Court Opinion

ID: 9759015
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 00:00:07.243661+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:58.124860
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Judge Palladino:
I respectfully dissent, and would reverse the trial court because the entire award of the arbitrator should be set aside.
*416An arbitrators award, based on an interpretation of a collective bargaining agreement, must be accepted by the court if the interpretation can in any rational way be derived from the agreement,1 viewed in light of its language and context and any other indicia of the parties’ intent. Community College of Beaver County v. Community College of Beaver County, Society of the Faculty (PSEA/NEA), 473 Pa. 576, 375 A.2d 1267 (1977). Further, the arbitrator’s award must be a reasonable interpretation of the agreement. Philadelphia Housing Authority v. Union of Security Officers # 1, 500 Pa. 213, 455 A.2d 625 (1983).
In the instant case, the School District had a standard policy which required employees to undergo a physical examination to determine whether they could perform the duties associated with the position sought. Accordingly, Stanley Adams was required to undergo a *417physical examination upon applying for a full-time position as a custodian. It is unreasonable to conclude that the School District, by agreeing to Section 7 of the agreement2, intended to bargain away its right to enforce this policy. The arbitrators award renders the School Districts policy moot and requires the School District to maintain, as custodian, someone who is not physically able to perform the duties of that position.
1 conclude that the School District did not bargain away its right to enforce the policy of requiring physical examination. Accordingly, I would reverse the trial court and set aside the award of the arbitrator.

 The specific contractual provisions of the arbitration agreement at issue are as follows:

Section 7. Just Cause Provision

No member of the bargaining unit shall be disciplined, reprimanded, reduced in rank or compensation, or deprived of any advantage unless provided for in the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
All information forming the basis for disciplinary action related to a grievance filed under this Article will be made available to the aggrieved bargaining unit member(s) and the Association.
D. Authority of Arbitrator
The arbitrator shall restrict his decision to the interpretation of the Contract. He shall be without authority to add to, extend, modify, change in any way, alter, or subtract in any way the provisions of this agreement. In his award the arbitrator will set forth his findings of fects and conclusions of law.
Although the above provisions were included in the reproduced record, we deplore the feilure of counsel in this case to provide the Court with the entire agreement for our review on appeal.

 See Section 7 above.