Opinion ID: 527800
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: I.Code Ann. tit. 24, Sec. 383(a), (b).

Text: 8 This Circuit ordinarily uses decisional law interpreting the NLRA when interpreting or applying PELRA. See District 2A, Transp., Technical, Warehouse, Indus. & Serv. Employees Union v. Government of the Virgin Islands, 794 F.2d 915, 918 (3d Cir.1986) (PELRA construed in light of case law interpreting national labor law and policy); Virgin Islands Nursing Ass'ns Bargaining Unit v. Schneider, 668 F.2d 221, 223-24 (3d Cir.1981) (using decisional cases of federal labor law in interpreting whether PELRA requires arbitrators to make written findings of fact) 9 Our decision today is based on the language of Virgin Islands statutory law. Any lack of uniformity in the filing of PELRA actions as a result of our decision today must be resolved by the Virgin Islands legislature. The policy considerations which the Supreme Court in DelCostello noted favor a short statute are even more appropriate subjects for legislative concern 10 Gomez also argues that the court erred in granting summary judgment to the Department because the statute of limitations was equitably tolled by the PBA's fraudulent concealment of the withdrawal of Gomez's arbitration request. We find it unnecessary to consider this argument given our conclusion that the two year limitations period of V.I.Code Ann. tit. 5, Sec. 31(5)(A) is the shortest possible statute of limitations applicable in this case. We express no opinion on whether this cause of action accrues at the time the union commits the alleged breach, as the district court chose here, or when the employee first learns of that breach Finally, Gomez argues that his equal protection rights were violated because the district court's application of federal labor law was contrary to its decision in Crispin v. Government of the Virgin Islands, Civ. No. 1987/119 (D.V.I. Oct. 3, 1988) (recognizing hybrid labor suit involving public employer and employees covered by PELRA rather than by federal labor law). Despite our grave doubts about the validity and merits of Gomez's argument, we do not address this contention because of our conclusion that Gomez's hybrid contract/fair representation cause of action is not barred by the statute of limitations.