Summary
holding that DelCostello was applicable but remanding for determination whether statute of limitations was tolled until plaintiff was informed by union that his grievance had been withdrawn
Summary of this case from Gavalik v. Cont'l Can Co.Opinion
No. 82-5470.
Submitted Under Third Circuit Rule 12(6) February 18, 1983.
Decided January 26, 1984.
Henry C. Berns, Breman Berns, Pittsburgh, Pa., for appellant.
Richard V. Sica, Brian J. Dougherty, Thorp, Reed Armstrong, Pittsburgh, Pa., for Pullman Standard, Inc.
Rudolph L. Milasich, Jr., Asst. Gen. Counsel, Carl B. Frankel, Associate Gen. Counsel, United Steelworkers of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., for United Steelworkers of America and Its Local 1415; Bernard Kleiman, Chicago, Ill., of counsel.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Before GIBBONS, HUNTER and ROSENN, Circuit Judges.
OPINION OF THE COURT
Terry G. Martin appeals from a judgment on the pleadings, on statute of limitations grounds, in his suit against his employer and the labor union representing him, alleging that his discharge violated a collective bargaining agreement and the union's duty of fair representation. The trial court, relying on United Parcel Service, Inc. v. Mitchell, 451 U.S. 56, 101 S.Ct. 1559, 67 L.Ed.2d 732 (1981), held that the action was barred by the thirty-day statute of limitations in 42 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 7314(b) (Purdon 1982). Martin v. Pullman Standard, 538 F. Supp. 1174, 1176 (W.D.Pa. 1982). While Martin's appeal was pending, the Supreme Court overruled United Parcel Service, Inc. v. Mitchell, holding that the six-month period for filing unfair labor practice charges in section 10(b) of the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 160(b) (1976), was the appropriate limitations period for suits such as his. DelCostello v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, ___ U.S. ___, 103 S.Ct. 2281, 2285-94, 76 L.Ed.2d 476 (1983).
Martin's grievance was withdrawn by the union on April 13, 1981, and the present action commenced on October 15, 1981, or 185 days thereafter.
Martin contends, however, that the statute of limitations should have been tolled until the Union informed him, sometime in May of 1981, that the grievance was withdrawn. The trial court did not decide the tolling question because even if the action had been tolled until May, the thirty-day Pennsylvania time bar still would govern. 538 F. Supp. at 1176. In DelCostello, the Supreme Court remanded for further proceedings in identical circumstances. ___ U.S. at ___, 103 S.Ct. at 2294. We conclude that that course is appropriate here as well.
The judgment appealed from will be reversed and the case remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.