The settling of workplace disputes is moving from the courtroom to closed-door arbitration. Thousands of employees, as a condition of employment, are agreeing to submit workplace grievances to arbitration. The arrangement helps protect employers from lawsuits and often requires workers complaining about sexual harassment, racial discrimination or other workplace issues to accept rulings from non-judicial authorities.
Federal law requires no credentials or training for arbitrators.
They aren't required to supply written rulings. Opponents of mandatory arbitration say that the system serves to defeat laws guaranteeing civil rights. It gives the parties a better chance of finding win- win solutions. Alcoa has 80,000 workers worldwide. Porter was positive about the future for his company's dispute resolution program, which was implemented in January 1997.