Opinion ID: 559881
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dismissal of complaint against International Union

Text: 23 Johnson's next contention is that the district court erred by dismissing the Title VII claim against the International Union because the International Union knew about the retaliatory acts and because the DHR and EEOC complaints put the International Union on notice. We find this contention to be without merit. 24 A prerequisite to commencing a Title VII action against a defendant is the filing with the EEOC or authorized state agency of a complaint naming the defendant. 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000e-5(e). Because these charges generally are filed by parties not versed in the vagaries of Title VII and its jurisdictional and pleading requirements, we have taken a flexible stance in interpreting Title VII's procedural provisions, Egelston v. State University College at Geneseo, 535 F.2d 752, 754, 755 (2d Cir.1976), so as not to frustrate Title VII's remedial goals. Thus, courts have recognized an exception to the general rule that a defendant must be named in the EEOC complaint. Eggleston v. Chicago Journeymen Plumbers' Local Union No. 130, 657 F.2d 890, 905-06 (7th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 1017, 102 S.Ct. 1710, 72 L.Ed.2d 134 (1982). This exception, termed the identity of interest exception, permits a Title VII action to proceed against an unnamed party where there is a clear identity of interest between the unnamed defendant and the party named in the administrative charge. See, e.g., Romain v. Kurek, 836 F.2d 241, 245-46 (6th Cir.1987) (per curiam); Glus v. G.C. Murphy Co., 562 F.2d 880, 888 (3d Cir.1977); Maturo v. National Graphics, Inc., 722 F.Supp. 916, 925 (D.Conn.1989); Garcia v. Gardner's Nurseries, Inc., 585 F.Supp. 369, 372 (D.Conn.1984). 25 In Glus, the Third Circuit developed a four part test to determine whether an identity of interest exists, thereby excusing a Title VII plaintiff's failure to name a defendant in the EEOC complaint. The four factors are 26 1) whether the role of the unnamed party could through reasonable effort by the complainant be ascertained at the time of the filing of the EEOC complaint; 2) whether, under the circumstances, the interests of a named [party] are so similar as the unnamed party's that for the purpose of obtaining voluntary conciliation and compliance it would be unnecessary to include the unnamed party in the EEOC proceedings; 3) whether its absence from the EEOC proceedings resulted in actual prejudice to the interests of the unnamed party; 4) whether the unnamed party has in some way represented to the complainant that its relationship with the complainant is to be through the named party. 27 Glus, 562 F.2d at 888. Applying the factors to the facts of this case, we conclude that the dismissal of the complaint against the International Union should not be disturbed. 28 There is no question that Johnson was able to ascertain the role of the International Union and could have named, if he wished to, the International Union in the agency complaints. Johnson, in fact, wrote to the president of the International Union and explained his dispute with Local 509. Second, the interests of the International Union and Local 509 are not so similar that conciliation on the part of the International would be unnecessary. Only the Local initiates and participates in the grievance process under the collective bargaining agreement. An EEOC investigation, prompted by the filing of a charge against the International Union, might have revealed that the International Union played no role in decisions relating to employees' grievances, resulting in a termination of the charges against it. For that reason, a finding against the Local actually would prejudice the International Union because it would be forced to participate in proceedings to resolve a dispute when it played absolutely no role in the cause of that dispute. Finally, there is no indication that Local 509 is the agent of the International Union nor is there any other basis for inferring that the International Union was represented by Local 509 in connection with the grievance process. See United Mine Workers v. Coronado Coal Co., 259 U.S. 344, 395, 42 S.Ct. 570, 577, 66 L.Ed. 975 (1922) (mere fact of affiliation does not establish an agency relationship). 29 Johnson relies heavily on Kaplan v. International Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees & Motion Picture Machine Operators, 525 F.2d 1354 (9th Cir.1975). There, the plaintiff's sex discrimination complaint with the EEOC named the discriminating party as I.A.T.S.E. LOCAL 659--INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRIES. Id. at 1359. The International Union in that case argued that it could not be sued because the plaintiff neglected to name it in the agency complaint. The court rejected this contention because several factual statements in the EEOC complaint could be read to afford notice to the International Union. Id. The factual statements in Johnson's DHR complaint do not implicate the International Union in any way. 30 This case is factually closer to Stache v. International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen, 852 F.2d 1231 (9th Cir.1988), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 110 S.Ct. 64, 107 L.Ed.2d 32 (1989). In Stache, plaintiff's Title VII complaint charged the International Union with failing to help her when it learned of the local's discriminatory actions. The court held that since the EEOC claim charged the local with specific acts of discrimination, plaintiff's charges did not put the International Union on notice. Additional bases for its holding were that the inaction of the International Union was not closely related to those specific acts of discrimination and there was no contractual relationship between the International Union and plaintiff's employer. Id. at 1234. 31 An issue left open by the court in Stache was whether a letter sent by plaintiff, which was presumed not to have been received by the International Union in that case, would have constituted a triggering mechanism by which the International [Union] was compelled to act. Id. Johnson argues that both a call from Palma to the International Union and a letter sent by Johnson, dated October 2, 1980, amounted to such a triggering mechanism. However, even if the International Union knew of the charges against Local 509, it did not have notice of any charges against it. 32 We find that the agency complaints were insufficient to put the International Union on notice of the Title VII charges against it and that the subsequent communications failed to cure the defects in the administrative complaints.