Opinion
No. C6-99-873.
Filed November 23, 1999.
Appeal from the District Court, Hennepin County, File No. 9819621.
Joeffre Kolosky, (pro se appellant)
Mark B. Rotenberg, General Counsel, University of Minnesota, Thomas J. Schumacher, Associate General Counsel, (for respondent)
Considered and decided by Shumaker, Presiding Judge, Davies, Judge, and Willis, Judge.
This opinion will be unpublished and may not be cited except as provided by Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (1998).
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant Joeffre Kolosky challenges adverse summary judgment, arguing that the district court erred in concluding that (1) Kolosky does not have standing to pursue claims against respondent University of Minnesota under the Minnesota Public Employee Labor Relations Act (PELRA), Minn. Stat. §§ 179A.01-.25 (1998), and (2) federal law preempts Kolosky's state-law claims. We affirm.
FACTS
Kolosky was a long-time clerical employee at the University's hospital and clinic. In 1996, the University negotiated the sale of the hospital and clinic to Fairview Hospital and Healthcare Services. In connection with that sale, the University and Kolosky's union entered into an agreement, effective January 1, 1997, which terminated the collective-bargaining agreement (CBA) between the University and Kolosky's union and released and discharged the University from all potential claims and pending grievances arising under the CBA.
In November 1998, Kolosky commenced this suit, alleging that the University violated section 179A.13 of PELRA by failing to respond to grievances Kolosky filed before and after January 1, 1997. Kolosky claims these grievances are still actionable under the CBA.
The district court granted the University's motion for summary judgment, concluding that (1) Kolosky does not have standing to bring his PELRA claim, and, in the alternative, (2) Kolosky's PELRA claim is preempted by section 301 of the federal Labor Management Relations Act of 1947. This appeal followed.
DECISION
When reviewing an appeal from summary judgment, this court asks (1) whether there are any genuine issues of material fact and (2) whether the district court erred in its application of the law. State by Cooper v. French, 460 N.W.2d 2, 4 (Minn. 1990). We view the facts in the light most favorable to the party against whom summary judgment was granted. Fabio v. Bellomo, 504 N.W.2d 758, 761 (Minn. 1993).
Kolosky argues that the district court erred in finding that he does not have standing to assert a claim under section 179A.13 of PELRA, which allows "[a]ny employee, employer, employee or employer organization, exclusive representative, or any other person or organization aggrieved by an unfair labor practice" to bring an action for damages or injunctive relief. Minn. Stat. § 179A.13, subd. 1 (1998). But the supreme court has determined that only a party who is a signatory to the applicable CBA can be "aggrieved by an unfair labor practice" under the statute. Minnesota Educ. Ass'n v. Independent Sch. Dist. No. 404, 287 N.W.2d 666, 669 (Minn. 1980). The University and Kolosky's union were the only signatories to the CBA and to the agreement that terminated it. Therefore the union, not its individual members, has standing to enforce conditions of the CBA. See Paoletti v. Northwestern Bell Tel. Co., 370 N.W.2d 672, 675 (Minn.App. 1985), review denied (Minn. Sept. 26, 1985). To allow individual members of a union to bring CBA-enforcement actions under PELRA "would render suspect any agreement executed by an organization for its members." Minnesota Educ. Ass'n, 287 N.W.2d at 669; see Eisen v. State, Dep't of Pub. Welfare, 352 N.W.2d 731, 735 (Minn. 1984). The district court did not err in concluding that Kolosky does not have standing to bring a claim under PELRA.
Because we affirm the district court's determination on the standing issue, we do not address whether Kolosky's alleged cause of action under PELRA is preempted by federal law.