Grassel v. Public Employment Relations Board

**What Happened:** A teacher filed a complaint against his union (the United Federation of Teachers) claiming they failed to properly represent him during a disciplinary hearing. The teacher argued that when his union-assigned lawyer withdrew from his case, it violated the union's duty to fairly represent all members. The teacher believed this amounted to a breach of contract. **What the Court Decided:** The court ruled against the teacher and upheld the dismissal of his complaint. The court found that the union did not breach its duty of fair representation because the lawyer withdrew due to the teacher's own failure to cooperate in preparing his defense for the disciplinary hearing. Since the teacher didn't work with his assigned attorney, the union was not at fault for the lawyer's withdrawal. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This ruling shows that union members have responsibilities too. While unions must fairly represent their members, workers also need to actively participate in their own defense. If you refuse to cooperate with your union-provided attorney or fail to help prepare your case, you can't later claim the union failed you. Workers should engage constructively with their union representatives to ensure proper legal support.