Carrion v. Enterprise Ass'n, Metal Trades Branch Local Union 638

**Union Member Loses Contract Dispute Due to Late Filing** This case involved a worker named Carrion who had a dispute with both his employer, International Service System, Inc., and his union, Metal Trades Branch Local Union 638. Carrion claimed that his union failed to properly represent him in a contract dispute with his employer, which is known as a "hybrid" claim because it involves both the employment contract and the union's duty to represent members fairly. The court ruled against Carrion, but not because his complaint lacked merit. Instead, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals determined that he filed his lawsuit too late. The court applied a strict six-month deadline for these types of cases, established by an earlier Supreme Court decision. Since Carrion missed this deadline, his case was dismissed entirely. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This ruling highlights a crucial timing issue for union members. If you believe your union has failed to represent you properly in a workplace dispute, you have only six months to file a lawsuit. This is much shorter than most other legal deadlines. Workers need to act quickly and seek legal guidance immediately when they suspect their union isn't fulfilling its representation duties, as waiting too long can permanently bar their claims regardless of merit.