Gail C. Hass and Michael Hass v. Darigold Dairy Products Co., and Teamsters Union, Local 66

Darigold Dairy Products Company (“Dar-igold”) and Teamsters Union, Local 66 (the “Union”) appeal from a judgment reinstating the original date-of-hire seniority of Gail Hass, an employee of Darigold and member of the Union, in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement between the Union and Darigold. After receiving assurances from Union representatives that she would not lose seniority if she transferred from full-time to part-time status, Mrs. Hass made such a change for health reasons. When she later returned to full-time status, she discovered that she had been stripped of her original seniority position. The Union refused to process Mrs. Hass’ grievance. We affirm the district court’s reinstatement of seniority.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Local 66 represents Darigold employees, including appellee Gail Hass, and in that capacity has been party to collective bargaining agreements with Darigold, a Washington corporation. Appellee began working for Darigold, as a full-time employee, in November 1968. In early 1979, however, she investigated the possibility of switching to part-time status within her department, for health reasons (high blood pressure). Concerned…