Garrish v. International Union

**Garrish v. International Union: Court Ruling Summary** **What Happened:** Workers at General Motors filed a lawsuit against their union, claiming the union failed to properly represent them and breached their contract. The workers argued that their union didn't adequately protect their interests in workplace disputes. They filed their lawsuit in August 2000, seeking damages for the union's alleged failures. **What the Court Decided:** The court ruled against the workers and sided with the union. The judge found that the workers waited too long to file their lawsuit. Under federal labor law, workers have only six months from when they discover (or should have discovered) a problem to file this type of case. The court determined that the workers knew or should have known about the union's alleged failures well before August 2000, making their lawsuit too late. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This case highlights a critical time limit that union members must understand. If you believe your union has failed to represent you fairly or breached your contract, you have only six months to file a lawsuit once you discover the problem. Waiting longer can permanently bar your case, even if your claims have merit. Workers should act quickly and seek help immediately when they suspect union misconduct.