HATCHIGIAN v. WHELAN

**What Happened** A worker named Hatchigian sued their union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 429, claiming the union discriminated against them, retaliated, and broke their contract. The worker brought these complaints directly to court without first going through required union grievance procedures. **What the Court Decided** The court dismissed all of Hatchigian's claims against the union. The judge ruled that the worker failed to properly present their case for three main reasons: they didn't follow the required steps to file complaints with the union first, they waited too long to file the lawsuit (past the legal deadline), and they didn't provide enough specific facts to support their claims. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights important rules for union members who have disputes with their unions. Workers must typically exhaust internal union grievance procedures before going to court. There are also strict time limits for filing lawsuits. Additionally, when filing a complaint, workers must include detailed, specific facts about what happened—general accusations aren't enough. Union members should familiarize themselves with their union's complaint process and act quickly when issues arise to preserve their legal rights.