A former airline technician has filed a lawsuit against United Airlines, Inc., the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), and Teamsters Local Union No. 210, seeking to resolve a dispute over his termination. Frederick Figuereo, the plaintiff, filed the complaint on January 22, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief under the Railway Labor Act.
The lawsuit arises from Figuereo’s termination by United Airlines on June 11, 2024, following an incident involving clocking out of his shift using an iPad.
Figuereo alleges that after reporting a clock-out failure to his supervisor, United conducted an investigation that led to accusations of being paid for time not worked. The investigation allegedly revealed instances where Figuereo clocked in early but parked his car before starting work.
After filing a grievance through Teamsters Shop Steward Carlos Rivera, the union declined to pursue it further. Figuereo then attempted to represent himself before the System Board of Adjustment but received no response from either United or the union.
Figuereo’s attorney, Lee Seham, cited legal precedents affirming individual employees' rights under the Railway Labor Act to access grievance and arbitration processes independently of their unions.
The complaint argues that both United Airlines and the Teamsters unlawfully obstructed Figuereo’s statutory right to arbitration by ignoring communications from him and his legal representatives.
Figuereo is seeking several forms of relief from the court: an order compelling arbitration before a neutral arbitrator as part of a System Board of Adjustment; a declaration of rights under federal law; reasonable attorneys' fees; and retention of jurisdiction to ensure compliance with court orders. These measures aim to restore Figuereo’s employment rights and ensure fair adjudication of his grievance.
Representing Figuereo are attorneys Lee Seham and Stanley J. Silverstone from Seham, Seham, Meltz & Petersen LLP. The case has been assigned Case ID 1:25-cv-00391-NRM-JRC.