Opinion ID: 1984692
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: The Dissent's Public Policy Argument

Text: As stated previously, we find no basis for a free floating public policy argument that the union may escape liability for its alleged participation in gender discrimination. Without a single citation of authority, the dissent suggests a public policy based upon the following: A union is designed to advance the interests of its members. By permitting an employer to seek contribution from it, the majority creates a conflict of interest, placing a union and its members in an adversarial posture ... [and] denying [employees] access to legal representation from their unions. [Op. at 589-90.] We find no inherent contradiction between the union's duty to its members and its obligation to avoid participating in discriminatory practices prohibited by the Civil Rights Act. [19] That is, there is no conflict between one statutory policy that says a union's duty is to its members, and another statutory policy that prohibits a union from conspiring to injure a union member. In fact, these propositions are in total harmony. If there is a conflict of interest in this case between the plaintiff and her union, it arises because our Civil Rights Act precludes her union from participating in unlawful employment discrimination. To the extent that the union here may have participated in negotiating the terms of a collective bargaining agreement that resulted in gender discrimination, the dissent has failed to articulate any sound public policy that justifies insulating the union from liability for such misconduct. Indeed, we believe that holding the union accountable for such misconduct via a contribution action will actually support the fundamental goal of our Civil Rights Act to eradicate discriminatory employment practices. Surely, all would agree that the goal of the Civil Rights Act is broadly to prevent discrimination in the workplace. But the dissent apparently believes that the union here should enjoy some special protected status unavailable to any other person or entity. The dissent simply fails to adequately explain the reason for and the source of a public policy that would provide a free pass to this union (or any other entity) alleged to have participated in such discrimination. In sum, given the choice between vindicating Michigan's civil rights laws and protecting this union, the dissent has chosen the latter.