Opinion ID: 1420265
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: LMRA pre-emption

Text: Section 301 of the LMRA pre-empts state law claims founded directly on rights created by collective-bargaining agreements, and also claims 'substantially dependent on analysis of a collective-bargaining agreement.' Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams, 482 U.S. 386, 394, 107 S.Ct. 2425, 96 L.Ed.2d 318 (1987) (quoting International Bhd. of Elec. Workers v. Hechler, 481 U.S. 851, 859 n. 3, 107 S.Ct. 2161, 95 L.Ed.2d 791 (1987)). One of the primary goals of pre-emption is to ensure the effectiveness of arbitration. See Allis-Chalmers Corp. v. Lueck, 471 U.S. 202, 219, 105 S.Ct. 1904, 85 L.Ed.2d 206 (1985). Congress did not intend, however, for the LMRA to pre-empt state rules that proscribe conduct, or establish rights and obligations, independent of a labor contract. Id. at 212, 105 S.Ct. 1904. States are free to create and enforce causes of action that vest rights in workers, so long as these rights can be adjudicated without having to interpret collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). See Lingle v. Norge Div. of Magic Chef, Inc., 486 U.S. 399, 411-13, 108 S.Ct. 1877, 100 L.Ed.2d 410 (1988). Before an employee may sue her employer for breach of a CBA, she must attempt to exhaust any grievance or arbitration remedies provided in the CBA. See DelCostello v. International Bhd. of Teamsters, 462 U.S. 151, 163, 103 S.Ct. 2281, 76 L.Ed.2d 476 (1983). A wrongfully discharged employee may bring an action against his employer ... provided the employee can prove that the union as bargaining agent breached its duty of fair representation in its handling of the employee's grievance. Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U.S. 171, 186, 87 S.Ct. 903, 17 L.Ed.2d 842 (1967). The jury found such a breach in this case. The statute of limitations for such an action is six months. See DelCostello, 462 U.S. at 169-172, 103 S.Ct. 2281. In contrast, if the employee's suit against her employer is based on state law claims neither founded on rights created by a CBA nor dependent on the analysis or interpretation of the CBA, the LMRA does not pre-empt such claims; the six-month limitations period thus does not apply.