Martin

Class action to terminate and distribute a union pension trust.

Prior to 1958, two privately-owned transit companies, Los Angeles Transit Lines (LATL) and Metropolitan Coach Lines (MCL), served the, Los Angeles metropolitan area. The LATL employees were represented by' Transportation Union, Division 3277, Amalgamated Association of Street, Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employees of America (Amal *185 gamated) ; the MCL bus operators were represented by the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen (BRT) ; and the MCL clerks were represented by the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks (BRC).

In 1958 a public transit corporation, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) took over the operations of both LATL and MCL. (Stats. 1957, ch. 547.) Representation elections were held, and new bargaining units were formed. (Sheets v. Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority, 56 Cal.2d 481 [ 15 Cal.Rptr. 156 , 364 P.2d 332 ].) Former LATL and MCL employees were scattered among the three unions according to their job classifications. The seniority rights, wage rates, work assignments, and pension plans of both groups have been integrated into a single system. Appellants, former LATL employees, object to…