Opinion ID: 1900424
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Violation of the Agreement

Text: Because the arbitration award resulted from grievance arbitration, the Committee's application to vacate the award properly proceeded under the Uniform Arbitration Act, 14 M.R.S.A. §§ 5927-5949. See Board of Directors of Maine School Administrative District No. 75 v. Merrymeeting Educators' Association, Me., 354 A.2d 169, 169 (1976). Prudence Grant began teaching English at Lisbon High School in 1965. During the 1970's, Grant was active in Association activities, and acted as the Association's chief negotiator during four contract negotiations. These included negotiations in the spring of 1979 in which the five members of the Committee participated as members of the Committee's negotiating team. Grant testified before the arbitrator that during those negotiations she offended various Committee members with her vivid language and unsubtle behavior; a specific instance to which Grant testified was a lecture she gave to one Committee member who was allegedly rudely snapping chewing gum during a negotiating session. In May 1979, the annual budget for teachers' salaries was cut by approximately $52,000 below the Committee's recommended level at a Town Meeting. In response, after extensive discussions (including public hearings) and deliberations, the Committee voted on May 22 to eliminate six teaching positions, including one English position. There were then three English teachers in the Lisbon schools: Grant, with 14 years seniority in the Lisbon schools; Emily Jones, with 8 years seniority; and Pauline Higgins, with 7 years seniority. On May 29, 1979, the Committee met to determine which teachers' contracts to terminate. In executive session, Lisbon High School's principal recommended that Higgins' contract be terminated; while evaluating the English teachers the principal described Grant as an excellent teacher. Committee member Ralph Garnett testified before the arbitrator that several members asked what the consequences would be if Grant's contract were terminated. He also recalled that one member stated that this might be a chance to get [Grant]. Returning to public session, the Committee proceeded to vote. A motion to terminate Higgins' contract failed by a 2-3 vote; without discussion a motion to terminate Grant's contract passed on a 3-2 vote. Garnett walked out of the meeting in protest, and visited Grant later that evening. Grant testified that Garnett told her that the vote was in part a reprisal for her behavior during the 1979 contract negotiations, mentioning specifically that the gumsnapping incident had angered two members who voted to terminate her contract, while Grant's language during negotiations had upset the member who cast the third vote to terminate her contract. Pursuant to the Agreement, Grant filed a grievance alleging, inter alia, that her termination violated article IV(A) of the Agreement, which states in part: the Committee undertakes and agrees that it shall not directly or indirectly discourage or deprive or coerce any teacher in the enjoyment of any rights conferred under [the Municipal Public Employees Labor Relations Law, 26 M.R.S.A. §§ 961-972] or other laws of Maine or the Constitution of Maine or the United States Constitution; that it shall not discriminate against any teacher with respect to hours, wages, or any terms or conditions of employment by reason of her or his membership in the Association and its affiliate, her or his participation in any activities of the Association and its affiliates, collective agreements, complaint, or proceeding under this agreement or otherwise with respect to any terms or conditions of employment. Finding that the Committee's selection of Grant for termination was at least in part motivated by displeasure with her Association activities, the arbitrator ruled that Grant's termination violated article IV(A). [1] The Committee concedes the arbitrability under article IV(A) of Grant's claim that the Committee's decision to terminate her contract was motivated by anti-union animus. See Westbrook School Committee v. Westbrook Teachers Association, Me., 404 A.2d 204, 207-08 (1979). It argues, however, that the arbitrator exceeded his powers: (1) by applying an in part test ( i.e., whether a particular act was motivated in part by an unlawful purpose) rather than a dominant motive or but for test in determining whether the Committee's action was motivated by anti-union animus; (2) by improperly placing upon the Committee the burden of rebutting the inference of unlawful motive drawn by the arbitrator; and (3) in that his findings of fact were clearly erroneous. Title 14 M.R.S.A. § 5938(1)(C) provides that the court shall vacate an award where the arbitrator exceeded his powers. A narrow standard of review governs this determination; judicial deference to the arbitrator's interpretation of the agreement is dictated by the need for finality in arbitration awards, a realization of the complexity of labor relations and the expertise of the arbitrator, and the principle that the parties have bargained for the arbitrator's construction of the contract. Board of School Directors, Maine School Administrative District No. 52 v. Tri-Town Teachers Association, Me., 412 A.2d 990, 992-93 (1980). In the instant case, the arbitrator's interpretation of article IV(A) of the Agreement as proscribing any discrimination against a teacher with respect to terms of employment motivated in part by the teacher's Association activities is a rational construction of the contract. We cannot conclude that all reasonable minds would agree that the ultimate construction of the contract was impossible under a fair interpretation of the bargaining agreement. [2] Maine State Employees Association v. State of Maine, Department of Defense and Veterans' Services, Me., 436 A.2d 394, 398 (1981). Therefore, the arbitrator's application of an in part test was not in excess of his powers. As for the Committee's second claim of error, the arbitrator stated that from the evidence presented to him he inferred that the Committee's selection of Grant for termination was in part motivated by displeasure with her Association activities, and that the Committee failed to rebut this inference. Thus, the arbitrator did not shift the burden of proof. Once the Association produced evidence sufficient to warrant a finding that the Committee had violated article IV(A), the Committee was liable to being found in violation if the arbitrator believed the evidence. This is not a shifting of the burden of proof, but rather the normal consequence of a party carrying its burden of proof. [3] See State v. Sockbeson, Me., 430 A.2d 1105, 1106 n.1 (1981). Finally, assuming, without deciding, that an arbitrator may be found to have exceeded his powers by making erroneous findings of fact, here the arbitrator's factual finding that the Committee acted in part because of Grant's Association activities is supported by competent evidence in the record, including the testimony of Grant and Committee member Garnett. [4]