Alexis M. Herman, Secretary of Labor, United States Department of Labor v. Local 305, National Post Office Mail Handlers, Liuna, Afl-Cio

**What Happened** The U.S. Secretary of Labor filed a lawsuit against Local 305, a union representing postal mail handlers. The dispute centered on a union member's complaint about union activities, which the member filed with the Department of Labor under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). The lower court dismissed the case, saying it didn't have authority to hear it because the complaint was filed too late. **What the Court Decided** The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed with the lower court and sent the case back for a full hearing. The appeals court ruled that the union member's complaint was actually filed on time according to LMRDA rules, and the lower court did have authority to consider the Secretary of Labor's claims against the union. **Why This Matters for Workers** This decision protects union members' rights to file complaints about their unions with the Department of Labor. It clarifies that courts must carefully examine timing rules before dismissing these cases and ensures that union members have a meaningful opportunity to seek government help when they believe their union has violated federal labor laws. The ruling reinforces that workers have legal recourse when union leadership may not be following proper procedures.