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Title 39, Postal ServiceRelease 119-102

§1208 Suits

Title 39 › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 12 — EMPLOYEE-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS › § 1208

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal courts can hear cases the National Labor Relations Board brings under this law the same way they do for cases under title 29. Contract disputes between the Postal Service and a labor organization, or between labor organizations, can be filed in any federal district court that has power over the parties, no matter how much money is at stake. Labor organizations and the Postal Service are responsible for acts of their agents. A labor organization can sue or be sued as an entity and for its members. Money judgments against a labor organization can be collected only from the organization and its assets, not from individual members. A court may treat a labor organization as being in a district if it has its main office there or if its officers or agents act there for members. Serving court papers on an officer or agent in their official role counts as serving the organization.

Full Legal Text

Title 39, §1208

Postal Service, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction with respect to actions brought by the National Labor Relations Board under this chapter to the same extent that they have jurisdiction with respect to actions under title 29.
(b)Suits for violation of contracts between the Postal Service and a labor organization representing Postal Service employees, 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.
(c)A labor organization and the Postal Service shall be bound by the authorized acts of their agents. Any labor organization may sue or be sued as an entity and in behalf of the employees whom it represents in the courts of the United States. Any money judgment against a labor organization in a district court of the United States shall be enforcible only against the organization as an entity and against its assets, and shall not be enforcible against any individual member or his assets.
(d)For the purposes of actions and proceedings by or against labor organizations in the district courts of the United States, district courts shall be deemed to have jurisdiction of a labor organization (1) in the district in which such organization maintains its principal offices, or (2) in any district in which its duly authorized officers or agents are engaged in representing or acting for employee members.
(e)The service of summons, subpena, or other legal process of any court of the United States upon an officer or agent of a labor organization, in his capacity as such, shall constitute service upon the labor organization.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

39 U.S.C. § 1208

Title 39, Postal Service

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102