Edgar D. Laperriere, Jr. v. International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America

**Union Failed to Properly Represent Worker in Firing Case** Edgar Laperriere sued his union, the United Automobile Workers (UAW), after they dropped his grievance case without good reason. When Laperriere was fired from his job, he filed a grievance through his union to challenge the termination. However, the UAW decided to withdraw his grievance case before it was fully resolved, essentially abandoning his fight to get his job back. The court ruled in Laperriere's favor, ordering the UAW to pay him $165,573 in damages. The jury found that the union breached its legal duty to fairly represent him by arbitrarily pulling his grievance without adequate justification. The court determined the union acted improperly when it gave up on his case. **What This Means for Workers:** This ruling reinforces that unions have a legal obligation to fairly represent their members. Unions cannot simply abandon a worker's grievance case without valid reasons. If your union drops your case arbitrarily or fails to properly represent you, you may have grounds to sue them for damages. Workers have the right to expect their union will take their grievances seriously and see them through the proper process, not give up without justification.