Ervin v. Columbia Distributing, Inc.

Mike Ervin appeals the summary dismissal of his claims against Columbia Distributing, Inc., for unpaid overtime pay. He contends the trial court erroneously concluded his claims were barred because he failed to process them through his union’s grievance procedure. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

Mr. Ervin began working for Columbia in 1984, when he and his father sold their Omak distributorship to Columbia. Mr. Ervin later became operations manager of Columbia’s Omak branch, and worked in that capacity as a supervisor until 1989. He left the supervisory position in 1989 and…