Skyberg v. United Food and Commercial Workers Intern. Union, AFL-CIO

• Decision Date: 14 September 1993
• Docket Number: Nos. 92-3134,92-3342,AFL-CIO,s. 92-3134
• Citation: 5 F.3d 297
• Parties: 144 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2234, 126 Lab.Cas. P 10,850 Duane SKYBERG, Appellant, v. UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION,; United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 304A, Appellees, Duane SKYBERG; Roger Raile; Pat Siemonsma; Mark Reichelt; Gene E. Kessinger; Richard W. Erickson; Richard L. Schmidt; L.C. Cruthird; J.B. Tate; Dale M. Bergh; Lowell D. Larson; Roger H. Christensen; Ronald Costain; John H. Cox, Jr.; Wayne C. Wieczorek; George S. Shaw; Dennis Tilden; Lana Ingalls; Edwin A. Haffner; Keith E. Hodge; Robert M. Janssen; Neil C. Carpenter; Gary Voight; Richard Kloxin; General Lee Hardy; Leon Schoenwald; Eugene Haugstad; Don E. Hess; Paul Jackson; Bert VanderWaal; Jack A. Wiles; Gerald B. O'Brien; Gary L. Rames; Roger Benson; Leonard N. Otkin; Ray Ridenour; Albert VonBehren; Galen Ganschow; Gerald D. Skillman; Donnell Spears; William R. Wells; Linda R. Skillman; George W. Cleveland; Robert K. Boyum; Grant Edgecomb; Donald Gelskow; Duane Bolte; Michael E. Foss; Merlyn D. Tieszen; Kenneth C. Stanga; Marlyn Hylland; Rick A. Rieck; Gayle L. Holida; Francis Tindall; Terry Schlotterback; Duane V. Murra; Norman O. Schumaker; Alfred C. Hyser; James Spars; Eugene W. Heiden; Leon N. Anderson; David McCoy; Jerry Friessen; Jeffery Nelson; Dennis Arens; Russell F. Dietz; Darrell Newbern; Charles Amelang; Doug Sandberg; Wayne Kingsboro; Waldon Frerichs; Roger R. Allington; Mark Sinning; Dennis L. Bamsey; Dick E. Walters; Duane A. Nelson; Doris A. Walters; Linden Fickbohm; Dale L. Jibben; Robert Purlee; Ronald Tammen; Albert G. Kasemodel; Wayne Yarrow; Hurley Breen; Douglas Haugstad; Thomas H. Brown; Dale Tracey; Wayne J. Brannan; Mark F. Darger; William L. DeLay; Jerome P. Geraets; Dennis Krueger; Franz Frerichs; Jan M. Aichele; Darrell G. Messer; Gerrit M. Van Laar; Richard J. Kueter; Jeremiah W. Smith; Carl Dammer; Robert J. Snyders; George R. Redenius; Thomas J. McMohon; Leamon Hendrix; Wessley L. Campbell; Anthony J. Irvine; Dan Moran; Willa
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit

Page 297

5 F.3d 297

144 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2234, 126 Lab.Cas. P 10,850

Duane SKYBERG, Appellant, v. UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION,

AFL-CIO; United Food and Commercial Workers

International Union, Local 304A, Appellees,

Duane SKYBERG; Roger Raile; Pat Siemonsma; Mark Reichelt;

Gene E. Kessinger; Richard W. Erickson; Richard L.

Schmidt; L.C. Cruthird; J.B. Tate; Dale M. Bergh; Lowell

D. Larson; Roger H. Christensen; Ronald Costain; John H.

Cox, Jr.; Wayne C. Wieczorek; George S. Shaw; Dennis

Tilden; Lana Ingalls; Edwin A. Haffner; Keith E. Hodge;

Robert M. Janssen; Neil C. Carpenter; Gary Voight;

Richard Kloxin; General Lee Hardy; Leon Schoenwald;

Eugene Haugstad; Don E. Hess; Paul Jackson; Bert

VanderWaal; Jack A. Wiles; Gerald B. O'Brien; Gary L.

Rames; Roger Benson; Leonard N. Otkin; Ray Ridenour;

Albert VonBehren; Galen Ganschow; Gerald D. Skillman;

Donnell Spears; William R. Wells; Linda R. Skillman;

George W. Cleveland; Robert K. Boyum; Grant Edgecomb;

Donald Gelskow; Duane Bolte; Michael E. Foss; Merlyn D.

Tieszen; Kenneth C. Stanga; Marlyn Hylland; Rick A.

Rieck; Gayle L. Holida; Francis Tindall; Terry

Schlotterback; Duane V. Murra; Norman O. Schumaker;

Alfred C. Hyser; James Spars; Eugene W. Heiden; Leon N.

Anderson; David McCoy; Jerry Friessen; Jeffery Nelson;

Dennis Arens; Russell F. Dietz; Darrell Newbern; Charles

Amelang; Doug Sandberg; Wayne Kingsboro; Waldon Frerichs;

Roger R. Allington; Mark Sinning; Dennis L. Bamsey; Dick

E. Walters; Duane A. Nelson; Doris A. Walters; Linden

Fickbohm; Dale L. Jibben; Robert Purlee; Ronald Tammen;

Albert G. Kasemodel; Wayne Yarrow; Hurley Breen; Douglas

Haugstad; Thomas H. Brown; Dale Tracey; Wayne J. Brannan;

Mark F. Darger; William L. DeLay; Jerome P. Geraets;

Dennis Krueger; Franz Frerichs; Jan M. Aichele;

Darrell G. Messer; Gerrit M. Van Laar; Richard J. Kueter;

Jeremiah W. Smith; Carl Dammer; Robert J. Snyders; George

R. Redenius; Thomas J. McMohon; Leamon Hendrix; Wessley

L. Campbell; Anthony J. Irvine; Dan Moran; Willard A.

Bowne; Larry Kuhnert; Duane L. Christensen; John D.

Christion; Lonnie Schultz; Robert L. Soma; Phyllis J.

Thompson; Mark S. Reiners; Kevin Hagen; William J.

Brannan; Cecil Johnson; Glen V. Walters; Ronald F.

Benning; Titus J. Friedrich; Jerry Lee Taylor; Fred Lee;

Delmar Ballerman; Herman E. Keikwold; Patti J. Fox;

Dennis Zahrenhusen; Matthew J. Balk; Don Fox; Robert F.

Hall; Robert J. Gacke; Jerry T. Peterson; Ervin Fetters;

Robert A. Decker; Kenneth G. Gunderson; Kenneth Raanes;

Jerry L. Bender; Cindy S. Fines; Charlene Wright; Richard

Richter; Luella G. Lafrentz; James E. Symes; Parker J.

Kunkel; Steve Wallenstein; Randy L. Jacobson; Eric E.

Pedde; Leon L. Gerdes; Monte R. Martell; Lynn Joneson;

Lyle Olson; Linda McCollar; Arlene F. Brasel; Steve

Christian; Hilman Fleischhacker; Doris M. Miller; James

Brandt; Vincent P. Siemonsma; Donald B. Thompson; Freddie

Crawford; Jeff D. Swenson; James B. Siemonsma; Lawrence

M. Hanson; Raymond W. Gardner; Dennis Puthoff; Annie L.

Vaughn; Robert Jensen; Robert E. Williams; Ronald L.

Beaner; Ronald D. Hatch; Richard O. Nelson; Wanda DeBoer,

Executrix of the Donald DeBoer Estate; Delores J.

Butenschoen; Gary K. Mears; Larry D. Plucker; James L.

Wilkin; Robert L. Crowe; James G. Wermers; Robert E.

Williams; Larry Kluin; Gene White; Leonard L.R.

Christian; Rondall D. Roskens; Linda K. Hanson; Dennis

McDonald; Robert Wallenberg; James O'Toole; Charles R.

Kueter; John R. Hennings; Mike McConnell; Marriann M.

Sudenga; Jeff J. Steward; Gene E. Paetow; Ronald W.

Plucker; Marilyn Pesicka; Charles W. Headrick; Roger

Leeper; Howard D. Rehfeldt; Donald Rames; Robert L.

Bronson; Kenneth K. Koopman; Robin D. Shaw; Donald L.

Lager; Robert Leloux; Jimmie D. Schmuck; Gregory M.

Johnson; Donald D. Otten; Daryl Sagness; Susan K.

Johnson; Alan Amundson; Jack D. Hamilton; Alvin Pesicka;

Leo J. Ennis; John Ogle; Duane Hartman; Dennis E. Thomas;

Todd Schmig; William R. Henle; Jerome L. Gaspar; Dennis

C. Wettig; Tom Ruhlman; James D. Amundson; William Dean

Haley; Monte Skillman; Ron Schultz; Jack Dailey; Jerry

M. Thornton; Wendell Fleischhacker; Curtis J. Anderson;

Walter N. Jonnes; Marlys Y. Madsen; William G. Miller;

Beverly J. Hill; Kevin R. Snyders; Duwayne L. Wolleber;

Jack E. Nelson; Steve Aulner; Brian Versluys; Daryl

Buthe; Judy Baker; Darrell Wampler; Marvin L. Skow; Dale

L. Phelps; Luverne C. Frerichs; Monte Muchow; Gordon

Spars; Steven Fritz; Hans Kjergaard; Larry Bethke;

Richard J. Eulberg; Michael Tanner; Cynthia Voelker;

Linda J. Wahlert; Larry Beynon; Matthew Long; Randy L.

Horn; Joe D. Vaughn; Donna VanHove; Robert Rehfeldt;

Rodney L. Javers; Gene Wiblemo; Jerry W. Kappenman; Mike

Siemonsma; Elbert Thompson, Sr.; Kim Rensch; Lombus

Crenshaw; Mack Henderson; Don K. Smith; Dale R.

Entringer; William Breen, Jr.; Daniel Watkins, Sr.;

Vernon Jelsma; Robert H. Namanny; William H. Dickey;

Sylvester Fair; Sharla Conklin; Norman J. Eide; Mark John

Ault; Gene L. Zimmer; Thomas L. Hamilton; Marvin L.

Nytroe; John P. Decou; Leroy Geiken; Donald Horton;

Eugene Struck; Robert Paul Brinkhus; Constance Lewis;

William Wolf; Kenneth Foss; Milvia Ellsworth; Arnold A.

Abbas; John M. Miller; James Sibert, Jr.; Gwen Sibert;

Ronald Running; Douglas J. Martinek; Jeff T. Geraets;

Mark Downs; Daniel Jay Christensen; Frank H. Petheram;

Bruce Breen; Mark Bills; Steve Erickson; Gerard

VanSurksum; Chad B. Outka; James A. Larson; Gerald Ordal;

Duane H. Gustafson; David D. Gustafson; William M.

Dooley; Steve Bannwarth; Wayne D. Taylor; Dennis L.

Gannon; Gary W. Gibson; Jerome Halvorson, II; Ronald L.

Chase; Dan Merrigan; Dale W. Kirk; James Huwe; Ray F.

Atwood; Ben Otten; Alan G. Fodness; Terry Kapsch; Rhonda

Wheeler; Kenneth L. Miller; David J. Wheeler; Cheryl

Wheeler; Jerry D. Hurley; Reed L. Strom; Randy L. Hanson;

Donald E. Roed; Tom C. Ryan, Jr.; Dennis Christensen;

Cyril T. Gross; Donald R. Reurink; James L. Spicer; Allan

L. Dreesman; Bruce J. Livesay; Sharon R. Bond; John

Poppenga; Jerry R. Zeig; Vincent L. Huwe; Donald Reiter;

James W. Tatge; Steve Heiman; Richard Thompson; Charles

E. Kepford; Robert J. Miller; Merle E. Marshall; Dale D.

Long; Michael Hoek; Joseph R. Donelan; David Twedell;

Ronald G. Sechser; Terry L. Baum; Glenn Edberg; Douglas

A. Langdon; Adam T. Pham; Dan Moyer; Terry Bendt;

Raymond L. Wold; Keith E. Kepford; John E. VanVelzen;

Douglas L. Foster; Robert J. Fetters; Steven C. Arens;

Randall Vance; Roger Bute Anderson; Richard Sundem;

Calvin G. Chambers; Richard J. Kueter, Jr.; Craig

Franken Jack J. Parker, Sr.; Kenneth Blom; Thomas E. Coyne Kenneth H. Kwallek; Scott Ulrikson; Ronald R. Jacobson Thomas R. Dossett; William Dean McKinney; Mike Kapsch Roland Pearson; Sheridan C. Johnson; Donald E. Meints; Robert J. Fansin; Gena Ellefson; Stephen T. O'Hara; Jerry L. Muchow; Eugene E. Lambert; David Washburn; Tom Fiedler; James A. Donelan; Douglas M. Walker; Gene M. Nelson; Jon Volz; Eddie Everson; Thomas Gerwer; Johnny Bernard Christion; Dennis E. Blankartz; Vern Thompson; David Jackels; Walt Csordacsics; Harley D. Thompson; Donald L. Sundby; Clydeen Joy Korstad; William Joseph Essem; Jerry L. Edmunds; John Logan Smith, Jr.; Kevin Pulford; Phillip D. Crider; Randy Reichelt; Terry Gaspar; Dwane Muth; Connie J. Vithoven; Dennis Swenson; Bruce L. Berke; Leon H. Feldhaus; Jerry Murphy; Leonard H. Ellens, Jr.; Robert Berg; Lynus Pickart; Lawrence Hewer; Maynard Hennings; Terry Bills; Herman Smidt; Kenneth Haas; Jerrold A. Berke, Sr.; I. Cregg Else, Appellants, v. UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION, AFL-CIO; United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 304A, Appellees.

Nos. 92-3134, 92-3342.

United States Court of Appeals,

Eighth Circuit.

Submitted June 18, 1993.

Decided Sept. 14, 1993.

A. Stevenson Bogue, Omaha, NE, argued (A.J. Swanson, Sioux Falls, SD, on the brief), for appellants.

Theodore Sachs, Detroit, MI, argued (Mary Ellen Gurewitz, Detroit, MI, on the brief), for appellee UFCW Intern. Union.

Irving M. King, Chicago, IL, argued (Kelly J. Hupfeld, on the brief), for appellee UFCW Local Union 304A.

Before JOHN R. GIBSON, Circuit Judge, ROSS, Senior Circuit Judge, and MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, Circuit Judge.

ROSS, Senior Circuit Judge.

This appeal is brought by 426 individuals (the "employees") who were employed at the John Morrell & Co. ("Morrell") meat packing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and who were also members of the labor unions representing the plant workers, Local 304A, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, and United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, AFL-CIO (collectively referred to as the "unions"). The employees filed suit alleging that the unions had breached their duty of fair representation to the employees by failing to properly advise the employees as to the legal consequences of their participation in a sympathy strike. The district court dismissed the action, concluding that the case was barred by the six-month statute of limitations. We affirm.

I.

According to the complaint, the employees engaged in a sympathy strike from May 1, 1987, through November 4, 1987, in support of a union strike at the Morrell plant in Sioux City, Iowa. When the employees attempted to return to work following the strike, Morrell informed them they had been permanently replaced. The unions then filed grievances alleging, among other things, that Morrell had failed to return the employees to work in a timely manner. The matter was submitted to arbitration and, on November 5, 1988, the arbitrator held that the collective bargaining agreement did not prohibit the sympathy strike, that the employees were entitled to displace the strike replacements and were entitled to backpay.

In the meantime, Morrell sued the unions in federal district court. A jury found the strikes were unlawful under the no-strike clause of the collective bargaining agreement and awarded $24.6 million to Morrell. Morrell thereafter moved...