Source: http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/117/119/534716/
Timestamp: 2013-12-10 15:59:25
Document Index: 781015431

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 301', '§ 185', '§ 301', '§ 301', '§ 301', '§ 301', '§ 301']

117 F.3d 119: United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implementworkers of America, International Union and Itslocal 787, Appellant, v. Textron Lycoming Reciprocating Engine Division, Avco Corp., Appellee :: US Court of Appeals Cases :: Justia
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117 F.3d 119: United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implementworkers of America, International Union and Itslocal 787, Appellant, v. Textron Lycoming Reciprocating Engine Division, Avco Corp., AppelleeUnited States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. - 117 F.3d 119
Argued Jan. 30, 1997.Decided July 7, 1997
Jordan Rossen, General Counsel, International Union, United Automobile Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, UAW, Detroit, MI, Stephen A. Yokich (Argued), Associate General Counsel, International Union, United Automobile Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, UAW, Washington, DC, for Appellant.
Barry Simon (Argued), Gary M. Tocci, Schnader, Harrison, Segal, & Lewis, Philadelphia, PA, Charles J. McKelvey, McNerney, Page, Vanderlin & Hall, Williamsport, PA, for Appellee.
Before: BECKER, ROTH, Circuit Judges, BARRY, District Judge.*
This is an appeal by the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America ("UAW") and its Local 787 from the district court's order dismissing its complaint against defendant Textron Lycoming Reciprocating Engine Division, Avco Corp. ("Textron"), for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under § 301(a) of the Labor Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 185(a). The district court found that the UAW's suit, which seeks a declaration that the collective bargaining agreement between the parties is voidable because it was secured by fraud in the inducement, was not a "[s]uit for violation of [a]contract[ ] between an employer and a labor organization representing employees" within the meaning of § 301(a).
The UAW's appeal requires us to consider the scope of § 301(a) and our decision in Mack Trucks, Inc. v. International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, 856 F.2d 579 (3d Cir.1988). In that case, Mack Trucks sought a declaratory judgment that the collective bargaining agreement between it and the UAW was valid and enforceable, after the UAW had threatened to declare that there was no agreement between the parties. We held that § 301(a) conferred subject matter jurisdiction, finding that Mack Trucks' suit was a "suit for violation of[a] contract[ ]." Id. at 588.
In urging us to affirm the district court's order in this case, Textron contends that the suit filed by the UAW, here the party seeking to establish jurisdiction, can be distinguished from Mack Trucks in two respects. First, Textron points out that, while the very existence of the collective bargaining agreement was at issue in Mack Trucks, the UAW here acknowledges the existence of the agreement, and rather seeks a declaration that the collective bargaining agreement between the parties is voidable because it was secured by fraud in the inducement. Second, while in Mack Trucks the plaintiff wished to enforce the collective bargaining agreement, the on contends that § 301(a) does not supply jurisdiction under such circumstances. Because we disagree with Textron and conclude that the UAW's suit is a suit for violation of a contract under § 301(a) and Mack Trucks, we reverse.
The complaint pleads the following facts which, since we deal with a motion to dismiss, we must take as true. The UAW represents employees at Textron's Williamsport, Pennsylvania plant, at which the company manufactures and assembles aircraft engines. This dispute arose from the collective bargaining agreement between the parties that covered the period from April 1, 1994 to April 1, 1997 and, more specifically, the negotiations that produced that agreement. Prior to the commencement of negotiations, the UAW submitted to Textron a request for information to aid it in its preparations for the negotiations. One section of the request asked whether Textron planned to subcontract out any of the work that was being done by the UAW members at the plant. The request specifically demanded any written documents that Textron had prepared on the subject of subcontracting. The UAW twice repeated this request. Prior to the negotiations, Textron never disclosed any information about plans to move bargaining unit work.
At the opening of the negotiations, the UAW renewed its request that Textron disclose any plans to contract out the work. Textron's vice-president for human resources, Frank Ratchford, stated that he had no knowledge of any plans for subcontracting, and also promised to make sure that his knowledge was complete. Neither Ratchford nor any other Textron official raised this issue again during negotiations. The parties reached a collective bargaining agreement in M