Deba Edelman v. Western Airlines, Inc.

Edelman timely appeals from the district court’s order denying her motion for summary judgment and granting Western Airlines’s (Western) cross-motion for summary judgment. The district court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 , 1332, and 1337. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We affirm.

I

Edelman had worked as a flight attendant for Western for 18 years when, in 1985, she was charged with the theft of flight liquor cart proceeds. Western investigated the charges and subsequently discharged Edelman. The Association of Flight Attendants (the Union) filed a grievance pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement between the Union and Western (Agreement). Western’s Seattle customer service manager conducted a hearing on this grievance the following month. The manager upheld Western’s decision and denied Edelman’s grievance.

The Union then appealed the grievance denial and requested the System Board of Adjustment (Board) to review the manager’s decision. As required by the Agreement, the Board consisted of four members: two members of management and two Union members. Edelman was represented at the Board hearing by an attorney and a Union…