Opinion ID: 526766
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Landry's Disciplinary Citations

Text: 6 On several occasions, Melvin Landry was cited for contract violations while in the employ of Cooper/Smith. In May, 1978, Landry was involved in a physical altercation with a Cooper/Smith foreman. After a Step Two Permanent Disputes Committee hearing, Landry's registration card was suspended for sixty days. 7 In January and April, 1983, Landry and approximately twenty-five other workers were cited for poor production by Cooper/Smith. These citations were part of a larger controversy surrounding an attempt by NOSSA and its members to increase the production of the freight handlers in the Port of New Orleans. Local 854 filed a grievance on behalf of its members who were cited. The grievance progressed to arbitration before an independent arbitrator in June, 1983. That arbitration was adjourned on its first day because the arbitrator was called away on a family emergency. The union did not attempt to reschedule the arbitration, despite demands from some of its members, including Landry. Thus, the poor production citations remained on Landry's employment record. In a letter accompanying the citations, Landry was informed that any future contract violations would result in further disciplinary action, which could include permanent revocation of his registration card. 8 In January, 1985, Landry was again cited for a violation of the labor contract by a Cooper/Smith supervisor. This incident involved the refusal of Landry and one other worker to work on a rainy day. 2 Twenty-three other union members on the same work crew went to work without protest. A union vice-president on the scene attempted to settle the dispute through a Step One discussion with the Cooper/Smith supervisor. The union representative, Ray Worthy, proposed that two other men work in place of Landry and the second protesting employee, with the understanding that Landry and his co-worker would not be disciplined and would not seek any pay for that day. Although Worthy and Landry left the scene thinking that a settlement had been reached, Landry was later cited for the incident. 9 On February 18, 1985, Landry and the union were notified that Landry's registration card would be picked up because he had accumulated three contract violations. Local 854 grieved this action on behalf of Landry before the Permanent Disputes Committee at a Step Two proceeding. The Committee met twice, with Landry present, to discuss the matter, but deadlocked in its vote. Landry turned in his card at the second meeting. 3 10 Local 854 did not request arbitration to regain Landry's G card. Instead, the union president, Tyrone Webster, persistently lobbied NOSSA officials informally, asking them to return the card so that Landry would be allowed to work and support his family. On May 15, 1985, the Permanent Disputes Committee met and agreed to reduce the revocation to a 72-day suspension, which would allow Landry to pick up his card immediately and return to work. Landry was present at the meeting. 11 Two days later, Landry, accompanied by Tyrone Webster, picked up his registration card at the Waterfront Employment Center. Landry was told he needed to sign an agreement in order to regain his card. After reading the settlement agreement, Landry signed the document. The agreement stated that as a settlement of Landry's prior grievances, the revocation of Landry's card was reduced to a 72-day suspension. Landry was able to return to work as of May 15, 1985.