James A. Tucker et al., Appellants, v. Tobacco Workers International Union, Afl-cio, Local 183, Andtobacco Workers International Union, Afl-cio, Clc, Appellees, 488 F.2d 76 (4th Cir. 1973)

In 1964 Local 183 and Local 204 of the Tobacco Workers International Union merged. Prior to merger Local 183 had been an all-white local and Local 204 was its all-black counterpart.¹  Following negotiations between the two locals it was agreed that the Shop Committee, which was responsible for handling all grievances arising under the collective bargaining agreement and negotiating new collective bargaining agreements with the Company, consist of eleven members, three of whom would be elected from three "areas" or groups of workers which were predominantly black and which, before merger, constituted the jobs and departments represented by the all-black local. The other eight members were to come from the traditionally white job groups. Among the three predominantly black areas was Area 3, which at the time of merger consisted of more than 50 persons, only one of whom was white, and which, at the time of the election in question (December 1971) still had more than 50 workers, of whom all but three were black.

Following the merger, James A. Tucker, who had been president of the black local, was nominated and elected as the representative on the Shop Committee from Area 3.²  Tucker served in that position until 1971 when he was defeated by a white person named Elbert Vaughn. Prior to that election, objections to Vaughn's eligibility were raised on the basis that he was not an Area 3 employee; however, upon investigation by the international's vice-president, the objections were dismissed.

Plaintiffs urged upon the district court and insist on appeal that Vaughn was allowed to be nominated and elected by the local and the international in violation of the 1964 merger agreement and the local by-laws because he was not in fact eligible under the agreement for the reason that he did not work in any of the Area 3 jobs. Plaintiffs further allege that these actions resulted in discrimination against the plaintiffs and the class of blacks which they represent on the basis of race and color. Defendants insisted in the district court and contend here that Vaughn was a member of Area 3 and was, therefore, eligible for nomination and election under the merger agreement. Significantly, we think, all parties agree that neither the merger agreement nor the local by-laws nor any other understanding requires that Area 3 be represented by a black person.³  It is further agreed that any one of the three white persons constituting members of Area 3 might have been lawfully nominated and elected. The dispute, therefore, is not whether Vaughn was black or white but rather whether he worked in a job that made him a member of the Area 3 group of employees. It is also significant, we think, that subsequent to the December, 1971 election the plaintiff, James A. Tucker, was again nominated from Area 3, was elected, and is now the representative of Area 3 on the Shop Committee.

The question briefed on appeal is whether the district court erred in dismissing this action on the ground that it was a dispute "over internal union elections" for which an exclusive remedy is provided under Title IV of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, 29 U.S.C. §§ 481-483. Plaintiffs urge that the Congress has granted them dual remedies. While they agree with the defendants that, after exhausting remedies under the constitution and by-laws of the union, they might have proceeded under 29 U.S.C. § 482 by complaint to the Secretary of Labor who could then have, in his discretion, brought suit on their behalf, plaintiffs insist that where facts are alleged that constitute a prima facie case of racially discriminatory union election practices, then the "exclusive" remedy of Title IV does not apply and instead plaintiffs may proceed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section I of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

We are inclined to think that there may well be cases of racial discrimination in the conduct of internal union affairs that come within the ambit of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964⁴  and perhaps Section I of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, and that not every case involving the validity of a union election must be prosecuted pursuant to the provisions of 29 U.S.C. §§ 482 and 483. But we think this is not such a case. Plaintiffs allege only that they are entitled to have someone-black or white-to represent the interests of Area 3 and that to assure such representation the merger agreement provides that he must, in fact, be an Area 3 employee. We agree that the district judge properly characterized this allegation as a dispute "over internal union elections" for which 29 U.S.C. § 482 provides the appropriate remedy. The particular facts of this case are not sufficient to invoke an additional remedy under Sec. 703(c) of Title VII.

Affirmed.