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A Union's Duty In Bankruptcy Cases To Fairly Represent Its Constituency, Denise Dessel

Bankruptcy Research Library

(Excerpt)

Under the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”), a union, as the sole representative of its workers, has a duty to fairly represent them. This duty entitles a union to fairly represent all employees, “whether members of the union or not, fairly.” A union breaches this duty when its conduct or decisions are arbitrary, discriminatory, or committed in bad faith.

The terms “arbitrary,” “discriminatory,” and “bad faith” have been interpreted through case law. Part I of this memorandum discusses the interpretation of arbitrary conduct; Part II addresses how courts have defined discriminatory conduct; and Part III analyzes how bad faith …