Opinion ID: 2632735
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: WLAD Requirements

Text: Relying on cases holding that an exclusive remedies provision in a collective bargaining agreement does not prevent employees from initiating civil suits in court for violations of the WLAD, Adler argues that the WLAD requires a judicial forum for discrimination claims of employees. See Reese v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 107 Wash.2d 563, 577, 731 P.2d 497 (1987) (holding that chapter 49.60 RCW permits individual employees to pursue their rights under the WLAD in court without first exhausting remedies in a collective bargaining agreement), overruled on other grounds by, Phillips v. City of Seattle, 111 Wash.2d 903, 766 P.2d 1099 (1989); Bruce v. N.W. Metal Prods. Co., 79 Wash.App. 505, 513, 903 P.2d 506 (1995) (Under Washington law, a disability discrimination claim arises out of statute, the WLAD, and is not preempted by any contractual or CBA [collective bargaining agreement] requirements or remedies.); Ervin v. Columbia Distrib., Inc., 84 Wash.App. 882, 891, 930 P.2d 947 (1997) (holding that section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, 29 U.S.C. § 185, does not preempt claims brought under Washington's Minimum Wage Act, chapter 49.46 RCW). The United States Supreme Court, however, has held that in instances where a valid individual employee-employer arbitration agreement exists, the FAA requires that employees arbitrate federal and state law discrimination claims. [5] See Gilmer v. Interstate/Johnson Lane Corp., 500 U.S. 20, 27-28, 111 S.Ct. 1647, 114 L.Ed.2d 26 (1991) (holding that the FAA requires arbitration of age discrimination claims when a valid arbitration agreement exists); Perry, 482 U.S. at 491, 107 S.Ct. 2520 (FAA preempts state minimum wage law requiring a judicial forum for vindication of wage claims). Moreover, the FAA clearly preempts any state law to the contrary. Id.; Southland, 465 U.S. at 16, 104 S.Ct. 852; Garmo, 101 Wash.2d at 590, 681 P.2d 253. Thus, we reject Adler's claim that the WLAD entitles him to a judicial forum. [6]