Laber v. United Steel, Paper & Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial & Service Workers International Union

**Union Member Loses Lawsuit Against His Own Union** William Laber, a union member, sued the United Steel, Paper & Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial & Service Workers International Union in federal court in Ohio. While the court documents don't specify exactly what Laber was upset about, he brought employment-related claims against his own union organization. **The Court's Decision** In August 2015, the federal court dismissed Laber's case entirely. This means the court threw out his lawsuit without ruling in his favor. No money damages were awarded to Laber, and his claims against the union were rejected. **What This Means for Workers** This case shows that union members can face significant challenges when trying to sue their own unions in federal court. Workers should understand that unions have legal protections that can make it difficult to win lawsuits against them, even for employment-related issues. If workers have problems with their union's actions or decisions, they may need to explore other options first, such as internal union grievance procedures or appeals to labor boards, rather than immediately filing federal lawsuits. The dismissal suggests that not all employment disputes with unions will succeed in court.