Opinion ID: 15890
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: For nearly forty years, Alfred Miller General Masonry Contracting Company (“Miller”) and Bricklayers Local 4 (“Local 4”) have maintained an employer/union relationship. In July 1990, the parties entered into a new CBA. Pursuant to the CBA, Miller regularly contributed certain amounts to the Louisiana Bricklayers & Trowel Trades Pension Fund and Welfare Fund (“the Funds”). Article XXIII1 of the CBA (“Article XXIII”) provided for automatic renewal from year to year unless either party furnished written notice of intent to terminate the agreement not later than sixty days nor more than ninety days prior to the July 1 anniversary date.2 In July 1994, Local 4 was among 28 locals in three states that were merged into a consolidated “local,” Bricklayers Local 1 Article XXIII was improperly labeled Article XIII in the CBA. For convenience, this court will refer to the provision, as have the parties, by the proper designation, “Article XXIII.” 2 Article XXIII reads, in pertinent part: This agreement shall be effective commencing July 1, 1994, shall continue in full force to and including June 30, 1995, and shall be automatically continued yearly thereafter unless written notice of decision to negotiate a new [a]greement, in whole or in part[,] is given in writing by either party to the other not later than (60) days nor more than (90) days prior to the expiration date or anniversary date thereafter. 2 Union Number 1 (“Local 1”), by the International Executive Board of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen. The newly-designated president/secretary-treasurer of Local 1 informed Miller of the merger by memorandum dated July 18, 1994. On August 30, 1994, Miller wrote to the president of Local 1 contesting the local’s representation rights. Miller refused to recognize Local 1 as a successor union to Local 4. However, Miller did state, [F]or the immediate future we will continue to make monthly contributions to our local benefit funds on behalf of those employees covered by the Local 4 collective bargaining agreement. If there is a change in our position, we will notify you in another letter. In September 1994, without further notification, Miller stopped contributing to the Funds.