northwest airlines transport workers argued december decided april class action brought petitioner airline female cabin attendant employee petitioner held liable class female employees backpay wage differentials male female cabin attendants collectively bargained respondent unions found violate equal pay act title vii civil rights act postjudgment motions claiming contribution unions proportionate part liability denied untimely petitioner brought separate action federal district seeking contribution district interpreted pleadings contending petitioner either implied cause action contribution unions equal pay act discriminating class employees question federal right contribution unions share equal pay act liability petitioner claim reimbursement title vii liability based solely federal right contribution dismissed claim contribution based petitioner liability equal pay act denying unions motions dismiss held federal right contribution liability imposed title vii least circumstances reach issues right facts properly developed unions petitioner appealed appeals affirmed dismissal contribution based petitioner liability equal pay act declined reach title vii issue remanding district determination unions assertion title vii contribution claim barred laches held petitioner neither federal statutory federal right contribution respondent unions pp even assumed elements typical contribution claim established case policy considerations equal pay act title vii favor recognition right contribution unions bear significant responsibility discriminatory practices statutes designed prohibit circumstances employer may person aggrieved union conduct remediable title vii none assumptions provides sufficient basis recognizing right contribution asserted petitioner pp language neither equal pay act title vii statutes expressly directed employers supports implication right contribution favor employers unions structure legislative histories statutes similarly support implied right pp whatever may federal power fashion remedies areas law improper add federal right contribution statutory rights congress created equal pay act title vii cooper stevedoring fritz kopke distinguished favorable reaction equitable considerations supporting petitioner contribution claim sufficient reason enlarging remedial provisions contained carefully considered statutes cf mohasco silver pp stevens delivered opinion members joined except blackmun took part consideration decision case philip lacovara argued cause petitioner briefs jay kelly wright gerald goldman stephen moldof argued cause respondents filed brief respondent air line pilots association international asher swartz filed brief respondent transport workers union america deputy solicitor general wallace argued cause et al amici curiae brief solicitor general mccree harlon dalton leroy clark albert woll laurence gold john fillion george kaufmann filed brief american federation labor congress industrial organizations et al amici curiae urging affirmance briefs amici curiae filed herbert prashker peyton moss eric witkin trans world airlines winn newman carole wilson richard sobol michael trister international union electrical radio machine workers michael gottesman robert weinberg mary laffey et al justice stevens delivered opinion question presented case whether employer held liable female employees backpay collectively bargained wage differentials found violate equal pay act title vii civil rights act federal statutory right contribution unions allegedly bear least partial responsibility statutory violations relevant facts alleged complaint filed petitioner northwest airlines respondent unions transport workers union america twu air line pilots association international alpa district district columbia continuously petitioner paid higher wages male cabin attendants classified pursers female cabin attendants classified stewardesses period male female cabin attendants represented union twu alpa thereafter wages fixed agreements negotiated executed response union demands mary laffey female cabin attendant employed petitioner commenced class action petitioner challenging legality wage differential pursers stewardesses november full trial district issued opinion found two positions required equal skill effort responsibility performed similar working conditions accordingly held petitioner violated equal pay act title vii civil rights act entered judgment favor plaintiff class laffey northwest airlines supp unless judgment reversed modified petitioner required pay excess million backpay damages interest members laffey plaintiff class entry judgment petitioner filed appropriate motions laffey case asserting claims contribution indemnification twu alpa motions denied untimely appeals affirmed ruling laffey northwest airlines app promptly thereafter petitioner commenced separate action complaint prayed union adjudged liable pay proportion monetary liability finally assessed petitioner laffey litigation unions moved dismiss complaint failure state claim upon relief granted district interpreted pleadings petitioner contended implied cause action unions equal pay act causing discriminate laffey class alternative federal right contribution unions share equal pay act monetary liability petitioner claim reimbursement title vii monetary liability based solely federal right contribution app pet cert district held equal pay act clearly enacted special benefit employers petitioner rely upon implied private cause action contribution statute also concluded act afford employees express implied right action unions found unions employers share common liability employees equal pay act district held federal right contribution liability statute district reached different conclusion respect claim contribution petitioner title vii monetary liability found allegations complaint satisfied two principal elements right contribution common liability party seeking contribution required pay share award answered described difficult question whether right contribution federal law noting modern trend decisions favoring contribution finding policy statute served allowing contribution assuming without deciding contribution might denied intentional wrong denied unions motions dismiss holding federal common law right contribution monetary liability imposed title vii least circumstances reach questions precise parameters right pertinent facts developed properly placed unions took interlocutory appeal title vii holding petitioner appealed equal pay act holding appeals affirmed dismissal claim contribution based petitioner liability equal pay act reasoning claim inconsistent statutory scheme prescribing three three modes enforcement however appeals declined reach title vii issue noting appeal unions asserted first time petitioner title vii contribution claim barred laches remanded district instructions determine laches question explaining might thereby become unnecessary decide hard question concerning contribution title vii liability app unlike appeals think basic legal questions raised motions dismiss petitioner contribution claims ripe decision importance questions led us grant certiorari first put one side certain questions need address shall discuss two quite different theories might support petitioner claimed right contribution common law right contribution among joint tortfeasors american jurisdictions however rule changed either statute judicial decision typically right contribution recognized two persons liable plaintiff injury one joint tortfeasors paid fair share common liability recognition right reflects view two persons share responsibility wrong inequitable require one pay entire cost reparation sound policy deter wrongdoers reducing likelihood entirely escape liability case assume elements typical contribution claim established means assume plaintiffs laffey litigation recovered either union employer equal pay act title vii unfair require petitioner pay entire judgment furthermore although adversaries disagree respect whether recognition right contribution undermine advance policies equal pay act title vii indeed equal employment opportunity commission staunchly argued sides policy question different stages litigation assume policy considerations favor recognition right argued petitioner assume respondent unions case well unions industries bear significant responsibility discriminatory practices statutes designed prohibit finally assume circumstances employer may person aggrieved union conduct remediable timely charge filed union title vii none assumptions however provides sufficient basis recognizing right petitioner asserting proceeding right may created either two ways first may created statute congress enacted equal pay act title vii even though congress expressly create contribution remedy intent may fairly inferred either statutes implied cause action contribution recognized basis analysis used cases cort ash cannon university chicago universities research coutu second cause action contribution may become part federal common law exercise judicial power fashion appropriate remedies unlawful conduct see kohr allegheny airlines cert denied somewhat different reasons reject theories ii determining whether federal statute expressly provide particular private right action nonetheless implicitly created right task one statutory construction see touche ross redington ultimate question cases whether congress intended create private remedy example right contribution plaintiff seeks invoke see transamerica mortgage advisors lewis universities research supra factors relevant inquiry language statute legislative history underlying purpose structure statutory scheme likelihood congress intended supersede supplement existing state remedies see cort ash supra cannon supra matters statutory construction appropriate begin language statute see touche ross supra reiter sonotone neither equal pay act title vii expressly creates right contribution favor employers omission although significant dispositive among things language statutes indicates enacted special benefit class petitioner member see cannon supra however district correctly perceived possibly said employers members class whose especial benefit either equal pay act title vii enacted app pet cert contrary statutes expressly directed employers congress intended statutes regulate conduct benefit employees light fact petitioner scarcely lay claim status beneficiary congress considered need protection piper industries even focus upon isolated provisions statute arguably intended provide special protection employers result follows provisions construed favorably petitioner provide basis implying remedy harm employer caused union wrongdoing remedy violation employer rights entirely different right compel union share responsibility joint violation third party rights clearly language neither statute supports implication right contribution favor employers unions structure statutes similarly counsels recognition implied right petitioner advocates case equal pay act title vii establish comprehensive programs designed eliminate certain varieties employment discrimination statutes make express provision private enforcement certain carefully defined circumstances provide enforcement instance federal government circumstances comprehensive character remedial scheme expressly fashioned congress strongly evidences intent authorize additional remedies course within competence federal judges amend comprehensive enforcement schemes adding another private remedy authorized congress finally conclude legislative histories equal pay act title vii provide support petitioner position parties recognize legislative history neither statute contains reference adverse favorable contribution course legislative silence often encountered cases expected legislative history statute expressly create deny private remedy typically equally silent ambiguous question cannon therefore failure congress expressly consider private remedy inevitably inconsistent intent part make remedy available transamerica mortgage advisors unless congressional intent inferred language statute statutory structure source essential predicate implication private remedy simply exist case unable discover manifestation intent part congress create right contribution favor employers equal pay act title vii accordingly hold implied right contribution statutes iii although much late deny significant body federal law fashioned federal judiciary tradition remains true federal courts unlike state counterparts courts limited jurisdiction vested openended lawmaking powers see standard oil broadly worded constitutional statutory provisions necessarily given concrete meaning application process judicial decision tradition also recognized responsibility absence legislation fashion federal common law cases raising issues uniquely federal concern definition rights duties resolution interstate controversies however consistently emphasized federal lawmaking power vested legislative judicial branch government therefore federal common law subject paramount authority congress new jersey new york narrow exception limited lawmaking role federal judiciary found admiralty consistently interpreted grant general admiralty jurisdiction federal courts proper basis development rules maritime law see fitzgerald lines congress largely left responsibility fashioning controlling rules admiralty law dmiralty law law great extent edmonds compagnie generale transatlantique even admiralty however federal judiciary lawmaking power may well strongest duty respect congress pursuant authority fashion flexible equitable remedies admiralty see reliable transfer approved nonstatutory federal right contribution among joint tortfeasors cooper stevedoring fritz kopke case relying upon ancient admiralty doctrine held shipowner may obtain contribution another tortfeasor jointly responsible causing injury longshoreman however contrary petitioner argument understanding lower federal courts cooper stevedoring recognize general federal right contribution general federal right recognized decisions approval contribution cooper stevedoring based traditional admiralty doctrine power federal judiciary fashion rules law admiralty neither predicates decision applicable present context liability petitioner discriminating female cabin attendants entirely creature federal statute almost statutory scheme may need judicial interpretation ambiguous incomplete provisions authority construe statute fundamentally different authority fashion new rule provide new remedy congress decided adopt cf mobil oil higginbotham presumption remedy deliberately omitted statute strongest congress enacted comprehensive legislative scheme including integrated system procedures enforcement equal pay act title vii civil rights act statutes judiciary may face comprehensive legislative schemes fashion new remedies might upset carefully considered legislative programs last term mohasco silver occasion consider enforcement scheme title vii care although equitable considerations strongly supported nonliteral reading statutory provisions regarding time claim asserted see blackmun dissenting concluded duty respect compromise embodied words chosen congress place simply alter balance struck congress procedural statutes favoring one side matters statutory construction case mohasco favorable reaction equitable considerations supporting petitioner contribution claim sufficient reason enlarging remedial provisions contained carefully considered statutes whatever may federal power fashion remedies areas law satisfied improper us add right contribution statutory rights congress created equal pay act title vii judgment appeals therefore modified insofar fails direct district grant respondent unions motions dismiss complaint accordingly judgment appeals affirmed part vacated part ordered footnotes employer employees subject provisions section shall discriminate within establishment employees employed employees basis sex paying wages employees establishment rate less rate pays wages employees opposite sex establishment equal work jobs performance requires equal skill effort responsibility performed similar working conditions except payment made pursuant seniority system ii merit system iii system measures earnings quantity quality production iv differential based factor sex provided employer paying wage rate differential violation subsection shall order comply provisions subsection reduce wage rate employee labor organization agents representing employees employer employees subject provisions section shall cause attempt cause employer discriminate employee violation paragraph subsection section civil rights act stat amended set forth provides relevant part shall unlawful employment practice employer fail refuse hire discharge individual otherwise discriminate individual respect compensation terms conditions privileges employment individual race color religion sex national origin limit segregate classify employees applicants employment way deprive tend deprive individual employment opportunities otherwise adversely affect status employee individual race color religion sex national origin shall unlawful employment practice labor organization exclude expel membership otherwise discriminate individual race color religion sex national origin limit segregate classify membership applicants membership classify fail refuse refer employment individual way deprive tend deprive individual employment opportunities limit employment opportunities otherwise adversely affect status employee applicant employment individual race color religion sex national origin cause attempt cause employer discriminate individual violation section case comes us respondents motions dismiss accept true factual allegations petitioner complaint see scheuer rhodes additional background information taken district appeals opinions underlying employment discrimination class action see laffey northwest airlines supp aff part vacated remanded part app cert denied cabin attendants represented airline stewards stewardesses association international became affiliated twu see laffey northwest airlines prior cabin attendants employed petitioner females classified stewardesses ibid claims asserted respondent unions although plaintiffs subsequently joined alpa nonaligned party federal rule civil procedure order bring district parties necessary implement complete remedy see laffey northwest airlines app plaintiffs expressly stated consider alpa responsible alleged discrimination petitioner oppose alpa participation nonaligned party shortly thereafter district entered order detailing remedial steps including payment backpay petitioner take rectify past discrimination laffey northwest airlines supp opinion district present case indicates petitioner monetary liability result laffey litigation estimated app pet cert petitioner asserts monetary liability presently calculated approximately million brief petitioner petitioner moved amend answer include request alpa realigned defendant assert contribution indemnification alpa equal pay act title vii monetary liability assessed petitioner claim damages equal pay act allegedly causing petitioner violation petitioner also moved leave file complaint twu asserting similar claims lower federal courts considered question whether employers may seek contribution unions monetary liability equal pay act concluded right implicit statute available federal common law see denicola murphy eeoc ferris state college supp wd marshall tombs janitorial service cch lc wd mo usery beloit college epd wd brennan emerald renovators supp sdny see love temple university supp ed wirtz hayes industries epd nd ohio district explained difficult question whether right contribution federal law traditional american rule originating english case merryweather nixan right contribution joint tortfeasors rule abrogated principally statute although jurisdictions including district columbia done decisional law state law initially right contribution federal law absent legislation union stock yards chicago however modern trend evidenced cases kohr allegheny airlines cir cert denied recognize right contribution federal law gould steamship company supp del vacated grounds cir federal courts come realize policy considerations upon traditional rule built archaic lead inequities indeed extensive body law evidencing significant trend toward fashioning federal common law right contribution concerns contribution back pay awarded title vii app pet cert footnotes omitted weight authority lower federal courts supports district conclusion right contribution available employers found liable backpay title vii see glus murphy cert pending stevenson international paper supp wd la international union electrical radio machine workers westinghouse electric wdny grogg general motors sdny lynch sperry rand sdny gilbert general electric ed osborne mccall printing fep cases sd ohio torockio chamberlain mfg wd blanton southern bell telephone telegraph nd bowe supp sd ind aff part rev part see younger glamorgan pipe foundry supp wd vacated grounds harden illinois bell telephone nd apr cf communication workers america illinois bell telephone epd nd district entered appropriate order appeals allowed interlocutory appeal district made findings required rule federal rules civil procedure appeals described statutory scheme detail improbable employee ever implied cause action equal pay act union statutory scheme envisions three modes enforcement imply fourth inconsistent intent evidenced existing three first section title code person wilfully violates act may subject criminal penalties section secretary labor may bring suit recover money owing employee employees finally section title permits suits employees employer violates act statutory scheme enforcement comprehensive omission insulates unions suits employees statutory protection certainly frustrated declaration employer recover union employer found liable employees course need definitely resolve issue employee right sue union act hold likelihood implication right sufficiently remote preclude creation cause action union contribution indemnification cause action reality create liability part union benefit employees congress intend protect manner app omitted discussion implied right action federal theories indicate see parts ii iii infra find legal questions presented equal pay act title vii contribution claims analysis applicable claims address title vii question despite appeals decision avoid consideration question merits see minnesota clover leaf creamery new york city transit authority beazer noted reasons avoiding unnecessary premature decision constitutional questions necessarily applicable decision statutory questions interpretation statute misapprehends actual intent congress proved experience unwise remedial legislation promptly enacted rule common law generally traced merryweather nixan term eng however scholars persuasively argued merryweather read establish general rule prohibiting contribution among joint tortfeasors rather interpret merryweather announce rule barring contribution cases intentional wrongdoing see prosser law torts pp ed sullivan new perspectives antitrust litigation towards right comparative contribution law forum nevertheless american courts understood merryweather general proscription contribution common law country traditionally prohibited contribution among joint tortfeasors cases see union stock yards chicago district columbia recognize extent right contribution among joint tortfeasors jurisdictions rule initially changed judicial action see george radio capital transit app skinner div package machinery best yerkes iowa quatray wicker la bedell reagan underwriters lloyds smith royal indemnity aetna casualty surety neb goldman davis broad street garage ellis chicago four later adopted contribution statutes see la civ code arts west stat tit purdon supp code ann supp stat remaining relied upon legislative action change rule see alaska stat ann ark stat ann cal civ proc code ann west supp rev stat supp del code tit stat supp code haw rev stat idaho code stat ann rev stat md ann code art mass laws ch west supp comp laws ann west supp miss code ann mo rev stat rev stat stat ann west stat ann civ prac law mckinney stat cent code rev stat laws supp comp laws ann tex rev civ stat art vernon supp utah code ann code supp code wyo stat see restatement second torts prosser supra see judson peoples bank trust prosser supra implicit assumption two important assumptions first assume alleged complaint unions fact least partially responsible equal pay act title vii violations established laffey litigation second assume laffey plaintiffs chosen asserted claim monetary relief unions equal pay act title vii title vii expressly provides private actions see however equal pay act expressly create right action lower federal courts generally refused find act implicitly created right see tuma american supp nj cf hodgson sagner supp md aff appeals case relied upon uncertain availability remedy equal pay act basis rejecting petitioner claim contribution app availability implied remedy however relevant primarily question whether elements contribution claim established right contribution exists irrelevant elements traditional contribution claim may may established case conclude right contribution exists either statute federal common law need decide whether elements contribution claim established case therefore need decide question whether employees implied right action backpay unions violations equal pay act eeoc filed brief amicus curiae appeals arguing follows recognizing right contribution title vii liability person named eeoc charge fully consistent substantive remedial policies statute permitting party assert contribution claim another violated title person named charge inadvert nce design manifestly serves primary prophylactic purpose title vii inferred claims contribution constitute exception policy necessary inconsistency statutory scheme title vii assertion right contribution title vii liability employer seeking contribution asserting injured conduct unlawful statute rather asserting equitable claim reimbursement enforced common law another wrongdoer shares common liability brief eeoc amicus curiae cadc pp contribution undermine policies interfere enforcement equal pay act somewhat different reasons contribution undermine policies interfere enforcement title vii brief eeoc amici curiae see steelworkers weber note union liability employer discrimination harv rev federal courts recognized right contribution title vii divided respect whether right may asserted union named charge filed eeoc compare osborne mccall printing fep cases sd ohio blanton southern bell telephone telegraph nd torockio chamberlain mfg wd stevenson international paper supp wd la bowe cf gilbert general electric ed congress expressly provided contribution among joint wrongdoers securities act see securities exchange act see thus least instances congress wanted provide right contribution expressly number federal courts recognized implied right contribution securities laws underlying liability resulted implied private right action courts reasoned congress expressly created right contribution correspond certain express civil remedies contribution also permitted liability based implied civil remedy see heizer ross globus law research service supp sdny aff cert denied whatever merit reasoning question address decisions provide support petitioner case appeals rejected district literal application first cort ash factor finding inappropriate evaluation contribution claim app rather focusing rights conferred upon employers equal pay act reasoned proper inquiry determine whether employees bring suit unions statute viewed light first cort factor easily satisfied case employees clearly within class whose especial benefit equal pay act enacted app however analysis confuses question whether elements contribution claim particular common liability established given case question whether congress intended contribution available circumstances see supra appeals erred case failed focus whether party seeking invoke implied remedy member class congress intended benefit indeed inasmuch petitioner found guilty laffey litigation discrimination violation statutes member precise class congress intended regulate section equal pay act provides labor organization agents representing employees employer employees subject provisions section shall cause attempt cause employer discriminate employee violation paragraph subsection shall unlawful employment practice labor organization cause attempt cause employer discriminate individual violation section broad power fashion relief respondents named properly filed charge course issue litigation since charge filed either respondent unions see glus murphy sloviter dissenting frequently stated principle statutory construction legislation expressly provides particular remedy remedies courts expand coverage statute subsume remedies national railroad passenger national association railroad passengers principle statutory construction applies full force case see also transamerica mortgage advisors lewis case neither statute legislative history reveals congressional intent create private right action benefit plaintiff need carry cort ash inquiry see universities research coutu touche ross redington brennan concurring see clearfield trust miree dekalb county standard oil see illinois milwaukee kansas colorado hinderlider la plata river cherry creek ditch thus congress addresses subject even subject previously governed federal common law justification lawmaking federal courts greatly diminished thereafter task federal courts interpret apply statutory law create common law see illinois milwaukee supra arizona california analogous situation presented labor management relations act textile workers lincoln mills concluded supplied basis federal jurisdiction certain cases authorization judicial development substantive federal law govern cases see edmonds mobil oil higginbotham halcyon lines haenn ship cooper stevedoring fritz kopke see glus murphy professional beauty supply national beauty supply cohen ustc ed course federal courts including recognized right contribution state law cases state law supplied appropriate rule decision see yellow cab gomes brodhurst cases inapposite emphasized cooper stevedoring tradition division damages unique admiralty rejected common law halcyon lines supra demonstrates even admiralty decline fashion new remedies possibility may interfere legislative program see cooper stevedoring supra equitable considerations advanced petitioner properly addressed congress federal courts congress best able evaluate policy considerations claim asserted though product law congress passed matter congress taken position presents questions policy congress spoken selection policy advantageous whole involves host considerations must weighed appraised function appropriately write laws rather interpret gilman presently pending us case presenting question whether contribution available federal antitrust laws texas industries radcliff materials although question analogous question addressed case note texas industries involves substantially different statutory scheme antitrust federal courts enjoy flexibility act courts areas governed federal statute see national society professional engineers