386 U.S. 171 (1967) Cited 4,217 times 2 Legal Analyses
Holding that, under the LMRA, an "individual employee has absolute right to have his grievance taken to arbitration regardless of the provisions of the applicable collective bargaining agreement"
Holding that employees can challenge final decision of arbitrator only if they "prove . . . the Union's breach of duty tainting the decision of the [arbitrator]"
Holding that a labor organization must represent all members of a "craft or class of employees . . . regardless of their union affiliations or want of them"
Holding that union could not expel member because he filed unfair labor practice charge against it without first exhausting internal remedies as provided in union constitution
Upholding breach of duty of fair representation verdict because, in part, union failed to properly calculate plaintiffs' seniority when processing grievance
Finding inexplicable delay in pursuing grievances to be a breach of the DFR and stating, “The requirement of exhaustion of intra-Union remedies is bottomed on the hope that such procedures will quickly resolve disputes without the delay inherent in the judicial process and with the aid of persons experienced at resolving member-union conflicts short of a full-blown judicial proceeding. When that hope has failed, however, the member is not barred from proceeding to federal court with a claim of unfair representation.”