Legal Document

363 U.S. 593 80 Supreme Court Reporter 1358 4 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 1424 UNITED STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA, Petitioner,v.ENTERPRISE WHEEL AND CAR CORP. Number 538. Argued April 28, 1960. Decided June 20, Mr. Elliott Bredhoff and David E. Feller, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. William C. Beatty, Huntington, W.Va., respondent. Opinion of the by Justice DOUGLAS, announced BRENNAN. 1 Petitioner union respondent during period relevant here had a collective bargaining agreement which provided that any differences 'as to meaning application' should be submitted arbitration arbitrator's decision 'shall final binding on parties.' Special provisions were included concerning suspension discharge employees. The stated: 2 'Should it determined Company or an arbitrator in accordance with grievance procedure employee has been suspended unjustly discharged violation this Agreement, shall reinstate pay full compensation at employee's regular rate time lost.' also provided: 3 '* * It is understood agreed neither party will institute civil suits legal proceedings against other alleged labor contract; instead all disputes settled manner outlined Article III—Adjustment Grievances.' A group employees left their jobs protest one employee. official advised them once return work. An request gave permission then rescinded it. next day they told did not have job more 'until thing was way other.' 5 filed; when finally refused arbitrate, suit brought specific enforcement agreement. District ordered arbitration. found men justified, though conduct, he said, improper. In his view facts warranted most 10 days each. After before award expired. union, however, continued represent workers plant. rejected contention expiration barred reinstatement He held provision above quoted imposed unconditional obligation employer. awarded back pay, minus 10-day such sums as these received from employment. 6 Respondent comply award. moved enforcement. directed comply. 168 F.Supp. 308. Appeals, while agreeing jurisdiction enforce under agreement,1 failure specify amounts deducted rendered unenforceable. That defect, agreed, could remedied requiring parties complete went hold, subsequent date termination enforced. requirement likewise unenforceable because 269 Federal Reporter, 2nd 327. We granted certiorari. 361 929, 371. 7 refusal courts review merits proper approach agreements. federal policy settling would undermined if say awards. As we stated united Steelworkers America versus Warrior & Gulf Navigation Co., 574, 1347, arbitrators agreements are indispensable agencies continuous process. They sit settle plant level require solution knowledge custom practices particular factory industry reflected agreements.2 8 When commissioned interpret apply agreement, bring informed judgment bear order reach fair problem. This especially true comes formulating remedies. There need flexibility meeting wide variety situations. draftsmen may never thought what remedy meet contingency. Nevertheless, confined interpretation application agreement; does dispense own brand industrial justice. course look guidance many sources, yet legitimate only so long draws its essence words manifest infidelity obligation, no choice but refuse 9 opinion case, bears upon beyond agreement's reinstatement, ambiguous. read based solely requirements enacted legislation, mean exceeded scope submission. Or embodying construction itself, perhaps looking 'the law' help determining sense mere ambiguity accompanying award, permits inference authority, reason refusing Arbitrators court give reasons To opinions3 free lead play safe writing supporting opinions. undesirable well-reasoned tends engender confidence integrity process aids clarifying underlying Moreover, see assume abused trust confided him stayed within areas marked out consideration. apparent Appeals' partial portions finding premise contract. merely disagreed wrongfully discharged, up returned Respondent's major argument seems applying correct principles law can provide, therefore acceptance courts, even standard clause, every plenary make meaningless final, reality almost final. underlines fundamental error alluded American Manufacturing 564, 1343. there emphasized, question arbitrator. bargained for; far concerns contract, business overruling contract different his. 11 agree Appeals modified due definitely respects think affirmed. Accordingly, reverse except modification, remand case conformity opinion. ordered. 12 Judgment modification Court's judgment, reversed remanded directions. 13 FRANKFURTER concurs result. 14 BLACK took part consideration case. 15 For BRENNAN, joined HARLAN, 569, 1363. 16 WHITTAKER, dissenting. 17 Claiming employer's January 18, 1957, violated employer—covering beginning 5, 1956, ending 4, 1957—the sought obtained arbitration, issues whether and, so, reinstated wages wrongful discharge. August than four months after expired, issues, parties, single arbitrator, hearing 3, 1958. On 10, 1958, made ordering rates reinstatement. Over objection submission authorize nor empower (April 1957), eliminating employer affirmed respects, 327, certiorari, 371, 352. 18 propriety discharges, arbitrable expiration, issue. Nor issue power status conceded, too, expired terms extended renewed. 19 sole powers awarding Like N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions did. find nothing purports authorize. point anything do so. Indeed, contend covenant Doubtless rights accrued term, provisions, ended. But surely Save absence, here, applicable rule contrary between employees, right will. protected discharge, specified reasons, continuation. continue afford futuro employees—as still effective governing. employment terminable employer, quite properly held, F.2d, page 331, Meadows Radio Industries, Cir., 222 347, 349; Atchison, T. S.F.R. company Andrews, 211 264, 265; Warden Hinds, 163 KF105 F3 201, 25 L.R.A.,N.S., 529, became lawfully effective. 20 Once accrue Thereafter contractual demand employ them, fortiori so; discharges. 21 affirming much required payment until thereafter, me indubitably correct, affirm See Textile Workers Cone Mills Corp., 268 920. 'Persons unfamiliar mills factories—farmers professors, example—often remark visiting seem like another world. particularly if, steel industry, both tradition technology strongly uniquely molded ways act newly hired employee, 'green hand,' gradually initiated into miniature society. finds himself strange environment assaults senses unusual sounds smells often 'weather conditions' sudden drafts heat, cold, humidity. discovers society becomes formal government own—the rules management laid down—but differs parallels world outside social classes, folklore, ritual, traditions. 'Under old very real 'miniature society' grown up, important technological revolution described history shattered new work community born immediately, developed slowly. discontinuous making pipe, influenced characteristics highspeed automatic equipment.' Walker, Life Automatic Factory, 36 Harv.Bus.Rev. 111, 117. Jalet, Judicial Review Arbitration: Attitude, 45 Cornell L.Q. 519, 522.

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