Opinion ID: 361181
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: failure to inform

Text: 80 Appellants assert that the district court erred in dismissing their claim that appellees violated § 105 of the LMRDA, 29 U.S.C. § 415, by failing to inform the union membership of the requirements and terms of the LMRDA. The court found that the claim had not been presented to the union before suit was filed, and that exhaustion of intra-union remedies was required before suit could be filed. 81 Section 415 requires that every labor organization inform its members concerning the provision of this chapter. Under § 102, any persons whose rights are protected by the provisions of the subchapter may bring an action for violation. However, under § 101(a)(4), any such member may be required to exhaust reasonable hearing procedures (but not to exceed a four-month lapse of time) within (the labor) organization, before instituting legal or administrative proceedings. 82 Appellants failed to present their claim to the appellees prior to suit and the union officials were unaware of the asserted failure to inform the membership. As was the case in Broomer v. Schultz, 239 F.Supp. 699 (E.D.Pa.1965), Aff'd 356 F.2d 984 (3d Cir. 1966), 83 (t)here is no reason to conclude that the officers of the Local will not accede to a request that they comply with the law by apprising the members of the provisions of the Act. 84 239 F.Supp. at 705. 85 Not only did appellants fail to exhaust intra-union remedies, but they also failed even to raise the issue with the union. Instead they immediately sought judicial relief. The district court was within its discretion in refusing to entertain the action. CONCLUSION: 86 Appellants seek to establish their right to vote on all collective bargaining agreements entered into by the IBEW or local union. The LMRDA guarantees union members a right to nominate officers, vote in union elections and referenda, and participate and vote on business raised at membership meetings, without discrimination. However, it does not unequivocally grant union members the right to vote on all collective bargaining agreements entered into by the international or local union to which they belong. The decision whether to grant union members such a right is one properly left to Congress. 87 The appellants have failed to show that the IBEW constitution gives them the right to vote on the ICA. 88 The judgment of the district court is affirmed.