Document: 485 U.S. 652 108 S.Ct. 1440 99 L.Ed.2d 745 Paul G. LANDERS, Petitionerv.NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGERS CORPORATION et al. No. 86-2037. Argued March 29, 1988. Decided April 27, Syllabus Petitioner, a passenger engineer employed by respondent railroad corporation (Amtrak), belongs to the United Transportation Union (UTU) rather than Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE), union that represents Amtrak engineers for collective-bargaining purposes. Petitioner's request UTU be allowed represent him at company-level disciplinary hearing was denied on ground that, under BLE-Amtrak agreement, only BLE could undertake such representation. Petitioner represented himself and received 30-day suspension violating company work rules, which he did not appeal National Railroad Adjustment Board. He then filed suit in Federal District Court seeking declaratory injunctive relief against their refusal allow his representation violated rights Railway Labor Act (RLA). The court dismissed complaint after bench trial, Appeals affirmed. Held: RLA does entitle employee grievance or proceedings other representative. contention right is implicit § 2, Eleventh (c), RLA, permits union-shop requirement satisfied membership any national organized accordance with Act, without merit, since provision enacted single, narrow purpose preventing compulsory dual unionism necessity an employee's changing unions upon change crafts, Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Rychlik, 352 480, 77 421, 1 480 (1957) has been here petitioner required join BLE. Nor expressly address question minority proceedings; fact, 3, First (i), provides merely shall handled "the usual manner." That Congress, (j), employees representative choice Board level, but do so regard earlier, phase, persuasive evidence Congress believe participation level necessary accomplish RLA's will suffer appreciable prejudice because UTU's inability conducted property, it may assumed adequately protected BLE's duty fair representation, before if resolve dispute. Pp. 655-659. 814 F.2d 41 (CA 1987), WHITE, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Landers, pro se. Harold A. Ross, Cleveland, Ohio, respondent. Justice WHITE This case presents whether entitled 44 Stat. (part 2) 577, as amended, 45 U.S.C. 151 seq., 2 * Passenger Corporation (Amtrak).1 are purposes collective bargaining (BLE). belong Instead, member officer rival (UTU), certain crafts employees. 3 In February 1984, charged violation rules. An internal convened pursuant agreement. agreement provided hearings.2 hearing. suspension, now served. 4 States Massachusetts both contended had 5 petitioner's following Circuit (1987). concluded neither language nor legislative history supported operating have statutory proceedings. rejected unpersuasive contrary decision Fifth Taylor Missouri Pacific Co., 794 1082, cert. denied, 479 1018, 107 670, 93 721 (1986). 6 We granted certiorari, 484 962, 449, 98 389 (1987), conflict between two Courts over this federal railway labor law. affirm. II 7 contends Eleventh, 152, "minority" (i.e., representative) 8 Section (a), "duly designated authorized [its] employees" enter into requiring "as condition continued employment, . all become members organization representing craft class." engaged "engine, train, yard, hostling service" satisfy organization, however, "hold[ing] acquir[ing] one organizations, scope, chapter admitting class said services." (c). It disputed action holding UTU. 9 Neither addresses what role, any, play For example, disputes "growing out grievances interpretation application agreements concerning rates pay, working conditions manner up including chief carrier handle disputes." 153, (i). contrast, specifies once reach "[p]arties heard either person, counsel, representatives, they respectively elect." (j). 10 unwilling read declined put there. proceedings, earlier phase dispute resolution process, outsiders Act.3 11 Indeed, "provid[ing] prompt orderly settlement growing covering conditions," 151a(5), might often frustrated demand through employer's property. many resolved less expeditiously, all, unions, same established relationship employer official representatives familiarity how similar past. 12 addition, use undermine position thereby destabilize labor-management relations. A majority union's prosecution defense charges "complemen[t] status exclusive permitting participate actively continuing administration contract." Republic Steel Corp. Maddox, 379 650, 653, 85 614, 616, 13 580 (1965). As Professor Cox recognized, instead prevented from exercising control presentation grievances, opportunity arises "dissident groups, who press aggressively regardless effort squeeze last drop competitive advantage each even most trivial vehicle build own prestige." Cox, Rights Under Agreement, 60 Harv.L.Rev. 601, 626 (1956). circumstances, "[t]he source friction competition means creating perpetuating dissatisfaction method eliminating it." Ibid. potential exists, course, when those issue here.4 find no merit 14 congressional intent underlying extensively analyzed 489, 426, (1957). there noted different industry were shuttled back forth crafts. would ordinarily "belong unions—one crafts—or shuttle shuttles jobs." Id., 490, S.Ct., 426. former alternative "expensive sometimes impossible," we observed, while latter "complicated mean loss seniority benefits." Accordingly, single "prevent[ing] another temporarily changes crafts." 492, 427. 15 fully achieved instant case. accorded refrain acquiring BLE—either addition UTU—as employment Amtrak. However, unless becomes "usual manner" processing property changed, cannot claim additional 16 There reason appropriate assume interests BLE, owes unit affiliation. See Steele Louisville & Nashville 323 192, 204, 65 226, 233, 89 L.Ed. 173 (1944). Moreover, choice. 17 judgment therefore 18 Affirmed. subject statutes applicable railroads. 546(b). longer challenges construction note 1934 amend provide select pursue employer. Such amendment proposed Joseph B. Eastman, Coordinator Transportation, George M. Harrison, President Steamship Clerks. Amendments: Hearings H.R. 7650 House Committee Interstate Foreign Commerce, 73d Cong., 2d Sess., 44, (1934) (H.R. predecessor 9861). Of handling workplace.

Category: 6