Eppse et al. v. General Motors Company et al
Filing
26
Order: Defendant GM's motion for summary judgment (Doc. 20 ) and defendant UAW's motion for summary judgment (Doc. 21 ) be, and the same hereby are, granted. Judge James G. Carr on 2/8/19.(C,D)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION
Anthony Eppse, et al.,
Case No. 3:17CV1166
Plaintiffs
v.
ORDER
General Motors, LLC, et al.,
Defendants
This is a labor dispute.
Plaintiffs Anthony Eppse, Gregory Matter, and Kenneth Biggert formerly worked at a
Sandusky, Ohio roller bearings plant that defendant General Motors, LLC (GM) owned. GM ran
the plant through its then-subsidiary, Delphi, until GM spun off Delphi in 1999.
Following the spinoff, defendant International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and
Agricultural Implement Workers (UAW or the union), which represented the Sandusky plant
workers, negotiated a “Flowback Agreement” with GM and Delphi. The Flowback Agreement
provided that Delphi employees, if laid off, could “flowback” to a GM plant without losing
seniority. Each plaintiff applied for flowback, but GM rejected their requests because it had
deleted their applications from its records in a 2006 “purge.”
Plaintiffs sue defendants under the Labor Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 185,
(LMRA). Their “hybrid” claim alleges that 1) GM breached the Flowback Agreement when it
purged their flowback applications and denied them flowback opportunities; and 2) the UAW
violated its duty of fair representation (DFR) by failing to investigate GM’s alleged breach.
Jurisdiction is proper pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 185(c).
1
Now pending are GM’s motion for summary judgment (Doc. 20) and the UAW’s motion
for summary judgment (Doc. 21). For the reasons that follow, I grant the motions.
Background
I. Sandusky Plant Bargaining Relationship and Flowback Agreement
GM operated the Sandusky plant through its subsidiary, Delphi, until the 1999 spinoff.
(See Doc. 20-3 at 12:1-3; Doc. 20-4 at 6:25, 7:1-25). Thereafter, Delphi assumed the latest
collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between GM and the UAW via a contract settlement
agreement signed September 30, 1999. (See Doc. 20-6 at 388).
The contract settlement agreement included the “UAW – GM – Delphi Flowback
Agreement.” (See Doc. 20-6 at 401). The Flowback Agreement provided employees the
opportunity to “move from GM to Delphi and from Delphi to GM,” (i.e., “flow” from, for
example, the Sandusky plant to another, GM-owned, plant). (Id. at 401-406, ¶ 25).
An employee desiring to flow from one plant to another had to apply through GM’s
Employee Placement System (EPS). (See id. at 12-16). Then, 1) a job must open at the
employee’s desired plant; 2) GM must decide to fill the opening; 3) the applicant must rank
higher than all other applicants per the priorities set in the Flowback Agreement; 1 4) GM must
offer the employee the position; and 5) the employee must accept. (Doc. 20-7 at 4, ¶ 11).
While negotiating the 2003 CBA, GM and the UAW agreed that GM could annually
delete, or “purge,” applications from EPS. (See Doc. 20-7 at 3, ¶ 6). Plaintiffs allege that neither
defendant told them about the possibility of a purge. (Doc. 5 at 9, ¶ 41).
1
Appendix A of the Flowback Agreement sets out a series of factors that prioritize one applicant
for flowback over another. (See Doc. 20-7 at 4-5, ¶ 11).
2
II. Plaintiffs’ Employment and Flowback Applications
Plaintiffs Biggert, Matter, and Eppse began working at the Sandusky plant on June 17,
1991, September 30, 1999, and October 18, 1999, respectively. (Doc. 20-3 at 11:5-10; Doc.20-4
at 6:19-20; Doc. 20-5 at 6:16). They applied for flowback on September 7, 2004 (Matter),
October 17, 2005 (Biggert), and October 18, 2005 (Eppse). (See Doc. 20-6 at 11, 414; 419, ¶ 10).
At the end of 2006, GM’s National Employee Placement Center (NEPC), which
administers the EPS, purged all flowback applications, including plaintiffs’, dated before
December 1, 2005. (See Doc. 20-3 at 78:5-8; Doc. 20-6 at 21). A 2007 memorandum of
understanding required “[e]mployees on roll prior to October 8, 2005 . . . without a valid
flowback application” to apply for flowback by October 1, 2007. (See Doc. 5-1 at 1-46).
Plaintiffs did not submit new applications before October 1, 2007. (See Doc. 20-3 at
41:9-9-15; Doc. 20-4 at 23:1-5; Doc. 20-5 at 38:19-25, 39:1-4). They learned years after the late2006 purge that GM had deleted their applications. 2
A. Plaintiffs’ Informal Efforts With the UAW
Sometime in 2011 or 2012, 3 after learning about the purge, Eppse led an effort to revive
plaintiffs’ applications. He first worked with local UAW representatives, who “attempted to
rectify the issues throughout international UAW from region to” the then-international assistant
2
The record is unclear regarding the exact date each plaintiff learned that GM purged his
application. Eppse complained to the local union about flowback sometime in 2011 or 2012.
(Doc. 20-3 at 69:6-12; Doc. 20-4 at 151). He testified, however, that he learned during a 2012
phone call with GM Labor Relations that NEPC purged his application. (Doc. 20-4 at 19:12-16,
20:9-25). Biggert and Matter both testified that they learned in 2013 that GM purged their
applications. (Doc. 20-3 at 20:19-25, 22:17-18; Doc. 21-2 at 34:9-23).
3
Biggert testified that plaintiffs first sought help from the local union in 2011 (see Doc. 20-3 at
170:17-23), but Eppse testified that he first contacted the local union for help in 2012 (see Doc.
20-4 at 151).
3
director. (Doc. 20-6 at 19-20; Doc. 20-3 at 69:19-25, 70:1-2; 20-4 at 151:12-22). The “local
[representatives] came back distraught and said they could not get anywhere . . . and there was
nothing they could do.” (Doc. 20-6 at 19-20; Doc. 20-3 at 70:18-23; Doc. 20-4 at 151:12-22).
Eppse documented the local representatives’ failed efforts in a June 3, 2015 email to
UAW regional directorship. (See Doc. 20-6 at 19-20). His email asked the regional director and
assistant director to help plaintiffs “resolve [their flowback issue] the old fashion way thru the
union.” (Id.).
Then, on September 29, 2015, Eppse approached UAW Sourcing Director Ruben Flores
for assistance during Flores’s visit to Sandusky on an unrelated matter. (See Doc. 20-4 at 123:116). Hearing plaintiffs’ situation, Flores initially told Eppse that plaintiffs “had to [have] do[ne]
something wrong,” but, on hearing more details, Flores promised to “get this taken care of.” (Id.
at 123:17-25).
Eppse subsequently exchanged emails with Flores about plaintiffs’ flowback concerns.
Then, on Eppse’s request, Flores met with UAW members on November 24, 2015 to address the
issue. (See Doc. 21-14; Doc. 20-4 at 307:12-21). At that meeting, Eppse gave Flores
documentation supporting his and others’ requests for flowback. (See Doc. 21-15; Doc. 20-4 at
307:12-21). Flores subsequently redirected Eppse to other UAW contacts. (Doc. 20-4 at 322;
Doc. 20-6 at 441-42).
On December 10, 2015, Eppse emailed Flores and the new UAW contacts about
plaintiffs’ flowback concerns, providing a list of employees seeking flowback opportunities. (See
Doc. 20-6 at 44142). Flores replied on December 11, 2015 restating GM’s reasoning for “why
the people couldn’t flow back, which [plaintiffs] already knew.” (Doc. 20-4 at 315).
4
Eppse responded to Flores that same day, arguing that GM’s purge was improper. (See
Doc. 21-19). Flores did not respond. Undeterred, Eppse repeatedly emailed Flores with other
employees’ flowback concerns. Flores remained silent. (Doc. 21-3 at 326-27).
Sometime in 2016, local UAW representatives and the UAW regional director met with
GM/UAW Placement Center Representative Brian Grosnickle. In a May 18, 2016 email, Eppse
informed Flores that the “meeting did not bring about a resolution.” (See Doc. 21-23).
At deposition, Eppse testified that he knew Grosnickle “wasn’t going to help [plaintiffs]
out.” (Doc. 21-3 at 337:3-8). Yet, on June 16, 2016, Eppse requested a meeting with Grosnickle
and his two UAW counterparts, hoping to “find someone with a sympathetic ear.” (Doc. 21-3 at
338:1-23). The record does not indicate whether such a meeting occurred.
C. Plaintiffs’ Formal Petition to the UAW
On July 6, 2016, Eppse sent a letter 4 to UAW regional and international leadership,
including Grosnickle and his counterparts, formally petitioning them for help with plaintiffs’
flowback issue. (See Doc. 20-6 at 427-33). The letter contained a “flowback report,” which
identified employees who applied for but did not receive flowback opportunities, disputed GM’s
ability to purge applications, and cited instances where GM reinstated purged applications. (See
id.).
The international president responded to Eppse’s letter on October 13, 2016, indicating
that he assigned the matter to the international vice president. (See Doc. 21-26). Grosnickle
4
In their brief, plaintiffs deem their letter to the international executive board a “grievance.” (See
Doc. 22 at 11). But their letter is just that: a letter. It does not comply with the detailed grievance
procedure in the CBA. (See Doc. 20-6 at 49-57). Moreover, Eppse acknowledged at deposition
that he did not file a grievance about flowbacks. (Doc. 20-4 at 142:8-10).
5
subsequently sent Eppse a letter, dated December 5, 2016, explaining that the international vice
president referred plaintiffs’ concerns to him. (See Doc. 5-1 at 105).
In his letter, Grosnickle informed Eppse that he contacted his GM counterpart about
plaintiffs’ concerns.
Her response was, “as you are aware, the Delphi Flowback Agreement, which
covered UAW members employed by KBI has been reviewed multiple times by
the joint parties, and it has been determined that the Company has fulfilled its
obligations set forth in that agreement.” Her investigation did not show any
flowback issues.
(Id.).
Accordingly, Grosnickle concluded, the UAW “consider[ed] this matter closed.” (Id.).
Plaintiffs, through counsel, appealed Grosnickle’s conclusion in a February 1, 2017 letter
to the international executive board. (See Doc. 20-6 at 443-44). The international executive board
denied the appeal as untimely. (Doc. 20-6 at 445-46). 5
Plaintiffs’ employment ended in early February, 2017, when KBI closed the Sandusky
plant. (Doc. 20-4 at8:22-25; Doc. 20-5 at 8:3-9). Plaintiffs sued on June 5, 2017. (See Doc. 1).
Standard of Review
Summary judgment is appropriate under Fed. R. Civ. P. 56 where the opposing party fails
to show the existence of an essential element for which that party bears the burden of proof.
Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). The movant must initially show the absence
of a genuine issue of material fact. Id. at 323.
The burden then shifts to the nonmoving party to “set forth specific facts showing there is
a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250 (1986). Rule 56
5
Plaintiffs, again through counsel, asked the international executive board to “waive the
timeliness requirement.” (Doc. 20-6 at 447-49). The board denied their request. (Id. at 450-51).
6
“requires the nonmoving party to go beyond the [unverified] pleadings” and submit admissible
evidence supporting its position. Celotex, supra, 477 U.S. at 324.
I accept the non-movant’s evidence as true and construe all evidence in its favor.
Eastman Kodak Co. v. Image Tech. Servs., Inc., 504 U.S. 451, 456 (1992).
Analysis
“A hybrid § 301 suit implicates the interrelationship among a union member, his union,
and his employer.” Garrish v. Int’l Union United Auto., Aerospace & Agric. Implement Workers,
417 F.3d 590, 594 (6th Cir. 2005) (internal citations omitted). To succeed on their claim,
plaintiffs “must prove both (1) that the employer breached the collective bargaining agreement
and (2) that the union breached its duty of fair representation.” Id. (internal citation and
quotations omitted).
In a November 2, 2018, order (Doc. 19), I limited the issues on summary judgment to
whether 1) plaintiffs timely filed their complaint and 2) GM breached the CBA. (Doc. 19). 6
Because I conclude, infra, that the statute of limitations bars plaintiffs’ complaint, I do not reach
the breach-of-contract issue.
“The statute of limitations for filing a hybrid Section 301/duty of fair representation
claim is six months.” Wilson v. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen & Helpers,
AFL-CIO, 83 F.3d 747, 757 (6th Cir. 1996) (citing DelCostello v. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, 462
U.S. 161, 169 (1983); Schoonver v. Consol. Freightways Corp., 49 F.3d 219, 221-22 (6th Cir.
1995)). Such a claim “accrues against both the union and the employer when the employee knew
or should have known of the acts constituting either the employer’s alleged violation or the
6
Plaintiffs also argue in their brief that the UAW breached its DFR. (See Doc. 22 at 11-13). I
decline to entertain their argument per my November 2, 2018 order. (See Doc. 19).
7
union’s alleged breach, whichever occurs later.” Lombard v. Chrome Craft Corp., 264 Fed.
App’x 489, 490-91 (6th Cir. 2008).
The parties dispute when plaintiffs knew or should have known that the UAW would not
seek to change GM’s stance on their flowback applications. Plaintiffs argue that Grosnickle’s
December 5, 2016 letter triggered the statute of limitations. 7 (Doc. 22 at 11). Defendants assert
that plaintiffs knew or should have known of their claim well before then, and, in any event, by
the time Eppse wrote his June 3, 2015 email to regional directorship. (Doc. 20-1 at 12; Doc. 21 at
12).
I agree with defendants.
I. Plaintiffs Should Have Known the Union’s Position When
the Local Representative Could Not Resolve Their Concerns
“The six-month limitations period . . . begins running when the union takes an
‘unequivocal position’ that it will not pursue an employee’s claim against the employer.” Dorn v.
Gen. Motors Corp., 131 Fed. App’x 462, 469 (6th Cir. 2005). “The determination of the accrual
date is an objective one: the asserted actual knowledge of the plaintiffs is not determinative if
they did not act as reasonable persons and, in effect, closed their eyes to evident and objective
7
As explained, supra, plaintiffs never filed a grievance about the flowback issue. In most cases,
plaintiffs’ failure to “exhaust any grievance . . . remedies in the collective-bargaining agreement”
would doom their claim. See Robinson v. Cent. Brass Mfg. Co., 987 F.2d 1235, 1238-39 (6th Cir.
1993).
Certain facts here, however, may excuse plaintiffs’ neglect. First, the Flowback Agreement states
that GM and the UAW would “promptly” resolve “any issues related to the implementation of
this Flowback Agreement.” (Doc. 206 at 405). Arguably, one could read that provision to replace
the CBA’s usual grievance procedure. Moreover, plaintiffs’ then-local representative told them
that they “couldn’t file a grievance against GM” because they were KBI employees. (Doc. 20-4
at 265:14-20; see also Doc. 21 at 4). I therefore decline to determine whether plaintiffs’ failure to
follow the CBA’s grievance procedure, in and of itself, bars their claim.
8
facts concerning the accrual of their right to sue.” Noble v. Chrysler Motors Corp., Jeep Div., 32
F.3d 997, 1000 (6th Cir. 1994) (internal citation and quotations omitted).
In Fox v. Parker Hannifin Corp., 914 F.2d 795, 803-04 (6th Cir. 1990), the court held
that plaintiff’s claim accrued when a local union representative told her that conciliation efforts
did not resolve her grievance and the only remaining relief, a wildcat strike, would not be
successful. Id.
Similarly, here, plaintiffs should have known of their claim when their local union
representative told them, after seeking recourse with regional and international leadership, that
“there was nothing [he] could do.” (Doc. 20-6 at 19-20; Doc. 20-3 at 70:18-23; Doc. 20-4 at
151:12-22). At the latest, plaintiffs should have known of their claim when Eppse documented
the local representative’s frustrations in his June 3, 2015 email. (See Doc. 20-6 at 19-20).
Plaintiffs cannot “reset the accrual date for [their] hybrid section 301 claim” by pointing
to their continued efforts to seek redress from the UAW. Fox, supra, 914 F.3d at 804. (See Doc.
22 at 11). The local representative’s statement was clear and unequivocal. Plaintiffs, disregarding
that message, chose to continue trying futilely to resolve their situation outside the required
process. Here, as in Fox, supra, 914 F.3 at 803-04, plaintiffs’ “perseverance despite the lack of
available relief” does not excuse their ignorance. As in Fox, plaintiffs’ continued contact with
union did not push back the claim’s accrual date. Id.
II. Plaintiffs Had Further Notice of Their Claim
Before Grosnickle’s Letter
Plaintiffs imply that Grosnickle’s December 5, 2016 letter triggered the statute of
limitations because it represented the union’s official position. (See Doc. 22 at 11). But “official
notification of a union’s possible breach” does not start the limitations period. Vanriper v. Local
14, Int’l Union United Auto. Aerospace & Agric. Workers, 2015 WL 455533, *7 (N.D. Ohio)
9
(Knepp, Mag.) (citing Bloedow v. CSX Transp., Inc., 319 F. Supp. 2d 782, 787 (N.D. Ohio 2004)
(Aldrich, J.)). “Rather, prolonged or unreasonable delay by the union is enough to put a person
on notice of the existence of her claim.” Id.
Indeed, even assuming, arguendo, that the statute did not begin to run as of Eppse’s June
3, 2015 email, plaintiffs had notice of their claim before receiving Grosnickle’s letter.
Flores’s silence in response to Eppse’s repeated inquiries “should have put [plaintiffs] on
notice of [their] claim.” Yates v. Memphis Bakery Emp’rs Ass’n, 907 F.2d 151, 1990 WL 94211,
*2 (6th Cir.).
The court in Yates held that plaintiff should have known his claim accrued when the
union did not follow up on its promise to ask its lawyer whether to arbitrate plaintiff’s grievance
and ignored two letters plaintiff sent asking about the grievance’s status. Id. Similarly, here,
Flores, after restating GM’s position, ignored Eppse’s rebuttal argument. (Doc. 20-4 at 315; Doc.
20-6 at 437; Doc. 21-19). Flores remained silent in the face of Eppse’s subsequent badgering.
(Doc. 21-3 at 326-27).
Eppse’s unanswered pleas made him think that “international was turning a blind eye.”
(Doc. 20-4 at 62:22). His testimony echoes the Yates plaintiff’s sentiment that “he was ‘getting
the runaround.’” See 1990 WL 94211 at *2. Flores’s silence, in light of Eppse’s testimony,
should have opened plaintiffs’ eyes to their claim. (Doc. 20-4 at 62:22; see also Doc. 21-3 at
338:15-17).
Eppse’s May 18, 2016 email also shows that plaintiffs knew the UAW would not press
GM for further relief. In that email, Eppse complained that local and regional representatives had
an unsuccessful meeting with Grosnickle. (See Doc. 21-23). At deposition, Eppse acknowledged
10
that he knew then that Grosnickle “wasn’t going to help [plaintiffs] out.” (Doc. 21-3 at 337:6-8).
Grosnickle’s letter seven months later only confirmed Eppse’s belief.
Finally, on June 16, 2016, despite knowing Grosnickle’s position, Eppse wrote him and
his counterparts in hopes of “find[ing] find someone with a sympathetic ear.” (Doc. 21-3 at
338:12-18). The record shows no response to Eppse’s plea, and his persistence does not delay the
statute of limitations. See Fox, supra, 914 F.2d at 803-04.
Plaintiffs had – but disregarded – ample opportunity to learn of their claim against the
UAW before Grosnickle sent his December 5, 2016 letter. 8 Accordingly, I dismiss their claim as
untimely.
Conclusion
It is, therefore,
ORDERED THAT
Defendant GM’s motion for summary judgment (Doc. 20) and defendant UAW’s motion
for summary judgment (Doc. 21) be, and the same hereby are, granted.
So ordered.
/s/ James G. Carr
Sr. U.S. District Judge
8
Defendants argue that, even assuming that Grosnickle’s December 5, 2016 letter triggered the
statute of limitations, plaintiffs’ complaint is untimely because it was filed six months and one
day from that date. (Doc. 201 at 13). The record does not indicate, however, the date on which
plaintiffs received that letter, which Grosnickle presumably sent via regular mail. I decline, then,
to find plaintiffs’ complaint untimely on that basis.
11
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?