Doris R. COLLINS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. UNITED AIR LINES, INC., Defendant-Appellee

Doris R. Collins, a former stewardess for United Air Lines, brought this action under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., to redress her involuntary resignation compelled by United’s once-held policy requiring its stewardesses to resign or be terminated upon marriage. The district court dismissed the case for Collins’ failure timely to file a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). She appeals and we affirm.

The relevant facts are these: On May 20, 1967, three days after her marriage, Collins resigned her stewardess position in conformity with United’s then-existent “no marriage” policy. On November 7, 1968, United discontinued that policy and, by agreement with the collective bargaining agent of its stewardesses, consented to reinstate all stewardesses terminated under the policy who had previously filed a union grievance or a complaint with the EEOC or applicable state agency. Collins had taken none of these steps.

Nearly three years later, by letter dated October 19, 1971, Collins requested that United “reinstate . . . [her] to full status as a stewardess, with full seniority and back pay.”…