Leo L. Phillips v. Floyd Osborne

This case presents a question as to the scope of federal jurisdiction conferred by Section 501 of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, popularly called the Landrum-Griffin Act, 29 U.S.C. § 401 et seq. (hereinafter the “Act”).

The appellees were sued in their capacity as officers of Local 580, an affiliate of the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite & Paper Mill Workers, AFL-CIO (hereinafter “International”). International is a labor organization representing some 170,000 employees engaged in the production of pulp and paper throughout the United States and Canada. Until the fall of 1964, West Coast employees were represented by International as a single collective bargaining unit under a single collective bargaining agreement known as the Uniform Labor Agreement (hereinafter the “ULA”).

In May 1964, some of the members and officers of certain local affiliates became dissatisfied with International and formed a new organization known as the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers (hereinafter “Western”). Immediately following its initial formation, Western engaged in an active, campaign to persuade all the local unions affiliated with…