National Labor Relations Board v. United States Postal Service

841 F.2d 141 (1988) United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 1988-03-02

Board enforcement proceeding over requested identities of union officers seeking supervisory posts; disclosure/privacy and relevance objections resolved. (result: claimant-won)

Facts

  1. 11 Alternative breaches of applicable collective-bargaining duties satisfied law
    Gene Cole, the Detroit MSC’s Postmaster, responded by letter and refused to provide the union with the information until its relevance to the collective bargaining process was explained.
  2. 11 Alternative breaches of applicable collective-bargaining duties satisfied law
    Generally, an employer’s duty to bargain collectively established in § 8(a)(5) of the National Labor Relations Act , obligates it to provide a labor union with relevant information necessary for the proper performance of the union’s duties as the employees’ bargaining representative.
  3. 11 Alternative breaches of applicable collective-bargaining duties satisfied law
    Therefore, we find that the union’s interest in the disclosure of the information is relevant to its duty to provide loyal representation and is not outweighed by the Postal Service's interest.