Court Opinion

ID: 9443114
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 19:11:21.783155+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:29:22.693810
License: Public Domain

BIGGS, Chief Judge
(concurring).
I concur in the views expressed in Judge Goodrich’s opinion as to the discriminations practiced by Pennwoven, Inc. and would enforce the order of the Board as modified by the decision and order of this court. I agree also with the conclusion that the Board cannot compel Pennwoven, Inc. to reinstate the Rayhorns and Bechtol but I think I should state my grounds for this conclusion.
Bechtol, a weaver, had a seniority of 51. Wohlfert, also a weaver, standing 60 in seniority, was reemployed on July 19, 1948. This was the last point in time (the Board’s continuing tort theory aside) when there was discrimination against Bechtol. A similar final discrimination was effected against Jennie Rayhorn, a weaver, whose seniority was 9, when on July 19, 1948, Nestlerode, also a weaver, with a seniority of 13, was reemployed. The final discrimination against John'Rayhorn, a wrapper, standing 15 in seniority, occurred when, on July 19, 1948, Heaton, also a wrapper, with a seniority of 34, was reemployed. See 29 U.S.C.A. § l'58(a) (3).
Analogizing causes of action in tort with discriminations under the Act I conclude that the “causes of action” of the three employees named could have accrued no later than on the dates designated and charges based on these discriminations could have been filed and maintained against Penn-woven, Inc. if filed within six months. The limitation provision of the Taft-Hartley Act, 29 U.S.C.A. § 160(b), is phrased like the typical statute of limitations and was obviously intended by Congress to operate as such. It follows that when the six month period provided by the Act had expired no valid charge could be filed with the Board. The statute of limitations could not be tolled by the letters of April 16, 1949.
Congress obviously did not intend to permit the application of a doctrine of continuing tort. If the view of continuing tort be adopted Pennwoven, Inc. could be held guilty of unfair labor practices a year or a decade after the occurrence of acts of discrimination by a mere demand for reinstatement, oral or written, by the employee. *527Such a result seems to me to be precisely what Congress intended to avoid by the limitation provision of the Taft-Hartley Act. The policy involved is for Congress and not for the courts.