Court Opinion

ID: 9677244
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:47:20.641835+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:54.659134
License: Public Domain

CurRie, J.
(dissenting). Most collective-bargaining agreements in effect today in Wisconsin between labor unions and employers provide for an arbitration procedure as the final step in settling grievances. In these agreements the union usually gives up the right to strike, and the employer the right to lock out its employees, in return for the mutual agreement for a settlement of grievances procedure, with arbitration as the final step, both parties agreeing to be bound by the decision of the arbitrator, or arbitrators. Such agreements are very much in the public interest as they tend to greatly reduce the occurrence of strikes, and therefore public policy would seem to require that such agreements be lived up to by both employers and unions.
While the learned trial court’s decision, that enforcement of the arbitration provision in the collective-bargaining agreement at issue in this case is not enforceable at common law, is in accord with the majority rule, such rule has been definitely repudiated in some jurisdictions. The author of the annotation “Agreement for Future Arbitration” appearing in 135 A. L. R. 79, states (p. 94) :
“In recent years a judicial tendency to question the rule against stipulations to arbitrate all future disputes has been increasingly evident. In a few jurisdictions the rule has been definitely repudiated.”
*618I cannot subscribe to the theory that the common law is an inflexible instrument which does not permit growth and adjustment to meet the social needs of the times. This court in the past has repudiated this very theory. Mr. Justice Nelson in his opinion in Schwanke v. Garlt, 219 Wis. 367, 371, 263 N. W. 176, declared:
“While we are at all times bound to uphold the constitution of this state, and to give due effect to its paramount provisions, we may not ignore the fact ‘that the common law is susceptible of growth and adaptation to new circumstances and situations, and that courts have power to declare and effectuate what is the present rule in respect of a given subject without regard to the old rule. . . . The common law is not immutable, but flexible, and upon its own principles adapts itself to varying conditions.’ Dimick v. Schiedt, 293 U. S. 474, 55 Sup. Ct. 296. To the same effect is Funk v. United States, 290 U. S. 371, 54 Sup. Ct. 212, 78 L. Ed. 369.”
It seems illogical to hold in this case that the arbitration provisions of the contract are valid, but that the court is powerless to enforce them by compelling the employer company to arbitrate the union’s grievance.
While, as pointed out. in the majority opinion, the legislature has not specifically authorized court enforcement of arbitration clauses contained in labor collective-bargaining agreements, nevertheless this does not preclude the court from enforcing such a clause if it possesses the power so to do at common law independently of statute.
Sec. 269.56 (8), Stats., provides “Further relief based on a declaratory judgment or decree may be granted whenever necessary or proper.” I would reverse the judgment of the trial court and enter judgment ordering the employer company to join with the union in submitting the grievance to arbitration in the manner provided in the contract.
I am authorized to state that Mr. Justice Broadfoot joins in this dissent.