Page:United States Reports 502 OCT. TERM 1991.pdf/253

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Cite as: 502 U. S. 93 (1991)

95

Opinion of the Court

Frederick G. Cloppert, Jr., argued the cause for respondents. With him on the brief were Michael J. Hunter and Russell E. Carnahan.* Justice White delivered the opinion of the Court. We have before us two questions: whether a union member who sues his local union for money damages under Title I of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA), 73 Stat. 519, as amended, 29 U. S. C. § 401 et seq., is entitled to a jury trial, and whether under § 301(a) of the Labor-Management Relations Act, 1947 (LMRA), 61 Stat. 156, 29 U. S. C. § 185(a),1 the District Court had jurisdiction over the breach-of-contract suit brought in this case by a union member against his local union. I Petitioner is a member of Local 71 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). In the wake of a dispute arising out of petitioner’s opposition to an announced dues increase and to the appointment of a union representative, the respondent president of the local (petitioner’s brother) filed internal disciplinary proceedings against petitioner. No decision was finally rendered on the charges. Later, petitioner alleges, the union discriminated against him in job referrals in the operation of a hiring hall provided for in Local 71’s collective-bargaining contracts with electrical contractors. Petitioner brought suit against for the Association for Union Democracy et al. as amici curiae urging reversal. 1 Section 301(a) states: “Suits for violation of contracts between an employer and a labor organization representing employees in an industry affecting commerce as defined in the Act, or between any such labor organizations, may be brought in any district court of the United States having jurisdiction of the parties, without respect to the amount in controversy or without regard to the citizenship of the parties.” 29 U. S. C. § 185(a).
 * Steven R. Shapiro, John A. Powell, and Helen Hershkoff filed a brief