro Rue T.F. Downey Kathleen A. Heil John J. Hurley Harriett Lipschultz Clay B. Lutz Barbara McGaughey Roland R. Merkle Ethel T. Merryman Doris J. Morrow Marion F. Northrop Frances M. Philips Vivian Reedy Barbara A. Russell Lois A. Stallings Harry B. Swartz, Sr. v. Communications Workers of America (c.w.a.), an Unincorporated Labor Organization C.W.A. Committee on Political Education (c.w.a. Cope) C.W.A. District II Local 2100 of C.W.A. Local 2101 of C.W.A. Local 2108 of C.W.A. Local 2110 of C.W.A., and Local 2350 of C.W.A. American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (Afl-Cio), a Federation of National and International Labor Organizations Afl-Cio Committee on Political Education Maryland State Afl-Cio American Telephone & Telegraph, a Corporation C & P Telephone Company of Maryland, a Corporation
800 F.2d 1280 (Fourth Circuit, 1986)
Lowary v. Lexington Local Board of Education
704 F. Supp. 1456 (N.D. Ohio, 1988)
Barkman v. Wabash, Inc.
674 F. Supp. 623 (N.D. Illinois, 1987)
McGlumphy v. Fraternal Order of Police
633 F. Supp. 1074 (N.D. Ohio, 1986)
Beck v. COMMUNICATIONS WKRS. OF AMERICA (CWA)
468 F. Supp. 93 (D. Maryland, 1979)
Saunders v. HK PORTER CO., INC.
643 F. Supp. 198 (E.D. Virginia, 1986)
Welyczko v. U.S. Air, Inc.
733 F.2d 239 (Second Circuit, 1984)
Smith v. General Motors Corp.
747 F.2d 372 (Sixth Circuit, 1984)

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772 F. Supp. 1330, 136 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2641, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18801, 1990 WL 306075, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/price-v-international-union-united-automobile-aerospace-agricultural-ctd-1990.