Finnegan v. Leu
United States Supreme Court
456 U.S. 431 (1982)
- Written by Tammy Boggs, JD
Facts
Harold Leu (defendant) defeated Omar Brown in the presidency election for a drivers’ labor union (the union) (defendant). During the vigorously contested campaign, certain business agents of the union openly supported incumbent president Brown. Business agents were union employees who participated in contract negotiations, union organizing, and grievance processing. Upon assuming office, Leu discharged the business agents appointed by Brown because Leu did not believe they would follow Leu’s policies and programs due to the agents’ loyalty to Brown. Under the union’s bylaws, the president had authority to appoint, direct, and discharge the union’s business agents, who, on discharge, were still eligible to be union members. The discharged business agents (plaintiffs) filed suit in district court, alleging that their terminations violated the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). The district court granted summary judgment for Leu and the union, finding that a union employee may be discharged by the president under the LMRDA if the employee’s rights as a union member are unaffected. The court of appeals affirmed. The matter came before the Supreme Court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Burger, C.J.)
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