Document: 363 U.S. 574 80 S.Ct. 1347 4 L.Ed.2d 1409 UNITED STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA, Petitioner,v.WARRIOR AND GULF NAVIGATION COMPANY. No. 443. Argued April 27, 1960. Decided June 20, Mr. David E. Feller, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. Samuel Lang, New Orleans, La., respondent. Opinion of the Court by Justice DOUGLAS, announced BRENNAN. 1 Respondent transports steel and products barge maintains a terminal at Chickasaw, Alabama, where it performs maintenance repair work on its barges. The employees that constitute bargaining unit covered collective agreement negotiated petitioner union. between 1956 1958 laid off some employees, reducing from 42 to 23 men. This reduction was due in part respondent contracting work, previously done other companies. latter used respondent's supervisors lay out hired laid-off (at reduced wages). Some were fact assigned A number signed grievance which presented respondent, reading: 2 'We are hereby protesting Company's actions, arbitrarily unreasonably concerns, could has been performed Company employees. 3 'This practice becomes unreasonable, unjust discriminatory lieu (sic) present there have about 1/2 years or more allegedly lack work. 'Confronted with these facts we charge is violation contract inducing partial lock-out, who would otherwise be working not this unfair practice.' 5 had both 'no strike' lockout' provision. It also procedure provided relevant as follows: 6 'Issues conflict any Federal statute application established matters strictly function management shall subject arbitration under section. 7 'Should differences arise Union members employed meaning provisions Agreement, should local trouble kind arise, no suspension account such but an earnest effort made settle immediately following manner: 8 'A. For Maintenance Employees: 9 'First, aggrieved Foreman involved; 10 'Second, member Grievance Committee designated Union, Master Mechanic. 11 'Fifth, if reached matter referred impartial umpire decision. parties meet decide acceptable both. If selection reached, jointly petition United States Conciliation Service suggestion list umpires made. decision will final.' 12 Settlement refused arbitration. suit then commenced union compel it.1 13 District granted motion dismiss complaint. 168 F.Supp. 702. held after hearing evidence, much went merits grievance, did 'confide arbitrator right review defendant's business judgment work.' Id., page 705. further 'the well construction limited respect labor involved here.' Ibid. Appeals affirmed divided vote, 269 F.2d 633, 635, majority holding withdrawn 'matters management' fell exception. case here writ certiorari. 361 912, 255, 183. 14 We Textile Workers v. Lincoln Mills, 353 448, 77 923, 972, provision enforced reason § 301(a) Labor Management Relations Act2 policy applied enforcing type reflected our national laws. pages 456—457, 917—918. federal promote industrial stabilization through agreement.3 453—454, 916. major factor achieving peace inclusion grievances agreement.4 15 Thus run cases, illustrated Wilko Swan, 346 427, 74 182, 98 L.Ed. irrelevant problem. There choice adjudication cases controversies courts procedures even special statutory safeguards one hand settlement them informal tribunal other. In commercial case, substitute litigation. Here strife. Since disputes quite different functions ordinary agreement, hostility evinced toward agreements place here. parcel process itself. 16 states rights duties parties. than contract; generalized code govern myriad draftsmen cannot wholly anticipate. See Shulman, Reason, Contract, Law Relations, 68 Harv.L. Rev. 999, 1004—1005. covers whole employment relationship.5 calls into being new common law—the law particular industry plant. As observer put it:6 17 '* * (I)t unqualifiedly true collective-bargaining simply document imposed upon limited, express restrictions absolute manage enterprise, so employee's claim must fail unless he can point specific founded,. too many people, problems, unforeseeable contingencies make words exclusive source duties. One reduce all rules governing community like plant fifteen fifty pages. Within sphere bargaining, institutional characteristics governmental nature demand shop implements furnishes context agreement. assume intelligent negotiators acknowledged plain need they stated contrary rule words.' 18 erect system self-government. When most enter contractual relationship do voluntarily, sense real compulsion deal another, opposed dealing generally entering refusing relationship, probability pre-exists negotiations. Rather having governed agreed-upon leaving each every temporary resolution dependent solely relative strength, given moment, contending forces. mature may attempt regulate aspects complicated crucial minute over extended period time. Because reach breadth covered, fairly concise readable instrument, product negotiations (the written document) is, late Dean 'a compilation diverse provisions: provide objective criteria almost automatically applicable; less standards require their application; little leave problems future consideration expression hope good faith.' supra, 1005. Gaps left filled reference practices various shops Many underlie unknown, except hazy form, negotiators. Courts contracts resorted because breakdown parties; resort unwanted But machinery very heart Arbitration means solving molding private solution way accord variant needs desires processing actually vehicle content 19 Apart specifically exclude, questions disagree therefore come within scope words, continuous process. It, rather strike, disagreement. 20 normal courts; considerations help him fashion judgments indeed foreign competence courts. 21 'A proper conception arbitrator's basic. He public superior authority obliged accept. general charter administer justice transcends self-government created confined *' 1016. 22 contract, shop—is equally although expressed it. usually chosen parties' confidence his knowledge trust personal bring bear judgment. expect reflect only what says but, insofar permits, factors effect productivity result, consequence morale shop, whether tensions heightened diminished. using primarily goal uninterrupted production serve specialized needs. ablest judge expected same experience determination similarly informed. Congress, however, 301 Act, duty determining reluctant party breached promise arbitrate. required submit dispute agreed submit. Yet, consistent congressional favor arbitration, judicial inquiry question agree arbitrate give power award An order denied said positive assurance clause susceptible interpretation asserted dispute. Doubts resolved coverage.7 24 lower contracting-out necessarily excepted To sure, provides arbitration.' goes say 'differences' 'any kind' arises, applicable. 25 Collective restrict exercise functions; oust performance them. hires fires, pays promotes, supervises plans. All function, absent exercised freely willingness particular, unilaterally conditions. treat certain practices, rest possibility stoppages. When, no-strike included everything does either prohibited action takes, not, protected interference strikes. comprehensive mean, language, 'strictly management,' meaning. 26 'Strictly might thought refer which, circumstances prescribed permitted indulge. courts, determine arbitrability, allowed swallowed up Every involves violated 27 Accordingly, interpreted referring gives complete control unfettered discretion. claims falls category. Contracting basis grievances; grist mills arbitrators.8 exclude procedure. Or collateral clear based arbitrable. Here, Nor showing designed phrase encompass forms out. absence excluding think forceful evidence purpose prevail, particularly where, here, exclusion vague broad. court infer comprehends merits, view suspicion persuade become entangled substantive back door interpreting clause, when alternative utilize services arbitrator. 28 alleged was, therefore, 'as Agreement' determined 29 judiciary sits operation arbitral substitutes regime peaceful older conflict. Whether question. arbiter, 30 Reversed. 31 FRANKFURTER concurs result. 32 BLACK took case. 33 (For opinion BRENNAN, joined HARLAN, see 569, 1363.) 34 WHITTAKER, dissenting. 35 Until today, I understood unquestioned law, consistently held, arbitrators judges submitted;1 submitted once limit power;2 issues finality, thus ousting clear, definitive parties, powers never implied. Moorman, 338 457, 462, 70 288, 291, 94 256;3 Mercantile Trust Co. Hensey, 205 298, 309, 535, 539, 51 811.4 Fernandez & Hnos. Rickert Rice Cir., 119 809, 815, 136 A.L.R. 351;5 Marchant Mead-Morrison Mfg. Co., 252 N.Y. 284, 299, 169 N.E. 386, 391;6 Continental Milling Feed Doughnut Corp., 186 Md. 669, 676, 48 A.2d 447, 450;7 Jacob Weisser, 207 Pa. 484, 489, 56 A. 1065, 1067.8 believe today departs principles decisions. 36 employer operates barges, equipped repairs, accordingly has, beginning operations ago, contracted During most, all, time represented unit. found '(t) hroughout successive including one, union) unsuccessfully sought negotiate changes contracts, during negotiation (employer) continue 702, 704—705. 37 respecting and, arguably, things. first paragraph section says: '(M)atters section.' Although acquiescing employer's repeatedly tried here—but unsuccessfully, induce covenant prohibit union, involved, 'grievance' ground constituted 'lockout' antilockout 38 Being unable cease 'grievance,' brought Court, U.S.C. 185, U.S.C.A. decree compelling long course dealings be, excluded terms relief prayed, affirmed, 39 now reverses Appeals. holds 'not contract,' ordered 'unless dispute,' '(d)oubts (of arbitrability) coverage,' when, 'an (arbitration).' understand hold doubts arbitrability contains 40 entirely strange doctrine me. suggest, deference, controlling decisions Court. find nothing purports confer power. cites legislative creates broad powers. And respectfully today's squared statement Judge, later Justice, Cardozo 'No conventional tribunals, however helpful processes, extent signified willingness. Our own disfavor cause count appraisal others.' (emphasis added), N.Y., N.E., 391; nor '(t)he intention, ascertained tests generally,' id.; Court's 'that intention final outside manifest language' U.S., 291; Hensey that: 'To (an arbitrator's) certificate conclusive requires language contract. implied.' (Emphasis added.) 539. submit, providing carefully construed force intend submitted.' 815. 41 With respect, indicate 'signified (its) willingness' (Marchant, 391) Certainly 'made (Moorman, 291), 'requires,' consent 'is contrary, conduct if, concurring suggests, 'be background gave rise inclusion,' logically significance By prohibiting successful. again negotiating failing success, knowing, course, contain covenant, that, contained, just former Does show instead signifying least arbitration? Surely submission 'plain language.' 'to (a) (it) submit'? Hnos., class subjects arbitrable question, conclude contract) commits (subject subjects).' likewise commit '(w)ith finding exhausted function' denying ordering found, approved finding, years, That think, accepted Acceptance affirmance 43 concern 'merits' jurisdiction arbitrators. jurisdiction. Neither entrench test is: Did 'manifest 291) issue controversy arbitrators? did, it, fraud interfere. jurisdiction, properly invoked, protect citizen against attempted use pretended conferred. always one. Such They jurisdictional facts, settled those correctly decided affirm Section 1947, 61 Stat. 156, 185(a), provides: 'Suits organization representing affecting commerce defined organizations, district without amount regard citizenship parties.' 912. Note 1, supra. 8(d) National amended 1947 158(d), Congress fixed term bargain discuss modification conditions contained in' Board Sands 306 332, 59 508, 83 682. Complete effectuation achieved unresolved prohibition strikes, 'quid pro quo' strike. 455, 917. 'Contracts ban strikes often lifting conditons. Unconditional pledges are, somewhat frequent conditional ones. Where attached pledges, two approaches used: exempted pledge, pledge lifted followed (Similar qualifications lockouts.) 'Most are: (1) occurrence deadlock wage reopening negotiations; (2) especially non-compliance failure abide award. 'No-strike compliance specified procedures. permit strike settlement, recourse. Other mediation efforts fail, cooling-off period.' Bargaining, Negotiations Contracts, Bureau Affairs, Inc., 77:101. Cox, Reflections Upon Arbitration, 72 Harv.L.Rev. 1482, 1498—1499 (1959). American Manufacturing 564, 1343, decide. Cf. 1508—1509. assertion claimant merely vesting arbitrator, burden demonstration purpose. Celanese Corp. America, Lab.Arb.Rep. 925, 941 (1959), arbiter growing said: 'In my research located 64 published concerned covering wide range factual situations characteristic i.e., occurred Agreement mentioned 'Arbitrators them.' Burchell Marsh, How. 344, 349, 96. 'The arbitrators) selected authority, award, binding, must, substance conform submission.' Ins. Garrett, 125 F. 589, 590—Opinion Lurton. 'It 256. 351. leading generally. *. No 391. quoting Judge Cardozo's Marchant, saying intention,' 'Sound demands strained discover pass dispute, unmistakable court, trial jury taken away implication.' 450. 'But, circumstances, before conclusive, appear, Chandley Bros. Cambridge Springs, 200 230, 49 Atl. 772, subject-matter clearly him. implication, merely, case." 1067.

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