Local Freight Drivers, Local No. 208 Line Drivers, Local No. 224, Etc. v. Braswell Motor Freight Lines, Inc.

The plaintiff unions brought this action under § 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 185 , to confirm as an arbitration award a decision of a labor-management committee formed under a collective bargaining agreement to consider grievances. The district court confirmed the award. We affirm.

Plaintiffs are local affiliates of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America. Braswell Motor Freight Lines, Inc. (Braswell) is an interstate common carrier by motor vehicle. Bras-well’s operations have been carried on through “Eastern” and “Western” Divisions and through a subsidiary company, Braswell Freight Lines, Inc. (Freight Lines). Freight Lines was merged into Braswell on July 1, 1964, and Braswell has since then conducted the former operations of Freight Lines as a separate division.

Each of the three divisions operates in a different geographic area and has its own history of labor relations. The Eastern Division employees have at all times been non-union. Freight Lines employees have been represented by certain local Teamster affiliates (the Southern Locals). Freight Lines was a member of a multi-employer group…