Opinion ID: 518933
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: NLRA Preemption of Wrongful Discharge for Union Activities

Text: 17 Appellants assert a federal wrongful discharge claim that they were terminated for their active participation in the strike. 2 While federal courts share concurrent jurisdiction with the Board over an activity constituting an unfair labor practice and allegedly violating section 301, here, the employees cannot sustain a section 301 action. Aside from section 301 claims, any federal or state claim for wrongful discharge based on union activity is preempted by NLRA Secs. 7 and 8. 29 U.S.C. Secs. 157, 158; San Diego Bldg. Trades Council v. Garmon, 359 U.S. 236, 79 S.Ct. 773, 3 L.Ed.2d 775 (1959). Garmon preemption is intended to protect the NLRB's exclusive jurisdiction over unfair labor practice charges. 18 Here, appellants first appropriately brought their wrongful discharge claims before the NLRB, which dismissed them. Instead of appealing that dismissal, appellants have restated the claim and included it in this action. Assuming for the sake of argument that appellants' failure to appeal the NLRB dismissal does not estop them from filing the parallel claim, their claim is preempted under Garmon, as the district court found in its order. 19