Document: 352 U.S. 480 77 S.Ct. 421 1 L.Ed.2d PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY and Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, Petitioners,v.N. P. RYCHLIK, Individually on Behalf as Representative Other Employees the Pennsylvania Railroad. No. 56. Argued Dec. 10, 1956. Decided Feb. 25, 1957. Mr. Richard N. Clattenburg, Philadelphia, Pa., for petitioner, Henry Kaiser, Washington, D.C., Trainmen. Messrs. Norman M. Spindelman Meyer Fix, Rochester, N.Y., respondent. Justice HARLAN delivered opinion Court. Petitioner Trainmen is collective bargaining representative trainment employed by petitioner In accordance with Section 2, Eleventh (a) (c) Railway Labor Act,1 negotiated a union-shop contract in 1952, which required to become members retain membership or another labor organization 'national scope' 'organized with' Act. Respondent Rychlik was trainman member good standing until February 1953. At that time he resigned from joined United Operating Crafts (UROC), competing union respondent believed faith be Act, therefore available alternative under provision contract, even though UROC had never qualified itself 3, First Act one unions eligible elect National Adjustment Board.2 On July 31, 1954, Rychlik, continuing his UROC, also Switchmen's Union North America, concededly within meaning statute contract. 2 Following resignation Brotherhood, charged violation agreement. He received two hearings before 'System Board Adjustment,' body established agreement, pursuant Second Act,3 settle disputes, composed representatives each Failroad Brotherhood.4 This determined did not satisfy mirrored requirements Rychlike failed maintain continuous having some 16 months after resigning Brotherhood. Accordingly, discharged 3 behalf himself other employees similarly situated, thereupon brought this class suit States District Court Western New York, seeking an injunction compelling petitioners accept him employee alleged discharge violated System Board's determination contrary could final binding, since presence created inherent fatal bias vitiated proceeding. The granted petitioners' motion dismiss complaint lack jurisdiction failure state cause action.5 Appeals Circuit reversed remanded review merits decision Act.6 Accepting premise conferred right belong any is, fact, organized it has elector Board,7 court held (1) that, although over dispute between Brotherhood,8 its subject full merits, because must attributed half whose represented party interest; (2) cured availability procedure provided whereby can Act.9 Because conflict below earlier Sixth Circuit,10 importance these questions administration we certiorari. 351 930, 76 789, 100 L.Ed. 1459. 4 our view case do reach either question decided Appeals, disagree (c). For reasons hereafter given, hold allows only those have already electors Board, happens be, matter national scope Since so qualified, no federal join lieu authorized Railroad-Brotherhood His give rise action.11 5 order clarify conclusions, brief outline relevant provisions necessary. authorizes railroads establish shop, agreement requiring condition continued employment designated their representative.12 then provides operating will satisfied if 'any organizations, scope, admitting craft said services * *.'13 6 establishes (NRAB), agency designed disputes arising agreements. Subsection shall consist 36 members, 18 selected carriers, 'by such employees, been may section *.'14 (f) states arises participate election NRAB, Secretary notify Mediation feels claim merit.15 constitutes 'board three,' consisting claimant union, entitled neutral Board. board three decides whether otherwise properly selection *.'16 7 first glance language would appear disarmingly clear: contracts are belongs And deal reached Appeals. However, often happens, when read, vacuum, but light policies intended serve,17 becomes clear purpose Congress not, contends, railroad industry blanket than representative, help dissident rising new recruit members. Rather, sole aim protect requirement dual unionism high job mobility, thus confer assure security, should working temporarily representative. given being electing NRAB 3. I. 8 purposes served clearly revealed history. Until 1951 permit industry.18 year Congress, persuaded unfair allow nonunion enjoy benefits obtained union's efforts without paying costs, passed shop.19 bill20 problem, peculiar industry, establishing shop. largely rather industrial lines. Engineers, firemen, trainmen, switchmen, brakemen, conductors, example, separately bargaining. normally different represent crafts; thus, same railroad, firemen might Firemen Enginemen, engineers Locomotive Engineers. Yet seasonal factors produce degree mobility individual shuttling back forth crafts. fireman promoted engineer short time, conductor serve brakeman. Under ordinary unionshop change craft, temporary, mean unions—one representing crafts shuttle shuttles jobs. former would, course, expensive sometimes impossible, while latter complicated loss seniority benefits.21 9 So faced problem reconciling shop protection who shifted contract.22 solution, evident: provide fireman, engineer, still remaining firemen. 10 As result, Committee reporting bill Senate offered floor following amendment subsection Eleventh: 11 'Provided further, That (union shop) require more organization.'23 12 Senator Hill, manager bill, explained amendment: 13 'This proviso attached raised status, demoted closely related another. practice, minor exceptions, occurs among trainand engine-service employees. Thus position due reduction force returned fireman. It intention promotion demotion, involved deprived refusal located retains transferred.'24 14 Due temporary adjournment Senate, action taken amendment. When again up, however, substitute amendment, drafted brotherhoods, Senators Hill Taft.25 present (c), providing Act.'26 previous 15 '(The does) nothing nor less what committee desires do, intent offering organization. difference amendments now agreed upon all spell out detail But exactly same.'27 introduced28 forms 17 very narrow one: prevent compulsory necessity changing changes crafts.29 Section, themselves,30 quite evidently benefit permitting them Nor general except meet intercraft mobility. made particularly context American relations general. Relations contains paralled governed suffer discharge.31 Similarly, does apply nonoperating where movement exist. clerks at words, once lawfully period deemed 'right' choose union. If right, scarcely denied 29 U.S.C.A. § 151 et seq. simply solve contracts. II. There next consideration manner achieved purpose. *.' blush are, abstract, whole, apparent refers certain group unions, constituted. borrowed books years, precisely qualifications permitted NRAB. they Act.32 spells impartial administrative method tripartite arbitration particular meets qualifications.33 writing into standards identical making reference through there expressly provided.34 constituted emphasized fact say 'any' Act; the' organizations short, referring defined procedures. III. 19 interpretation solves conferring 'floating' rights intend grant. vanishes remain firemen's brotherhood, union; brotherhood will, Furthermore, avoids troublesome arise were For, scheme question, assuming refer silent determine requirements. An entire fashioned courts thin air themselves prior action. Boards, make determinations, judicial review? What How established-union boards overcome? Would (or Circuit) binding Circuit? Moreover, sanction confusion uncertainty industry. No safety know after-the-fact adjudication 2. hand, interpreting means always easily ascertain A certification (f). three' prospective, uniform throughout nation, ruling question. 20 We hold, therefore, makes one, First. stated relief granted. instructions complaint. 21 Reversed remanded. 22 BLACK took part case. 23 24 FRANKFURTER, concurring. 25 below, allowed stand, tend dislocate seen fit devise regulation railroads, I reversing judgment. get route Court's. my dismissed want it, merits. 26 governing outlook construing hospitable realization primarily instrument government railroading itself, concentrated agencies executives unions. details, see dissenting opinions Elgin, Joliet & Eastern R. Co. v. Burley, 325 711, 749, 65 1282, 1302, 89 1886; Id., 327 661, 667, 66 721, 723, 90 928. dominant inference drawn exclusion process collaborative self-government. See, e.g., General Committee, etc., Missouri-Kansas-Texas Co., 320 323, 64 L.Ct. 146, 88 76; Order Conductors Pitney, 326 561, 322, 318; Slocum Delaware, Lackawanna 339 239, 70 577, 94 795. Neither Moore Illinois Central 312 630, 61 754, 85 1089, Swan, 520, 67 405, 91 471, fairly exception principle and, event, cases involve circumstances situation. 27 qualification stated, or, rather, counter-principle respected. doctrine Steele Louisville N.R. 323 192, 226, 173. every agents sit Adjustment, amounts fiduciary position: exercise power arbitrary way against minority interest. interest majority vitiate presupposition self-government review. Conflict commonplace whole process. owe judicially enforceable duty fairness commonents specific controversy. 28 open review, so-called legal questions. fail rightly complainant. Right wrong, did, unless complainant asserts arbitrariness seeks enforce limited decide abstract issue pursue status scope,' claiming rival assert benefit. bearing complexities interrelationship organization, Jackson Joint Anti-Fascist Refugee McGrath, 341 123, 183, 71 624, 654, 95 817. necessary charge arbitrarily basis discharged. claim, relief. absence entertain Stat. 1238 (1951), 45 U.S.C. 152, subd. 11(a, c). These pertinent discussed later. 48 1189 (1934), 153, First, 1. 1193 Second, carriers set up 'system, group, regional adjustment' party, dissatisfied arrangement, return days' notice. here. hearing August 27, 1953, postponed pending further exploration UROC. second 23, 1954. interim, Union, presented evidence hearing. Rychlik's shortly adverse January 1955. 128 F.Supp. 449, 452. Court, holding effect ascertaining acted statutory authority free fraud corruption consonant procedural process, found infirmities shown, automatically proceedings. belated maintenance need since, exclusive competence See 487, 425, infra. 229 F.2d 171. briefs show validity challenged parties relied Wyer, Cir., 205 153. here, claimed illegal. both stood Pigott Detroit, Toledo Ironton 221 736. contention apart statute, wider statute. depend showing diversity citizenship. 'Notwithstanding carrier duly permitted— '(a) agreements, requiring, employment, sixty days beginning effective date whichever later, class: Provided, respect whom terms conditions generally applicable terminated reason tender periodic dues, initiation fees, assessments (not including fines penalties) uniformly acquiring retaining membership.' (a), 11(a). Italics supplied. taxt is: 'The subparagraph satisfied, future engine, train, yard, hostling service acquire services; (checkoff) (b) deductions wages payable holds membership: carrier, services, employee, him: herein agreements services.' 11(c). 1(a). (Italics supplied.) 4, 154, independent appointed President advice consent Senate. Its function, main, try 'major' text 'In event per paragraph designation investigate participate, judgment merit, accordingly, ten receipt request select Such together likewise claimant, third constituting three, thirty appointment member, claims desiring participation hereof findings binding.' 1190 (f), 1(f). Frankfurter, Some Reflections Reading Statutes, Record Association Bar City Volume (1947). 1934 prohibition checkoff put themselves, employers used devices company S.Rep. 2262, 81st Cong., 2d Sess., pp. 2—3 (1950), U.S.Code Cong.Service 1950, p. 4319; Hearings House Interstate Foreign Commerce, H.R. 7789, 3—4, 8, 16—17 (1950). id., 28, 29, 37; H.R.Rep. 2811, Sess. (1950); Subcommittee Public Welfare, S. 3295, Hearings, supra, 30—31, 32—33, 35—36, 42—43, 78—81, 126, 192—194; 18—19, 67—68, 69, 73, 78—79. Levinson, Shop L.J. 441, 443—448 (1955). 5—6. 96 Cong.Rec. 15735. 15736. 16268. note 13, supra. 16261, 16328—16330. Had wanted 'union-shopping' presumably nonmembers (qualified Eleventh) effect. next-to-last signed, belonging represents effective. effect, belonged all, specifically, chosen speak completely negates argument 30 Hill's statement, 16329: railway sat around table worked details Ohio Alabama, saw similar spelled safeguards job.' 31 21. 32 14, accordance' Fourth, prohibits 1934. 1187 4. 33 16, 34 argues cannot former. points Board,' words 'otherwise qualified' listed think merely incorporate electors, defines indentical section. 69 Harv.L.Rev. 1512, 1514.

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