Hodgson v. Local Union 6799, United Steelworkers of America

United States Supreme Court

403 U.S. 333

Hodgson, Secretary of Labor  v.  Local Union 6799, United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, et al.

Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

No. 655.  Argued: March 23, 1971 --- Decided: June 14, 1971

Failure of labor union member's election complaint to include an objection to meeting-attendance rule during his pursuit of internal union remedies when the member was aware of the existence of the rule bars the Secretary of Labor from later challenging that rule in an action under § 402 of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, which provides that once a member challenging an election has exhausted his internal union remedies and filed a complaint with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary "shall investigate such complaint and, if he finds probable cause to believe that a violation... has occurred and has not been remedied, he shall... bring a civil action against the labor organization." Pp. 336-341.

426 F. 2d 696, affirmed.

MARSHALL, J., wrote the opinion of the Court, in which BURGER, C.J., and BLACK, DOUGLAS, HARLAN, STEWART, and BLACKMUN, JJ., joined. BRENNAN, J., post, p. 341, and WHITE, J., post, p. 343, filed dissenting opinions.

Deputy Solicitor General Wallace argued the cause for petitioner. With him on the brief were Solicitor General Griswold, Assistant Attorney General Gray, Richard B. Stone, Peter G. Nash, George T. Avery, Beate Bloch, and Cornelius S. Donoghue, Jr.

Michael H. Gottesman argued the cause for respondents. With him on the brief were Bernard Kleiman, George H. Cohen, Carl Frankel, and Jerome Smith.

Notes