Court Opinion

ID: 9464700
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 23:40:12.745245+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:38:46.049605
License: Public Domain

FAIRCHILD, Chief Judge,
dissenting.
With all respect, I vote to overrule Peoria Contractors and to enforce the Board order in this case.
One of several difficulties with 29 U.S.C. § 158(d) is that the drafter must have assumed that the period of sixty days referred to in paragraph (4) will always include a period of at least thirty days during which the FMCS had notice of the dispute. This assumption will be fulfilled whenever the party initially desiring termination complies with paragraph (3) and notifies FMCS within thirty days after the service of the notice required by paragraph (1).
Because of those assumptions, doubtless, the drafter failed to spell out what should happen if the paragraph (3) notice is delayed. Apparently everyone agrees that as to the party initially desiring termination, delay in serving a paragraph (3) notice tolls the running of the sixty day period in para*971graph (4). That result already introduces an interpretation that the period of sixty days under paragraph (4) must have included a period of at least thirty days during which FMCS had notice of the dispute.
Notice to FMCS and the resulting opportunity for mediation and conciliation may well serve an interest of either or both bargaining parties. If only their interests were served, it would be sensible to permit the noninitiating party to waive the full opportunity for mediation and conciliation in the event of delay by the initiating party. But it seems so clear to me that the thirty day opportunity for mediation and conciliation was intended to serve the national and public interest that paragraph (4) should be interpreted accordingly. Neither party should be permitted to waive it. I see no reason why the party who did not serve the initial sixty day paragraph (1) notice cannot serve the paragraph (3) FMCS notice if that party desires to avoid further tolling of the period of sixty days for the purpose of paragraph (4).