Harry Blackmun

“ The District Court first rejected the funds' claim that petitioner had forfeited his right to benefits. 641 F.Supp. 360, 362 (Colo.1986) . The court relied on § 203 (a) of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. § 1053 (a) (1982 ed.) which declares that " [e] ach pension plan shall provide that an employee's right to his normal retirement benefit is nonforfeitable" if the employee meets the statutory age and years of service requirements. ”

“ The sixth claim, asserted against petitioner and the three pension funds, did not set forth a substantive ground for relief. Rather, it asserted that the District Court "must restrain and enjoin the Pension Funds from paying any further pension benefits to Plaintiff Guidry until the completion of this action and thereafter until [the Union] is made whole for its losses." Id., at 35.↑ The parties stipulated that the Local No. 9 Pension Fund was holding $23,865 in accrued benefits for petitioner. ”

“ Counsel also stated, however, that "the trust funds through bonds and other sources of compensation don't have claims against Mr. Guidry anymore, and we do, the union does. . . . The way things shake out, we are holding the bag. We are the ones who lost the money. . . ." Ibid.↑ Section 501 (c) , 29 U.S.C. § 501 (c) (1982 ed.) , under which petitioner was convicted, establishes criminal penalties for embezzlement or theft by a union officer or employee.↑ Section 501 (b) , 29 U.S.C. § 501 (b) (1982 ed.) , by its terms, does not establish a private right of action for a union itself. ”

“ Respondents point to § 514 (d) of ERISA, 29 U.S.C. § 1144 (d) (1982 ed.) . It states: "Nothing in this title shall be construed to alter, amend, modify, invalidate, impair, or supersede any law of the United States . . . ”

“ Even courts that have recognized equitable exceptions to the bar on alienation have assumed that § 206 (d) (1) operates, as a general matter, to proscribe garnishment of pension benefits. See St. Paul Fire & Marine, 752 F.2d, at 551-552; Crawford, 259 U.S.App.D.C., at 283-284, 815 F.2d, at 121-122.↑ The garnishment of retirement benefits is prohibited by the Social Security Act, 49 Stat. ”