Page:United States Reports 502 OCT. TERM 1991.pdf/261

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

103

Opinion of the Court

Local No. 1140, 914 F. 2d 125 (CA8 1990); Pruitt v. Carpenters Local Union No. 225, 893 F. 2d 1216 (CA11 1990); Lewis v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America, Local Union No. 771, 826 F. 2d 1310 (CA3 1987). Respondents have pointed to no evidence of the federal courts’ being overwhelmed by trivial litigation in this area of the law. We express no view on the merits of petitioner’s claims for breach of contract. We need only decide here that the courts below erred in holding that federal jurisdiction under § 301(a), based on the alleged violation of a contract between labor organizations, is unavailable when an individual union member brings suit against his or her union. The judgment of the Court of Appeals is reversed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. It is so ordered. Justice Thomas took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.