vaca sipes argued november decided february petitioners union officials sued state union member alleged wrongful discharge employer violation collective bargaining agreement union arbitrary refusal take grievance arbitration fifth final step bargaining agreement grievance procedures employee whose duties required strenuous activity discharged ground poor health fourth grievance step union sent employee physician complete examination report unfavorable employee union decided take grievance arbitration jury verdict employee trial judge set aside verdict ground nlrb exclusive jurisdiction controversy kansas city appeals affirmed missouri reversed ordered jury verdict reinstated held since union duty exclusive agent fairly represent members designated unit based federal statutes federal law governs employee cause action breach duty pp although nlrb recently held union breach statutory duty fair representation unfair labor practice national labor relations act follow broad doctrine defined san diego building trades council garmon holding nlrb exclusive jurisdiction activity arguably subject act applicable thereto pp doctrine rigidly applied fairly inferred congress intended exclusive jurisdiction lie nlrb pp rule applied activity regulated merely peripheral concern labor management relations act doctrine fair representation protects individuals arbitrary union conduct might jeopardized nlrb failure act certain cases doctrine applied oust courts traditional jurisdiction curb arbitrary union conduct pp practical matter employee suit employer breach contract labor management relations act employee may well find necessary prove breach duty union facet case destroy jurisdiction even employee joins union defendant result different employee sues employer union separate actions pp breach duty union breach contract employer proven action must fashion appropriate remedy defendants pp union breaches duty fair representation conduct toward member designated unit arbitrary discriminatory bad faith breach duty merely settles grievance short arbitration missouri erred upholding jury verdict solely ground evidence supported employee claim wrongful discharge pp matter federal law evidence support verdict union breached duty employee absolute right grievance arbitrated failed prove arbitrary conduct union processing grievance pp claimed damages primarily suffered result employer alleged breach contract charged union liability found apportioned employer union according damages caused fault pp david feller argued cause petitioners brief henry panethiere russell jacobson jerry anker george west allan browne argued cause filed brief respondent briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed solicitor general marshall robert rifkind arnold ordman dominick manoli norton come albert woll robert mayer laurence gold thomas harris american federation labor congress industrial organizations robert hecker earl spiker swift justice white delivered opinion february benjamin owens filed class action petitioners officers representatives national brotherhood packinghouse workers kansas city local union circuit jackson county missouri owens union member alleged discharged employment swift company swift kansas city meat packing plant violation collective bargaining agreement force swift union union arbitrarily capriciously without reasonable reason cause refused take grievance swift arbitration fifth step bargaining agreement grievance procedures petitioners answer included defense missouri courts lacked jurisdiction gravamen owens suit arguably basically unfair labor practice national labor relations act amended stat within exclusive jurisdiction national labor relations board nlrb jury trial verdict returned awarding owens compensatory punitive damages trial judge set aside verdict entered judgment petitioners ground nlrb exclusive jurisdiction controversy kansas city appeals affirmed missouri reversed directed reinstatement jury verdict relying decisions international assn machinists gonzales automobile workers russell appeal owens died respondent administrator owens estate substituted granted certiorari consider whether exclusive jurisdiction lies nlrb whether finding union liability relief afforded owens consistent governing principles federal labor law american federation labor congress industrial organizations swift filed amicus briefs supporting petitioners although conclude state courts jurisdiction type case hold federal law governs governing federal standards applied judgment missouri must accordingly reversed armed medical evidence fitness owens sought union help securing reinstatement grievance filed swift behalf grievance processed third fourth step grievance procedure established collective bargaining agreement swift adhered position owens poor health justified discharge rejecting numerous medical reports reduced blood pressure proffered owens union swift claimed reports based upon sufficiently thorough medical tests february union sent owens new doctor union expense see get better medical evidence go arbitration case examination support owens position union received report executive board voted take owens grievance arbitration insufficient medical evidence union officers suggested owens accept swift offer referral rehabilitation center grievance suspended purpose owens rejected alternative demanded union take grievance arbitration union refused contractual remedies thus stalled fourth step owens brought suit grievance finally dismissed union swift shortly trial began june charge jury trial judge instructed petitioners liable swift wrongfully discharged owens union arbitrarily without cause excuse refused press owens grievance arbitration punitive damages also awarded trial judge charged union conduct willful wanton malicious however jury must return verdict defendants judge instructed find believe evidence union representatives acted reasonably good faith handling processing grievance plaintiff jury returned general verdict owens eventually reinstated missouri ii well established exclusive bargaining representative employees owens bargaining unit union statutory duty fairly represent employees collective bargaining swift see ford motor huffman syres oil workers international union enforcement resulting collective bargaining agreement see humphrey moore statutory duty fair representation developed years ago series cases involving alleged racial discrimination unions certified exclusive bargaining representatives railway labor act see steele louisville tunstall brotherhood locomotive firemen soon extended unions certified see ford motor huffman supra doctrine exclusive agent statutory authority represent members designated unit includes statutory obligation serve interests members without hostility discrimination toward exercise discretion complete good faith honesty avoid arbitrary conduct humphrey moore obvious owens complaint alleged breach union duty grounded federal statutes federal law therefore governs cause action ford motor huffman supra although enacted nlrb miranda fuel interpret breach union duty fair representation unfair labor practice miranda fuel board majority held gives employees right free unfair irrelevant invidious treatment exclusive bargaining agent matters affecting employment section act accordingly prohibits labor organizations acting statutory representative capacity taking action employee upon considerations classifications irrelevant invidious unfair board also held employer participates arbitrary union conduct violates employer union may violate respectively arbitrary irrelevant reasons upon basis unfair classification union attempts cause cause employer derogate employment status employee board miranda fuel decision denied enforcement divided second circuit however local rubber workers fifth circuit upheld board miranda fuel doctrine opinion suggesting board approach judicial cognizance fair representation duty suits light developments petitioners argue owens state action based upon union conduct arguably proscribed potentially enforceable nlrb therefore garmon line decisions garmon recognized broad powers conferred congress upon national labor relations board interpret enforce complex labor management relations act necessarily imply potentially conflicting rules law remedy administration permitted operate enacting national labor relations act later labor management relations act congress merely lay substantive rule law enforced tribunal competent apply law generally parties went confide primary interpretation application rules specific specially constituted tribunal congress evidently considered centralized administration specially designed procedures necessary obtain uniform application substantive rules avoid diversities conflicts likely result variety local procedures attitudes toward labor controversies multiplicity tribunals diversity procedures quite apt produce incompatible conflicting adjudications different rules substantive law garner teamsters union doctrine however never rigidly applied cases fairly inferred congress intended exclusive jurisdiction lie nlrb congress carved exceptions board exclusive jurisdiction section labor management relations act stat expressly permits anyone injured violation recover damages federal even though unfair labor practices also remediable board act stat permits suits breach collective bargaining agreement regardless whether particular breach also unfair labor practice within jurisdiction board see smith evening news amended title vii reporting disclosure act stat permits state agencies courts assume jurisdiction labor disputes board declines pursuant paragraph subsection assert jurisdiction compare guss utah labor board addition congressional exceptions refused hold state remedies activity regulated merely peripheral concern labor management relations act touched interests deeply rooted local feeling responsibility absence compelling congressional direction infer congress deprived power act san diego building trades council garmon see linn plant guard workers libel automobile workers russell violence international assn machinists gonzales wrongful expulsion union membership local wisconsin employment relations board mass picketing see also hanna mining marine engineers beneficial exceptions way undermine vitality rule applicable demonstrate decision federal state jurisdiction given class cases must depend upon nature particular interests asserted effect upon administration national labor policies concurrent judicial administrative remedies primary justification doctrine need avoid conflicting rules substantive law labor relations area desirability leaving development rules administrative agency created congress purpose applicable cases involving alleged breaches union duty fair representation doctrine judicially developed steele progeny suits alleging breach duty remained judicially cognizable long nlrb given unfair labor practice jurisdiction union activities moreover board declared miranda fuel union breach duty fair representation henceforth treated unfair labor practice board adopted applied doctrine developed federal courts see finally dissenting board members miranda fuel pointed fair representation duty suits often require review substantive positions taken policies pursued union negotiation collective bargaining agreement handling grievance machinery matters normally within board unfair labor practice jurisdiction doubted whether board brings substantially greater expertise bear problems courts engaged type review since steele decision addition considerations unique interests served duty fair representation doctrine profound effect opinion applicability rule class cases federal labor laws seek promote industrial peace improvement wages working conditions fostering system employee organization collective bargaining see amended stat collective bargaining system encouraged congress administered nlrb necessity subordinates interests individual employee collective interests employees bargaining unit see case labor board recognized steele congressional grant power union act exclusive collective bargaining representative corresponding reduction individual rights employees represented raise grave constitutional problems unions free exercise power racial discrimination since landmark decision duty fair representation stood bulwark prevent arbitrary union conduct individuals stripped traditional forms redress provisions federal labor law hold petitioners government urge courts foreclosed nlrb miranda fuel decision traditional supervisory jurisdiction individual employee injured arbitrary discriminatory union conduct longer assured impartial review complaint since board general counsel unreviewable discretion refuse institute unfair labor practice complaint see electrical contractors assn ordman cert denied existence even small group cases board unwilling unable remedy union breach duty frustrate basic purposes underlying duty fair representation doctrine reasons assume nlrb tardy assumption jurisdiction cases congress enacted intended oust courts traditional jurisdiction curb arbitrary conduct individual employee statutory representative also intensely practical considerations foreclose judicial cognizance fair representation duty suits considerations emerge intricate relationship duty fair representation enforcement collective bargaining contracts fact question whether union breached duty fair representation many cases critical issue suit charging employer breach contract illustrate let us assume collective bargaining agreement limits discharges good cause contains grievance arbitration provisions purporting restrict access courts employee discharged without cause either union employee may sue employer section courts jurisdiction suits enforce collective bargaining agreements even though conduct employer challenged breach contract also arguably unfair labor practice within jurisdiction nlrb garmon like cases application suits smith evening news rule regard bargaining agreement contains grievance arbitration provisions intended provide exclusive remedy breach contract claims employee discharged without cause violation agreement employer conduct may unfair labor practice preclude suit union employer compel arbitration employee grievance adjudication claim arbitrator suit enforce resulting arbitration award see steelworkers american mfg however wrongfully discharged employee resorts courts grievance procedures fully exhausted employer may well defend ground exclusive remedies provided contract exhausted since employee claim based upon breach collective bargaining agreement bound terms agreement govern manner contractual rights may enforced reason settled employee must least attempt exhaust exclusive grievance arbitration procedures established bargaining agreement republic steel maddox however contractual remedies devised often controlled union employer may well prove unsatisfactory unworkable individual grievant problem determine circumstances individual employee may obtain judicial review claim despite failure secure relief contractual remedial procedures obvious situation employee limited exclusive remedial procedures established contract occurs conduct employer amounts repudiation contractual procedures cf drake bakeries bakery workers see generally corbin contracts situation may course others employer estopped conduct rely unexhausted grievance arbitration procedures defense employee cause action think another situation employee may seek judicial enforcement contractual rights arises true union sole power contract invoke higher stages grievance procedure alleged prevented exhausting contractual remedies union wrongful refusal process grievance true employer situation may done nothing prevent exhaustion exclusive contractual remedies agreed collective bargaining agreement employer committed wrongful discharge breach agreement breach remedied grievance process benefit union breach statutory duty fair representation employee leave employee remediless circumstances opinion great injustice believe congress conferring upon employers unions power establish exclusive grievance procedures intended confer upon unions unlimited discretion deprive injured employees remedies breach contract think congress intended shield employers natural consequences breaches bargaining agreements wrongful union conduct enforcement agreements cf richardson texas reasons think wrongfully discharged employee may bring action employer face defense based upon failure exhaust contractual remedies provided employee prove union bargaining agent breached duty fair representation handling employee grievance may assume present purposes breach duty union unfair labor practice nlrb fifth circuit held employee suit employer however remains suit jurisdiction courts destroyed fact employee part parcel action finds necessary prove unfair labor practice union fact suit may involve unfair labor practice employer free determine whether employee barred actions union representative proceed case facilitate case employee joins union defendant situation substantially changed action still suit jurisdiction courts garmon principle least holding humphrey moore supra respect petitioners recognize brief insofar adjudication union breach duty concerned result different employee owens sues employer union separate actions little commend rule permit missouri courts adjudicate union conduct action swift action union reasons obvious courts compelled pass upon whether breach duty fair representation context many actions breach duty union breach contract employer proven must fashion appropriate remedy presumably least cases union breach duty enhanced contributed employee injury possible sense rule permit litigated fault employer union fashion remedy respect employer rule either employer compelled pay union wrong slight deterrence indeed future union misconduct injured employee forced go two tribunals repair single injury moreover board compelled many cases either remedy injuries arising breach contract task congress assigned leave individual employee without remedy union wrong given strong reasons duty fair representation suits general fact courts many suits must adjudicate whether union breached duty conclude courts may also fashion remedies breach duty follows missouri courts jurisdiction case course quite another problem determine remedies may available union breach duty proven see part iv infra unique role played duty fair representation doctrine scheme federal labor laws important relationship judicial enforcement collective bargaining agreements context presented render garmon doctrine inapplicable iii holding evidence trial supported jury verdict favor owens missouri stated essential issue submitted jury whether union arbitrarily refused carry said grievance fifth step concluded sufficient substantial evidence jury reasonably found foregoing issue favor plaintiff notable physician actually testified case sides content rely upon written statements three physicians certified plaintiff able perform regular work three physicians certified taken plaintiff blood pressure readings approximately may inferred reading indicate blood pressure dangerously high moreover plaintiff evidence showed actually done hard physical labor periodically four years following discharge accordingly rule point adversely defendants breach statutory duty fair representation occurs union conduct toward member collective bargaining unit arbitrary discriminatory bad faith see humphrey moore supra ford motor huffman supra considerable debate extent duty context union enforcement grievance arbitration procedures collective bargaining agreement see generally blumrosen worker three phases unionism administrative judicial control relationship rev comment federal protection individual rights labor contracts yale suggested every individual employee right grievance taken arbitration others urged union given substantial discretion collective bargaining agreement provides decide whether grievance taken arbitration subject duty refrain patently wrongful conduct racial discrimination personal hostility though accept proposition union may arbitrarily ignore meritorious grievance process perfunctory fashion agree individual employee absolute right grievance taken arbitration regardless provisions applicable collective bargaining agreement stat congress declared final adjustment method agreed upon parties desirable method settlement grievance disputes arising application interpretation existing agreement providing grievance arbitration procedure gives union discretion supervise grievance machinery invoke arbitration employer union contemplate endeavor good faith settle grievances short arbitration settlement process frivolous grievances ended prior costly step grievance procedures moreover sides assured similar complaints treated consistently major problem areas interpretation collective bargaining contract isolated perhaps resolved finally settlement process furthers interest union statutory agent coauthor bargaining agreement representing employees enforcement agreement see cox rights labor agreement harv rev individual employee compel arbitration grievance regardless merit settlement machinery provided contract substantially undermined thus destroying employer confidence union authority returning individual grievant vagaries independent unsystematic negotiation moreover rule significantly greater number grievances proceed arbitration greatly increase cost grievance machinery overburden arbitration process prevent functioning successfully see nlrb acme industrial ross distressed grievance procedures rehabilitation labor arbitration industrial change proceedings annual meeting national academy arbitrators well doubted whether parties collective bargaining agreements long continue provide detailed grievance arbitration procedures kind encouraged supra power settle majority grievances short costlier steps limited rule permitting grievant unilaterally invoke arbitration see substantial danger interests individual employee statutory agent given contractual power honestly good faith settle grievances short arbitration reasons conclude union breach duty fair representation thereby open suit employee breach contract merely settled grievance short arbitration reasons standard applied missouri sustained union decision particular grievance lacks sufficient merit justify arbitration constitute breach duty fair representation judge jury later found grievance meritorious union incentive settle grievances short arbitration seriously reduced dampening effect entire grievance procedure reduction union freedom settle claims good faith surely substantial since union statutory duty fair representation protects individual employee arbitrary abuses settlement device providing recourse employer suit union severe limitation power settle grievances neither necessary desirable therefore conclude missouri erred upholding verdict case solely ground evidence supported owens claim wrongfully discharged applying proper standard union liability facts case uphold jury award conclude matter federal law evidence support verdict union breached duty fair representation stated owens established breach duty merely convincing jury fact fit work must also proved arbitrary conduct part union processing grievance evidence revealed union diligently supervised grievance fourth step bargaining agreement procedure union business representative serving owens advocate throughout steps swift refused reinstate owens basis medical reports indicating reduced blood pressure union sent another doctor choice union expense attempt amass persuasive medical evidence owens fitness work examination proved unfavorable union concluded establish wrongful discharge encouraged swift find light work owens plant effort failed union determined arbitration fruitless suggested owens accept swift offer send heart association rehabilitation point owens grievance suspended fourth step hope might rehabilitated administering grievance arbitration machinery statutory agent employees union must good faith nonarbitrary manner make decisions merits particular grievances see humphrey moore ford motor huffman case owens supplied union medical evidence supporting position union might well breached duty ignored owens complaint processed grievance perfunctory manner see cox rights labor agreement harv union processed grievance fourth step attempted gather sufficient evidence prove owens case attempted secure owens less vigorous work plant joined employer efforts owens rehabilitated efforts proved unsuccessful union conclude arbitration fruitless grievance dismissed evidence union officer personally hostile owens union acted time good faith concluded individual employee absolute right grievance arbitrated collective bargaining agreement issue breach duty fair representation established merely proof underlying grievance meritorious must conclude duty breached iv appropriate remedy breach union duty fair representation must vary circumstances particular breach case employee complaint union wrongfully failed afford arbitration remedy employer established collective bargaining agreement damages sought owens primarily suffered employer alleged breach contract assuming moment owens wrongfully discharged swift defense direct action breach contract union failure resort arbitration compare republic steel maddox smith evening news failure violation union statutory duty employee reason exempt employer contractual damages otherwise pay see pp supra difficulty lies fashioning appropriate scheme remedies petitioners urge employee restricted circumstances decree compelling employer union arbitrate underlying grievance true employee action based employer alleged breach contract plus union alleged wrongful failure afford contractual remedy arbitration reason order compelling arbitration viewed one available remedies breach union duty proved see reason inflexibly require arbitration cases cases example least part employee damages may attributable union breach duty arbitrator may power bargaining agreement award damages union cases arbitrable issues may substantially resolved course trying fair representation controversy situations free decide contractual claim award employee appropriate damages equitable relief difficult question portion employee damages may charged union particular may award union include damages attributable solely employer breach contract think though union violated statutory duty failing press grievance employer unrelated breach contract triggered controversy caused portion employee damages employee difficulty recovering damages employer explained hide behind union wrongful failure act fact employer may probably joined defendant fair representation suit humphrey moore supra real hardship union pay damages even union given right indemnification employer employee assured direct recovery employer see merit requiring union pay employer share damages governing principle apportion liability employer union according damage caused fault thus damages attributable solely employer breach contract charged union increases damages caused union refusal process grievance charged employer case even union breached duty almost owens damages still attributable allegedly wrongful discharge swift reasons even union properly found liable breach duty clear damage award improper reversed known national brotherhood packinghouse dairy workers punitive damages reduced amount claimed owens complaint agreement created procedure handling grievances steps one two either aggrieved employee union representative presents grievance first swift department foreman writing division superintendent step three grievance committees union management meet company must state position writing union step four meeting swift general superintendent representatives national union grievance settled fourth step national union given power refer grievance specified arbitrator notice dismissal given owens time filed second suit swift breach contract suit swift still pending pretrial stage see also cargo handlers local rubber workers enforced cir maremont galveston maritime hughes tool see ford motor huffman huffman nlrb submitted amicus brief stating assumed jurisdiction fair representation duty issues mem nlrb nos oct term syres oil workers international union reversed dismissal suit claimed breach duty fair representation despite express reliance one respondent exclusive nlrb jurisdiction brief resp gulf oil oct term see hughes tool chairman mcculloch member fanning dissenting part public interest effectuating policies federal labor laws wrong done individual employee always board principal concern fashioning unfair labor practice remedies see amended stat phelps dodge labor board thus general counsel refuse bring complaints behalf injured employees injury complained insubstantial see administrative decision general counsel case cch decisions transfer binder grievance arbitration procedure included contract parties intend exclusive remedy suit breach contract normally heard even though procedures exhausted see republic steel maddox corbin contracts occasionally bargaining agreement give aggrieved employee rather union right invoke arbitration see retail clerks lion dry goods cert denied accord hiller liquor salesmen union cir hardcastle western greyhound lines cir cert denied fiore associated transport supp bieski eastern automobile forwarding supp aff cir ostrofsky steelworkers supp aff per curiam cir cert denied jenkins wm kurdle md assuming moment swift breached collective bargaining agreement discharging owens union breached duty handling owens grievance case illustrates difficulties result rule courts remedying union breach duty swift participate union unfair labor practice board jurisdiction remedy swift breach contract yet might equally unable give owens full relief suit swift award damages swift owens full loss even concludes part loss caused union breach duty award owens partial recovery hoping board make whole remedy problems difficult enough one tribunal parties impossible two independent tribunals different procedures time limitations remedial powers must participate see donnelly fruit report committee improvement administration agreements individual grievances nw rev murphy duty fair representation mo rev summers individual rights collective agreements arbitration rev see sheremet chrysler wyle labor arbitration concept exclusive representation ind com rev current grievance practices attempt usually made keep number arbitrated grievances minimum officer national union testified case one grievances filed swift plants september october taken arbitration amicus brief reveals similar performances general motors corporation steel corporation two nation largest unionized employers less written grievances filed recent period general motors required arbitration grievances processed beyond first step steel decided arbitrator owens allege testify petitioner vaca president kansas city local demanded expenses union take grievance arbitration charge petitioners vigorously denied trial collective bargaining agreement local union power invoke arbitration see supra moreover union decision send owens another doctor union expense occurred vaca alleged demand ultimate decision invoke arbitration came later still thus even jury believed owens controverted testimony think incident establish breach duty union obviously arbitration appropriate remedy parties created procedure collective bargaining agreement dealing situations union affirmatively caused employer commit alleged breach contract cases sort union conduct found unfair labor practice nlrb found unfair labor practice employer held union employer jointly severally liable back pay found owing particular employee subject joint discrimination imparato stevedoring squirt distrib newman even approach appropriate analogous suits applicable since union played part swift alleged breach contract since swift took part union alleged breach duty joint liability either wrong unwarranted justice fortas chief justice justice harlan join concurring result view complaint employee union breached duty fair representation subject exclusive jurisdiction nlrb charge unfair labor practice see miranda fuel local rubber workers enforced cir case unfair labor practices board jurisdiction preemptive garner teamsters union guss utah labor board san diego building trades council garmon local constr laborers curry plumbers union borden iron workers perko liner jafco cf woody sterling alum cir pet cert pending basis failure apply preemption principle present case shall discuss strong reason application relationship union individual employee respect processing claims employment rights collective bargaining agreement fundamental design operation federal labor law merely peripheral opinion presents difficult problems definition status problems held precisely kind wisely entrusted initially agency charged administration act whole iron workers perko supra accordingly judgment missouri reversed complaint dismissed reason basis agree however assumed jurisdiction subject matter exists judgment still reversed use missouri improper standard measuring union duty absence evidence establish union refused process owens grievance bad faith arbitrarily regret elaborate discussion opinion problems irrelevant action employee employer discussion requisites action judgment unnecessary argues employee sue employer maintain action employee show exhausted remedies collective bargaining agreement alternatively prevented union breached duty failure completely process claim may maybe show maintain action employer wrongful discharge demanded union process claim exhaustion available remedies refused see need pass upon question presented respect lends support argument seems use discussion litigation somehow analogous supportive conclusion employee may maintain action union believe follows agree nlrb unfair labor practice jurisdiction preclude action employer wrongful discharge employment smith evening news therefore owens might maintained action employer present case action enforce collective bargaining agreement congress authorized courts entertain actions type claim union quite different character recognizes holds think correctly issue reached union required pay damages measured breach employment contract union employer breached contract agree suggest reveals point contend employee claim union claim collective bargaining agreement claim union breached statutory duty fair representation claim submit claim unfair labor practice within exclusive jurisdiction nlrb agrees one available remedies obtainable says action breach union duty proved order compelling arbitration precisely uniquely kind order within province board beyond exceedingly vague remedy appropriate damages equitable relief suggested possible remedies apparently arbitration available damages union admonishes gauged according damage caused fault failure exhaust remedies grievance difficulty seems reflects basic awkwardness position attempting force posture contract violation alleged default union violation collective bargaining agreement breach separate basic duty fairly represent employees unit unfair labor practice treated look beyond logic precedent policy labor relations design congress provided jurisdiction type action seems anomalous dealing interpretation contract alleged breach employment agreement effect acknowledges concerned subtleties union statutory duty faithfully represent employees unit including may members union regrettably opinion ventures state judgments metes bounds reciprocal duties involved relationship union employee opinion precisely especially kind judgment congress intended entrust board well within doctrine prudently stated see cases cited supra especially perko borden cases facts strongly parallel situation case see also linn plant guard workers dissenting opinion nuances relationships infinite consequential particularly issue amorphous whether union proved guilty arbitrary conduct standard applicable reason good judgment jurisdiction left board placed courts especially complex necessarily confusing guidebook publishes accordingly join judgment reversal basis stated decision nlrb denied enforcement appeals second circuit basis decide point relevant nlrb miranda fuel cir one judge judge medina took position nlrb incorrectly held violation duty fair representation unfair labor practice alternative ground decision held nlrb sufficient evidence support finding breach duty judge lumbard agreed latter holding explicitly reach question whether breach duty unfair labor practice judge friendly dissented affirmed nlrb sufficiency evidence holding breach duty fair representation unfair labor practice nlrb give relief opinion judge thornberry fifth circuit supports views expressed herein see also cox duty fair representation vill rev wellington union democracy fair representation federal responsibility federal system yale cf brother black dissenting opinion case cf also brown sterling alum prods cir cert denied post republic steel maddox pass upon issue leave employee remediless union wrongfully refuses process grievance great injustice believe relieves injustice great extent requiring employee prove unfair labor practice prerequisite judicial relief employer breach contract understand giving employee cause action union appropriate way remedy injustice exist union allowed foreclose relief employer argues since employee suing employer breach employment contract show exhaustion remedies contract since purpose show demand union according wrongful failure prosecute grievance union joined party defendant since union joined suit may sued independently employer non sequitur insists suit union breach employment contract violation duty fairly represent employee entirely different matter breach statutory duty unfair labor practice breach employment contract variety contexts nlrb concerns substantive bargaining behavior parties example duty bargain good faith see fibreboard labor board jurisdictional disputes see labor board radio engineers secondary boycotts hot cargo clauses see orange belt district council painters nlrb app justice black dissenting today opens slightly courthouse door employee incidental claim union breach duty fair representation shut face seeks direct judicial relief underlying valuable claim employer result follows announcement case involving employee suit union new rule govern employee suit employer rule employee sue employer simple breach employment contract employee must prove attempted exhaust contractual remedies attempt exhaust frustrated arbitrary discriminatory bad faith conduct part union new rule result agree recognizes must jury case found least benjamin owens fit work grievance swift meritorious swift breached collective bargaining agreement wrongfully discharged also notes passing owens separate action breach contract pending swift state courts part iv opinion vigorously insists reason exempt employer contractual damages otherwise pay employee difficulty recovering damages employer unrelated breach contract employee assured direct recovery employer reassurance part iv gives comfort owens part iv based assumption union breached duty owens assumption part iii opinion finds unsupported facts case means though expressly say owens successful pending action swift suit union makes clear question whether union breached duty fair representation critical issue suit wrongfully discharged employee may bring action employer prove union breached duty fair representation handling employee grievance employee part parcel action finds necessary prove unfair labor practice union thus owens attempts proceed pending action swift swift undoubtedly secure prompt dismissal pointing conclusion union breached duty fair representation thus owens obtained judicial determination wrongfully discharged left remediless swift breached contract allowed hide behind shielded union conduct simply fail see make one iota difference far unrelated breach contract swift concerned whether union conduct wrongful rightful neither precedent logic supports new announcement certainly nothing republic steel maddox supports new rule case aggrieved employee attempted completely sidestep available grievance procedures favor lawsuit nothing said contract grievance procedures inadequate protect interests aggrieved employee employee attempted implement procedures found held employee must attempt use contract grievance procedure must afford union opportunity act behalf dissented firm belief employee free litigate lawsuit lawyer jury rather forced entrust claim union even agree press required submit arbitration even implied worker allowed sue presented claim union suffered inevitable discouragement delay necessarily accompanies union refusal press claim find threat peaceful labor relations union prestige allowing employee completely contractual remedies favor traditional lawsuit back pay wage substitutes course benjamin owens completely sidestep available grievance procedures favor lawsuit complete respect union authority deference contract grievance procedures gave union chance act behalf every way possible tried convince claim meritorious carried fifth step arbitration short everything opinion maddox said yet says much enough maddox noted cases really point involved agreements governed railway labor act expressly refused hold discharged worker must pursue collective bargaining grievance procedures suing wrongful discharge transcontinental western air koppal moore illinois central also observed decision maddox raised overruling axe high cases falling certain changing seasons latter observation mistaken term walker southern refused overrule light maddox cases moore koppal noting long delays attendant upon exhausting administrative remedies railway labor act based refusal contrast administrative remedy available maddox available walker suggested availability administrative remedy determines whether employee sue without first exhausting doubt owens administrative remedy free sue walker slow one unlike maddox owens attempted implement contract grievance procedures found inadequate today decision following wake walker southern merely perpetuates unfortunate anomaly created maddox law labor relations rule announced maddox thought brainchild recent preference arbitration unable ascribe genesis today rule arbitration precisely owens sought preferred today holds employee meritorious claim absolute right either litigated arbitrated fearing arbitrators overworked allows unions unilaterally determine take grievance arbitration first step contract grievance procedure claim presented impartial third party long union decisions neither arbitrary bad faith derives standard conduct long line cases holding breach statutory duty fair representation occurs union conduct toward member collective bargaining unit arbitrary discriminatory bad faith overlooks cases laid standard context situations employee sole fundamental complaint union slightest hint cases standard apply employee primary complaint employer breach contract incidentally contended union conduct prevented adjudication either arbitrator underlying grievance satisfied merely holding situation employee recover damages union unless union breached duty fair representation one thing say union making decision take employee grievance arbitration goes hold employee sue employer breach contract unless failure exhaust contractual remedies due union breach duty fair representation quite unwilling say union refusal exhaust remedies however nonarbitrary amount breach duty either employee able sue employer breach contract attempted exhaust contractual remedies union absolute duty exhaust contractual remedies behalf merits employee grievance thus determined either jury arbitrator today decision never determined either clear opinion goes much simply holding employee absolute right union take grievance arbitration course union supervised grievance fourth step contract machinery dropped prior arbitration belief outcome arbitration unfavorable limited standard arbitrariness clearly need union go far suppose instance union rule prosecute grievance even first step unless grievance filed employee within hours arose pursuant rule union might completely refuse prosecute grievance filed several days late thus employee matter meritorious grievance get absolutely nowhere unless prove union rule arbitrary standard one define employee get absolutely consideration merits grievance either jury arbitrator employer union suggests three reasons giving union almost unlimited discretion deprive injured employees remedies breach contract first frivolous grievances ended prior costly arbitration one even union suggests benjamin owens grievance frivolous union decided take arbitration simply union doubted chance success even doubt think union duty present contested serious claim arbitrator whose function decide claims basis believes right second says allowing union settle grievances prior arbitration assure consistent treatment major problem areas interpretation collective bargaining contract argued whether owens fit work presents major problem interpretation collective bargaining agreement problem one interpreting medical reports collective bargaining agreement evaluating evidence owens physical condition doubt whether consistency either possible desirable determining whether particular employee able perform particular job finally suggests decision furthers interest union statutory agent think real reason today decision entirely overlooks interests injured employee one anything lose course anything gives union life death power supposed represent furthers interest simply fail see union legitimate role statutory agent undermined requiring prosecute serious grievances conclusion allowing injured employee sue employer given union chance act behalf henceforth almost every suit employee employer employee additional burden proving union acted arbitrarily bad faith never explains meant vague phrase trial judges intelligently translate jury must employee prove union fact acted arbitrarily sufficient show employee grievance meritorious reasonable union refused carry arbitration must employee join union suit employer must join employer unfair representation suit union however questions answered today decision requiring individual employee take employer union every suit employer prove employer breached contract union acted arbitrarily converts otherwise simple action donnybrook puts intolerable burden employees meritorious grievances means frequently left remedy today decision giving worker ephemeral right sue union breach duty fair representation creates insurmountable obstacles block far valuable right sue employer breach collective bargaining agreement owens died appeal case trial pending administrator estate substituted respondent herein though simplicity referred herein owens