GRIFFIN, Circuit Judge.
Plaintiffs-appellants are machine repairmen presently or formerly employed by Chrysler Group, L.L.C. or Daimler Chrysler Corporation ("Chrysler") at two plants located in Toledo, Ohio. Plaintiffs claim that their union, defendants-appellees International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America ("UAW") and International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, Local No. 12 ("Local 12"),
In October 2007, the district court granted defendants' motion for summary judgment, holding that plaintiffs had failed to exhaust internal union remedies. On appeal, this court reversed, instructing the district court to consider whether plaintiffs' claims were barred by the statute of limitations. On remand, defendants again moved for summary judgment. The district court granted the motion, holding that a portion of plaintiffs' claims were barred by the statute of limitations and that the remaining claims failed on their merits. On appeal, plaintiffs challenge both of these findings. Upon review, we affirm the district court in all respects.
Chrysler employs several kinds of skilled tradesmen at two Toledo plants, the "North Cove" plant and the new "Toledo North" plant. This case implicates three groups of skilled tradesmen: machine repairmen, millwrights, and electricians. Plaintiffs are machine repairmen.
Until 1997, the skilled tradesmen at Chrysler's Toledo plants were represented by two unions. The UAW represented, among others, millwrights and electricians, and the Mechanics Education Society of
In 1999, when Chrysler built the Toledo North plant, problems developed in establishing its "lines of demarcation," which delineate what responsibilities are assigned to each skilled trade. Disputes over lines of demarcation were not an unusual occurrence at the Chrysler plants. In particular, millwrights, electricians, and machine repairmen have some overlap with regard to their trade skills,
Before 1997, line of demarcation disputes were resolved through the grievance process by relying in substantial part on past practice. However, the 1997-2002 CBA provided for several changes. Emphasizing the need for a cooperative work environment, the CBA noted that there must be "flexibility in job assignments and job transfers[.]" Specifically addressing the issue of lines of demarcation, the CBA provided: "Skilled Trades classification shall be effectively reduced to reflect the consolidation of former M.E.S.A. classifications with UAW, Local 12 in addition to minimizing traditional lines of demarcation with respect to job responsibilities." The CBA further noted that "many tasks are properly performed within the scope of two or more classifications."
In August 1999, before the Toledo North plant began operations, certain specifically assigned coordinators, along with maintenance manager Ted Roberts, attempted to establish lines of demarcation for the plant. This process resulted in numerous disagreements, causing concern among the skilled tradesmen.
In January 2001, Local 12 announced the creation of a Lines of Demarcation Committee (the "LDC") to draft the lines of demarcation for the Toledo North plant. Representatives from each skilled trade were elected, establishing the LDC by January 30, 2001.
Following publication of the LDC decisions, many skilled tradesmen were left dissatisfied. As a result, a petition was circulated requesting that the UAW visit the Toledo North plant and make recommendations regarding appropriate lines of demarcation. In accordance with this request, Jerry Brown, a staff representative for the UAW, visited the Toledo North plant on three occasions. Brown examined the disputed areas of the plant and provided written recommendations. However, several skilled tradesmen were still dissatisfied with these recommendations, resulting in inconsistent job allocations and grievances.
When Edwards' lines of demarcation were published in 2005, no one was completely satisfied. Several machine repairmen felt that the demarcations reassigned significant portions of their work to millwrights and electricians. Such reassignments, they felt, were contrary to past practice and training.
Plaintiffs filed the present lawsuit on August 26, 2002, alleging that Local 12 and the UAW used their influence to favor millwrights and electricians at the expense of the machine repairmen. They also contended that the creation of the LDC was not authorized by the union bylaws or constitution.
On May 19, 2006, defendants moved for summary judgment on numerous grounds. The district court granted defendants' motion, holding that plaintiffs failed to exhaust internal union remedies. On appeal, we reversed the grant of summary judgment, holding that the district court had failed to address "a threshold statute of limitations issue that could render the case untimely." Burkholder v. UAW, 299 Fed. Appx. 531, 534 (6th Cir.2008) (unpublished). In addition, we held that the district court had not addressed whether the exhaustion of internal remedies would be excused as a result of the union's alleged breach of its duty of fair representation. Id. at 535-36 (citing Williams v. Molpus, 171 F.3d 360, 369 (6th Cir.1999)).
Upon remand, defendants once again moved for summary judgment, asserting that a majority of plaintiffs' claims were barred by the statute of limitations. Additionally, defendants asserted that plaintiffs' claims failed on their merits. On March 19, 2010, the district court granted defendants' motion, holding that several of plaintiffs' claims were barred by the statute of limitations and that all remaining claims failed on their merits. Plaintiffs thereafter filed this timely appeal.
We review de novo a district court's grant of summary judgment. Longaberger Co. v. Kolt, 586 F.3d 459, 465 (6th Cir.2009). Summary judgment is proper "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). When determining whether the movant has met this burden, we view the evidence
The first issue is whether plaintiffs' claims pertaining to LDC decisions and layoffs made before February 26, 2002, are barred by the statute of limitations. In DelCostello v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 462 U.S. 151, 103 S.Ct. 2281, 76 L.Ed.2d 476 (1983), "the Supreme Court established a six-month period of limitations for claims alleging breach of [the] duty of fair representation[.]" Ratkosky v. United Transp. Union, 843 F.2d 869, 873 (6th Cir.1988). "As a general rule, the limitations period begins to run when the potential plaintiff `knows or should have known of the union's alleged breach of its duty of fair representation.'" Id. (quoting Dowty v. Pioneer Rural Electric Co-op., Inc., 770 F.2d 52, 56 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1021, 106 S.Ct. 572, 88 L.Ed.2d 557 (1985)). In this case, because plaintiffs filed suit on August 26, 2002, the district court held that claims pertaining to LDC decisions and layoffs finalized before February 26, 2002, were barred by the statute of limitations. We agree.
In asserting that they may rely upon all of the LDC decisions to support their fair representation claim, plaintiffs contend that such decisions constitute a "continuing violation." When a continuing violation is found, "a plaintiff is entitled to have the court consider all relevant actions allegedly taken pursuant to the [wrongful] policy or practice, including those that would otherwise be time barred." Sharpe v. Cureton, 319 F.3d 259, 267 (6th Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). This court most commonly applies the continuing-violation doctrine in Title VII cases, id., but has considered applying it to claims under § 1983, see, e.g., Tolbert v. Ohio Dep't of Transp., 172 F.3d 934, 940-41 (6th Cir.1999), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, see e.g., Sherman v. Chrysler Corp., 47 Fed.Appx. 716, 721 (6th Cir.2002) (unpublished). We assume for purposes of argument that this doctrine could also be applied to a fair representation claim. See Noble v. Chrysler Motors Corp., Jeep Div., 32 F.3d 997, 1000-01 (6th Cir.1994).
This court recognizes two categories of continuing violation. The first is "where the plaintiff can show prior [wrongful] activity that continues into the present," and the second is "where the plaintiff can show a longstanding and demonstrable policy of discrimination." Bell v. Ohio State Univ., 351 F.3d 240, 247 (6th Cir.2003) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In this case, plaintiffs do not assert that the statute of limitations should be tolled under the second continuing-violation category. Accordingly, we will not address it.
Under the first category, "plaintiffs are ... precluded from establishing a continuing violation exception by proof that the alleged [wrongful] acts ... occurring prior to the limitations period are sufficiently related to those occurring within the limitations period." Sharpe, 319 F.3d at 268 (citing Nat'l R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Morgan, 536 U.S. 101, 122 S.Ct. 2061, 153 L.Ed.2d 106 (2002)). Thus, "discrete acts of which [the plaintiffs were] immediately aware when they occurred," Bell, 351 F.3d at 248, such as "termination, failure to promote, denial of transfer, [and] refusal to hire," do not constitute a continuing violation. Morgan, 536 U.S. at 114, 122 S.Ct. 2061.
In the case at bar, plaintiffs rely on numerous discrete occurrences of which they were immediately aware: the issuance
While plaintiffs contend that they "had no way to know that [the first LDC decision] was the first of a string of decisions that would cumulatively transfer a large body of work from machine repairmen to millwrights and electricians[,]" plaintiffs did not need to know the extent of the alleged breach of the duty of fair representation to file a claim. If Local 12 transferred a small amount of work away from the machine repairmen in a fashion that was improperly discriminatory, in bad faith, or arbitrary, there is no reason such an occurrence would not be actionable. See Vaca v. Sipes, 386 U.S. 171, 190, 87 S.Ct. 903, 17 L.Ed.2d 842 (1967) ("A breach of the statutory duty of fair representation occurs only when a union's conduct toward a member of the collective bargaining unit is arbitrary, discriminatory, or in bad faith."). Moreover, ten of the twelve LDC decisions occurred prior to February 26, 2002. Thus, plaintiffs cannot (and do not) claim that they were not aware of a significant number of job transfers prior to that date. See Ratkosky, 843 F.2d at 873 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted) ("As a general rule, the limitations period begins to run when the potential plaintiff knows or should have known of the union's alleged breach of its duty of fair representation."). Accordingly, because the LDC decisions issued before February 26, 2002, are discrete and potentially actionable events, there is no continuing violation. These decisions are barred by the statute of limitations.
The next issue is whether Local 12 violated its duty of fair representation by favoring the millwrights and electricians, over plaintiffs, machine repairmen. Primarily, plaintiffs contend that the union wrongfully favored the millwrights and electricians by transferring substantial amounts of work through the lines of demarcation provided by the LDC in 2001 and 2002, and by Edwards in 2005. In
In Vaca v. Sipes, the Supreme Court held that "[a] breach of the statutory duty of fair representation occurs only when a union's conduct toward a member of the collective bargaining unit is arbitrary, discriminatory, or in bad faith." 386 U.S. at 190, 87 S.Ct. 903. A union's actions are arbitrary "only if, in light of the factual and legal landscape at the time of the union's actions, the union's behavior is so far outside a wide range of reasonableness as to be irrational." Air Line Pilots Ass'n, Int'l v. O'Neill, 499 U.S. 65, 67, 111 S.Ct. 1127, 113 L.Ed.2d 51 (1991) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Accordingly, a union's judgments are not arbitrary "even if those judgments are ultimately wrong," Marquez v. Screen Actors Guild, Inc., 525 U.S. 33, 45-46, 119 S.Ct. 292, 142 L.Ed.2d 242 (1998), negligent or mistaken, Poole v. Budd Co., 706 F.2d 181, 183 (6th Cir.1983).
A union's actions are improperly discriminatory if they are "intentional, severe, and unrelated to legitimate union objectives[,]" Amalgamated Ass'n of St., Elec., Ry. & Motor Coach Emps. of Am. v. Lockridge, 403 U.S. 274, 301, 91 S.Ct. 1909, 29 L.Ed.2d 473 (1971), and they are in bad faith if made with improper intent or motive, Williamson v. Lear Corp., 183 Fed. Appx. 497, 505 (6th Cir.2006) (unpublished). In addition, to recover for a breach of the duty of fair representation, the plaintiff must demonstrate injury. See Spellacy v. Airline Pilots Ass'n-Int'l, 156 F.3d 120, 126 (2d Cir.1998); Black v. Ryder/P.I.E. Nationwide, Inc., 15 F.3d 573, 585 (6th Cir.1994) (noting that a union's failure to present favorable evidence during a grievance procedure is actionable only if such evidence would have brought about a different result).
Here, plaintiffs assert that the union had a more demanding duty of fair representation regarding the lines of demarcation because it was acting as a "hiring hall." In making this argument, plaintiffs rely on language contained in Breininger v. Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local Union No. 6, 493 U.S. 67, 110 S.Ct. 424, 107 L.Ed.2d 388 (1989).
In Breininger, the Supreme Court addressed the duty of fair representation in the context of a union-run hiring hall. 493 U.S. at 70, 110 S.Ct. 424. Plaintiffs claimed that the union breached its duty of fair representation by exercising, in an improper discriminatory manner, its ability to refer union members for employment. Id. at 70-71, 110 S.Ct. 424. In defending against this claim, the union asserted that when it operates a hiring hall, it "should be relieved entirely of its duty of fair representation." Id. at 87, 110 S.Ct. 424. The Court rejected this argument, holding that the duty of fair representation applies to union-run hiring halls, and noting that "if a union does wield additional power in a hiring hall by assuming the employer's role, its responsibility to exercise that power fairly increases rather than decreases." Id. at 89, 110 S.Ct. 424 (emphasis in original).
Citing Breininger, both the D.C. and Ninth Circuits have held that a more demanding duty of fair representation is required in the hiring-hall context. Lucas v. NLRB, 333 F.3d 927, 934-35 (9th Cir. 2003); Jacoby v. NLRB, 233 F.3d 611, 616-17 (D.C.Cir.2000). However, a panel of this court has held to the contrary. In Hoskins v. Local 1853 International Union, United Auto, Aerospace and Agricultural
We need not decide whether Breininger requires a higher duty of fair representation in the hiring-hall context because Local 12 was not running a hiring hall. In Breininger, the union ran an exclusive hiring hall over which the employer had no authority or responsibility. 493 U.S. at 71 n. 1, 110 S.Ct. 424. The same was true in Lucas and Jacoby. See Lucas, 333 F.3d at 929 n. 2; Jacoby, 233 F.3d at 613. In contrast, the union in this case was merely designating which skilled trades were to perform what work at the Toledo North plant, a decision subject to Chrysler's ultimate approval. The union was not selecting individual union members for employment. Thus, because the union was not operating a hiring hall, a higher duty of fair representation is not required.
Having determined that Breininger does not impose a higher standard in this case, we now move to the merits of the claim. In asserting that Local 12 breached its duty of fair representation through setting the lines of demarcation, plaintiffs rely exclusively on their assertion that the lines of demarcation were made without reason and in contrast to prior practice and training, thereby rendering them arbitrary.
As a practical matter, unions are rarely able to negotiate agreements that completely satisfy the desires of all its represented members. Indeed, as the Supreme Court has noted:
Ford Motor Co. v. Huffman, 345 U.S. 330, 338, 73 S.Ct. 681, 97 L.Ed. 1048 (1953). Accordingly, we "are careful not to substitute [our] judgment[] for those of the authorized labor organization." Ratkosky, 843 F.2d at 876. In this case, plaintiffs do not dispute that there is no one "correct" set of demarcations that would be agreeable to all skilled tradesmen. Accordingly, we will not disturb the union's proper exercise of its discretionary judgment. The fact that the lines of demarcation "favor[]
Plaintiffs rely upon "past practice" and prior training at the North Cove plant in asserting that the lines of demarcation at the Toledo North plant are arbitrary. However, plaintiffs acknowledge that the concept of past practice is elusive, as the skilled tradesmen are often unable to agree on what constitutes past practice. Indeed, many jobs were shared by multiple skilled trades at the North Cove plant. Moreover, the 1997-2002 CBA provided for the minimization of traditional lines of demarcation, recognizing that many jobs are properly performed by two or more trade classifications. Thus, while past practice and training may not have been emphasized as desired by plaintiffs, this fact alone does not render the demarcations irrational in light of the circumstances presented in setting lines of demarcation for a new plant under a new CBA.
Plaintiffs further contend that the demarcations established in the Toledo North plant are arbitrary because of the sheer amount of transferred work. However, the fact that the demarcations are more favorable to the electricians and millwrights is not enough to establish a breach of the duty of fair representation. See Ratkosky, 843 F.2d at 876. Plaintiffs' emphasis on the end result of the long-fought battle over the lines of demarcation pays short shrift to the process through which the demarcations were made. This process is highly relevant to whether Local 12 violated its duty of fair representation. See O'Neill, 499 U.S. at 78, 111 S.Ct. 1127 (holding that courts must "take into account... the facts and the legal climate that confronted the [union] at the time the decision was made"). The undisputed facts establish that after the skilled tradesmen were dissatisfied with the proposed allocation of work at the Toledo North plant, a committee was elected to make recommendations based upon majority vote. When several skilled tradesmen were still dissatisfied, a UAW representative was brought to the plant to provide recommendations, and when the skilled tradesmen were yet still dissatisfied, Local 12 assigned Edwards to create new lines of demarcation. Thus, while no process resulted in a set of demarcations agreeable to all union members, the process itself was reasonably fair, and certainly not irrational.
Moreover, while plaintiffs claim that a significant number of machine repairmen jobs were unreasonably transferred to millwrights and electricians, plaintiffs fail to quantify this transfer for the court. Plaintiffs cannot rely on the cumulative effect of the line of demarcation decisions as evidence of arbitrariness without submitting evidence establishing that effect. Mere conclusory statements that the machine repair trade was "gutted" is insufficient to satisfy plaintiffs' burden of establishing arbitrariness. See Lynott v. Story, 929 F.2d 228, 232 (6th Cir.1991) (stating that conclusory statements are insufficient to meet the burden of production and persuasion).
Finally, while plaintiffs contend that the lines of demarcation were made without explanation, the record indicates to the contrary. For example, the LDC assessed
In sum, plaintiffs have failed to submit evidence demonstrating that Local 12's decisions regarding the lines of demarcation were irrational. The mere fact that plaintiffs "were adversely affected by the actions" does not establish a breach of the duty of fair representation. Ratkosky, 843 F.2d at 878-79.
Plaintiffs place little emphasis on their remaining claims of unfair representation against Local 12. First, plaintiffs assert that Local 12 unfairly allocated cross-training opportunities. Chrysler approves voluntary training courses for its skilled tradesmen, designating what trades may attend what classes. When a class is not filled with employees of the designated trade, it is possible for other tradesmen to attend.
While the record indicates that millwrights and electricians were able to attend machine repair training courses, it does not appear that machine repairmen have been able to receive similar cross-training. However, there is no evidence indicating that millwrights and electricians were able to receive cross-training in violation of Chrysler rules, i.e., were able to attend classes already filled with employees of the designated trade. Moreover, there is no evidence indicating that machine repairmen were unable to attend classes designated for other trades when such classes were not full. In fact, there is nothing in the record showing that any plaintiff was ever denied requested cross-training. Thus, there is simply no evidence that the union acted in bad faith, with discriminatory intent, or irrationally with regard to cross-training.
Next, plaintiffs claim that Local 12 violated its duty of fair representation in denying machine repair apprentices nationally required training hours on "machining." Once again, this claim is without merit. The Toledo Chrysler plants do not require machine repairmen to perform machining work, and therefore denied apprenticeship hours in that area. However, apprentices were nevertheless able to complete their apprenticeships and obtain their journeyman cards. Accordingly, Local 12 was not irrational in denying such training, and even if it had been, plaintiffs cannot demonstrate the harm required to assert a claim for breach of the duty of fair representation.
Plaintiffs contend that while no machine repairmen with less than three years seniority were placed in the job bank, a small number of millwrights and electricians without the requisite seniority did receive job bank positions. This discrepancy is reasonably explained, however, as a small number of millwrights and electricians were paid out of the job bank, despite their lack of seniority, because certain community-based projects required their skills. Plaintiffs have put forth no evidence contradicting this explanation. Accordingly, the union's actions were not irrational, discriminatory, or made in bad faith.
Finally, plaintiffs assert that the UAW breached its duty of fair representation in providing recommendations regarding the lines of demarcation for the Toledo North plant. However, as described above, the UAW visited the Toledo North plant, reviewed the disputed positions, and made advisory recommendations. There is no evidence indicating that these actions were improperly discriminatory, made in bad faith, or arbitrary.
In sum, we hold that plaintiffs' claims regarding the LDC decisions and layoffs made before February 26, 2002, are barred by the statute of limitations. In addition, we hold that plaintiffs' remaining claims fail on their merits. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court.