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Case Law Database

Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

International Union of Operating Engineers Local Union No. 17 v. Swank Associated Co.

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local Union No. 17, initiated an action to compel arbitration against Swank Associated Company, Inc., following a labor grievance. Swank removed the case to federal court and filed a third-party action against Local 210, arguing the matter constituted a jurisdictional dispute not subject to arbitration. The court, presided over by Magistrate Judge Schroeder, examined the collective bargaining agreement to determine the arbitrability of the dispute. It concluded that while an arbitrator could determine if the issue was a jurisdictional dispute, they could not resolve it on the merits if it was found to be jurisdictional. Consequently, the plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings was denied, and the grievance was directed to arbitration solely to ascertain whether it constituted a jurisdictional dispute under the agreement.

Labor LawArbitration AgreementJurisdictional DisputesCollective BargainingLabor Management Relations ActFederal CourtPleadings MotionContract InterpretationArbitrabilityUnion Rights
References
6
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 11, 1991

Gold v. Local Union No. 888

Leonard Gold, an employee for 29 years, was terminated by John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company following accusations of theft from a policyholder. Gold denied the allegations, attributing them to the policyholder's senility. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and Local Union No. 888, UFCW-AFL-CIO, represented Gold through the grievance process but ultimately withdrew their intent to arbitrate after an allegedly inadequate investigation by union official Andre Henault. Gold filed an action alleging breach of collective bargaining agreement by the Company and breach of the duty of fair representation by the union. The court denied John Hancock's motion for summary judgment, finding sufficient facts for a jury to infer the union handled Gold's grievance arbitrarily. Additionally, the court granted the union's motion to dismiss John Hancock's cross-claim, which was filed after the union settled with Gold, ruling it was barred.

duty of fair representationsummary judgmentgrievance processarbitrationcollective bargaining agreementwrongful terminationlabor lawunion settlementcross-claimfederal civil procedure
References
16
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Willo Packing Co. v. Butchers, Food Handlers & Allied Workers Union, Local 174

The Employer sued the Union for breach of a no-strike provision in their collective bargaining agreement, seeking damages. The Union moved to stay the action and compel arbitration, arguing the dispute fell within the agreement's arbitration clause. The Employer countered that the grievance procedure leading to arbitration was exclusively for employee claims. District Judge Edward Weinfeld examined Articles 34 and 36 of the agreement, noting that the language regarding "complaints, grievances and disputes" implied a broader scope for arbitration beyond just employee grievances. Concluding that the no-strike breach could not be excluded with positive assurance from the arbitral process, the court granted the Union's motion, staying the action and directing the parties to arbitration.

Collective BargainingArbitrationNo-Strike ClauseLabor LawFederal CourtsContract InterpretationGrievance ProcedureMotion to StayNew York
References
11
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 17 v. Union Concrete & Construction Corp.

Plaintiff International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 17, AFL-CIO ("Local 17") filed a grievance against Union Concrete and Construction Corporation ("UCC") to compel arbitration regarding UCC's emergency snow removal work for Erie County in November 2014, alleging violations of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). UCC argued the work was not covered by the CBA's "Heavy and/or Highway Construction" definition, rendering the arbitration clause inapplicable. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy issued a Report and Recommendation to grant UCC's motion for summary judgment and deny Local 17's. United States District Judge Richard J. Arcara conducted a de novo review and adopted the Magistrate Judge's findings in their entirety, concluding that the emergency snow removal work did not constitute "Heavy and/or Highway Construction" under the CBA. Consequently, Local 17’s motion for summary judgment to compel arbitration was denied, and UCC’s motion for summary judgment was granted, leading to the closure of the case.

Labor Management Relations ActCollective Bargaining AgreementArbitrabilitySummary JudgmentContract InterpretationEmergency Snow RemovalHeavy ConstructionHighway ConstructionScope of Arbitration ClauseDe Novo Review
References
26
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 07, 1994

United Transportation Union Local Unions 385 & 77 v. Metro-North Commuter Railroad

This is a declaratory judgment action filed by the United Transportation Union and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (collectively, 'the Union') against Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company ('Metro'). The Union challenges Metro's Rule P as a violation of 45 U.S.C. § 60 (Section 60) of the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA). Rule P restricts employees from divulging company information or giving statements about accidents to external parties without company authorization, which the Union argues prevents employees from voluntarily furnishing information to interested parties as protected by Section 60. Metro moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, contending the dispute is governed by the Railway Labor Act (RLA) and its exclusive grievance resolution procedures. The court denied Metro's motion, concluding that the Union's claim involves the interpretation of a federal statute (Section 60) and is therefore within federal jurisdiction, not preempted by the RLA.

Federal Employer's Liability ActFELARailway Labor ActRLASubject Matter JurisdictionDeclaratory JudgmentRule 12(b)Labor DisputesCollective Bargaining AgreementPreemption
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

International Union of Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers v. Westinghouse Electric Corp.

The plaintiff Union filed a motion for summary judgment seeking to compel arbitration of twelve grievances against the defendant company. The defendant had refused arbitration, arguing that the grievances were nonarbitrable under exclusionary clauses in their collective bargaining agreement. The court, applying principles from the Steelworkers cases and Carey v. General Electric Co., determined that the agreement's exclusionary clauses limited the arbitrator's award-making authority but did not strip them of jurisdiction to hear the grievances. The court also rejected the defendant's ancillary arguments regarding laches, NLRB exclusive jurisdiction, and potential unfair labor practices. Consequently, the court granted the Union's motion, holding all grievances were subject to arbitration.

Collective Bargaining AgreementArbitrationGrievancesSummary JudgmentLabor LawContract InterpretationArbitrabilityExclusionary ClausesAward-Making AuthorityJurisdiction
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Sperry Systems Management Division v. Engineers Union, International Union of Electrical, Radio & MacHine Workers

This case concerns a labor dispute between Sperry Systems Management Division and the Engineers Union regarding subcontracting. Sperry sought to enjoin arbitration, while the Union counterclaimed to compel it, both filing motions for summary judgment. The central issue was whether a grievance, challenging the presence of subcontractor employees in Sperry's plant, was arbitrable under a collective bargaining agreement's clause explicitly excluding subcontracting decisions. The court, led by Judge Bauman, determined that the issue of arbitrability was for judicial determination, not the arbitrator. Finding the exclusionary clause clear and unambiguous, the court granted Sperry's motion, thereby enjoining the arbitration and denying the Union's counterclaim.

Labor DisputeArbitration EnjoinedCollective Bargaining AgreementSubcontracting ClauseSummary JudgmentArbitrabilityContract InterpretationGrievance ProcedureLabor Management Relations ActExclusionary Clause
References
20
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re the Arbitration between Wells Fargo Armored Service Corp. & Office & Professional Employees International Union, Local No. 153

This case concerns an appeal by Office and Professional Employees International Union, Local No. 153, against Wells Fargo, seeking to compel arbitration after Wells Fargo discharged an employee. The dispute arose when Wells Fargo refused arbitration, citing the union's alleged non-compliance with preliminary grievance steps, which Special Term deemed a condition precedent to arbitration. The appellate court reversed this decision. It clarified that in labor-management agreements, unlike commercial arbitrations, compliance with grievance procedures constitutes procedural arbitrability, a matter for the arbitrator, not the court, to decide. Citing Federal law and the specific language of the collective bargaining agreement, the court denied Wells Fargo's request for a permanent stay and granted the union's motion to compel arbitration.

ArbitrationLabor DisputeCollective Bargaining AgreementProcedural ArbitrabilityConditions PrecedentFederal LawGrievance ProcedureStay of ArbitrationCompel ArbitrationUnion
References
7
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re the Arbitration between Union-Endicott Central School District & Union-Endicott Maintenance Workers' Ass'n ex rel. Kolmel

Petitioner Peters appealed a Supreme Court order denying a stay of arbitration between Peters and the Union-Endicott Maintenance Workers’ Association, and George Kolmel. Kolmel, a maintenance worker, had resigned but was subsequently terminated after allegations of a sex offense. The Union filed a grievance asserting a violation of the collective bargaining agreement regarding retirement health benefits, arguing Kolmel met the eligibility requirements despite his termination. The Supreme Court compelled arbitration, a decision affirmed by the appellate court. The court ruled that arbitration of postemployment health benefits is permissible, not against public policy, and falls within the broad arbitration clause of the CBA, regardless of the employee's termination for misconduct.

Arbitration DisputeCollective Bargaining AgreementRetirement Health BenefitsEmployee DismissalMisconduct AllegationsPublic Policy ProhibitionArbitrabilityPostemployment BenefitsAppellate AffirmationLabor Law
References
14
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Franklin v. CROSBY TYPE. CO. & INT'L TYPO. UNION

Plaintiff Morris W. Franklin, a Black individual, sued his former employer, Crosby Typesetting Company, Inc., and his union, International Typographical Union, Local 198, alleging racial discrimination. Franklin claimed he was denied experience credit, unlawfully discharged, and that the union failed to represent him due to his race. The employer asserted Franklin was discharged for cause due to disruptive behavior, specifically slamming type, after repeated warnings. The union contended it couldn't help due to Franklin's untimely grievance. The Court found the plaintiff failed to prove a prima facie case of discrimination, concluding his discharge was for legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons and that the union did not discriminate or breach its duty of fair representation. Recovery was denied to the plaintiff.

Employment DiscriminationRacial DiscriminationTitle VIISection 1981Union Duty of Fair RepresentationWrongful TerminationPrima Facie CaseBurden of ProofStatute of LimitationsUntimely Grievance
References
6
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