Opinion ID: 586403
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Claims Against the Company

Text: 31 Jones may sue the Company for breach of contract only if his unfair representation claim against the Union is triable. Bautista, 828 F.2d at 551-52. Because the district court rejected Jones' claim against the Union, it rejected Jones' breach of contract claim against the Company without addressing the merits of that claim. On appeal, none of parties addresses the merits of that claim. If, on remand, the district court finds that the futility exception applies to Jones' failure to exhaust Union remedies, then the court should rule on the merits of the Company's summary judgment motion concerning the breach of contract claim. Otherwise, rejection of the contract claim would be appropriate.
32 The Railway Labor Act does not bar suits by employees against their employers under the doctrine of equitable estoppel. Hass v. Darigold Dairy Products Co., 751 F.2d 1096, 1099 (9th Cir.1985). Jones has not alleged that, at the time the Company made its offer to Jones to return, the Company was aware that the Union would challenge the return. See Bob's Big Boy Family Restaurants, 625 F.2d at 854. Accordingly, Jones cannot pursue a claim of equitable estoppel against the Company. 33 AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, and REMANDED.