Opinion ID: 527085
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Preempted Claims Properly Dismissed

Text: 48 We have concluded that Jackson's claims alleging breach of contract, breach of an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, constructive/wrongful tortious discharge, and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress are preempted by section 301. These claims were properly dismissed by the district court because Jackson failed to exhaust his contractual grievance procedures under the collective bargaining agreement. 49 Generally, a bargaining unit employee may not bring an action for breach of the collective bargaining agreement unless he has exhausted the contractual grievance procedures. Republic Steel Corp. v. Maddox, 379 U.S. 650, 652-53, 85 S.Ct. 614, 616-17, 13 L.Ed.2d 580 (1965); Truex, 784 F.2d at 1353. The employee, however, may obtain judicial review of his claim despite his failure to exhaust contractual remedies if he can show that the union breached its duty of fair representation. Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U.S. 171, 185-86, 87 S.Ct. 903, 914-15, 17 L.Ed.2d 842 (1967). 50 Jackson does not allege a claim of breach of the duty of fair representation in his complaint. He also does not name the union as a defendant. Attached to Jackson's brief filed on appeal is his affidavit in which he states that in June 1986 he attempted to file a grievance with the appropriate union officials but that they refused to accept it. Jackson's belated contention that he attempted to file a grievance was not included in the complaint and was not considered by the district court. In any event, any claim Jackson might have that the union breached its duty of fair representation in 1984 is time-barred under the six-month time period under Del Costello v. Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters, 462 U.S. 151, 169-70, 103 S.Ct. 2281, 2293-94, 76 L.Ed.2d 476 (1983).