Hotel & Restaurant Employees v. Playboy Clubs International, Inc.

324 F. Supp. 859, 76 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3038, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14261
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedMarch 10, 1971
DocketNo. 7418
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 324 F. Supp. 859 (Hotel & Restaurant Employees v. Playboy Clubs International, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hotel & Restaurant Employees v. Playboy Clubs International, Inc., 324 F. Supp. 859, 76 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3038, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14261 (S.D. Ohio 1971).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION AND ORDER

PORTER, District Judge.

Plaintiff union has invoked the jurisdiction of this Court pursuant to 29 U. S.C. § 185(a) and 9 U.S.C. § 4, seeking an order from this Court compelling arbitration of a dispute over the discharge of a Detroit Playboy Club “bunny.” Defendant, Playboy Club, originally moved to dismiss the petition to compel arbitration on the ground that unique collective bargaining provisions have been established for the discharge of bunnies which exclude disputes over bunny discharges from arbitration. Pursuant to a request from this Court the parties filed a stipulation agreeing that the case should be decided on the merits rather than on a motion to dismiss. Accordingly, this case shall be decided on the merits and the motion to dismiss shall be treated as voluntarily withdrawn.

Article 9(d) of the collective bargaining agreement provides generally for the arbitration of “* * * any dispute, difference, or disagreement” between the parties. However, Article 7(q) states that “(t)he provisions of this paragraph (q) shall be the exclusive means for dealing with discharges and suspensions of bunnies, except for discharges or suspensions for union activity, which shall be subject to the provisions of Article 9 of this Agreement.” Thus, the [861]*861contract calls for the arbitration of all disputes arising under the contract except those relating to the discharge or suspension of bunnies. The only way a dispute over the discharge of a bunny can be arbitrated is if it was for union activity.

Special provisions are made for the discharge of bunnies because the parties acknowledge that the highest standards for bunnies must be fostered and maintained. The parties have agreed that outside arbitrators could not fairly make decisions involving such specialized concepts as “bunny image,” etc.

Article 7(q) provides that just cause for discharge shall include, but shall not be limited to, lack of “bunny image,” which is defined in part as the physical appearance of a bunny and the impression she conveys to others. Article 7(q) also provides for a special three-step grievance procedure for discharges or suspensions of bunnies (except for discharges or suspensions for union activity) . The first step is a conference with the local club general manager, the union steward, and the bunny. The second step is a review of the decision by a bunny panel. The third step is an appeal to the executive vice-president of Playboy Clubs International. His decision “ * * * shall be final and binding in all cases and shall not be subject to any further review by any means or in any forum.” The second step, review by a panel of her peers, insures fair treatment to the bunny discharged for lack of “bunny image.” The intent of the parties seems to be that the special grievance procedure set up for bunnies be exclusive and final.

Emily (Jo) Mathews, a former bunny, was discharged from the Detroit Playboy Club on October 24, 1969, for lack of “bunny image.” On October 29, 1969, Miss Mathews filed a grievance protesting her discharge, and invoked a bunny panel under Article 7(q) of the contract. On October 29, 1969, a bunny panel met under Article 7, and upheld the discharge. After this decision, Miss Mathews did not pursue the third and final stage of the special grievance procedure. Instead, she then made the claim that she was, in reality, discharged for union activity.

The affidavit of Mr. John King, General Manager of the Detroit Playboy Club, states that he was involved in the decision to discharge Miss Mathews and that the sole reason for her discharge was that, in the past two years, her appearance, attitude on the job, and the impression she conveyed to customers was continually declining. He states that “(s)he was not terminated for her union activities, such activities playing no part whatsoever in the decision to terminate her.” Mr. King’s affidavit was filed in support of defendant’s motion to dismiss.

An affidavit from Mr. Anthony Anselmo, assistant to the general president of the union, states that at some time prior to her discharge, Emily (Jo) Mathews had been on a bunny negotiating committee which negotiated the present contract between the parties. He states that at times the negotiating sessions resulted in high feelings on both sides. Affiant further stated that Miss Mathews was a shop steward at the Detroit Playboy Club. On November 18, 1969, the union requested that the dispute be submitted to arbitration. Defendant refused, and this action to compel arbitration resulted.

The issue in this case is whether a discharge for lack of “bunny image” which was affirmed by a panel of bunnies in the second stage of the special nonreviewable grievance process becomes arbitrable by a subsequent assertion that the discharge was for union activity. We hold that it does not.

It is the duty of this Court to ascertain whether the party seeking arbitration has a claim which on its face is governed by the contract (United Steelworkers of America v. American Mfg. Co., 363 U.S. 564, 80 S.Ct. 1343, 4 L.Ed.2d 1403 (1960), and this Court’s inquiry is strictly confined to the question whether the reluctant party did [862]*862agree to arbitrate the grievance. The reason for this limitation is that arbitration is a matter of contract and a party cannot be required to arbitrate any dispute which he has not agreed to so arbitrate. United Steelworkers of America v. Warrior & Gulf Co., 363 U.S. 574, 80 S.Ct. 1347, 4 L.Ed.2d 1409 (1960). An order to arbitrate the dispute should not be denied unless it may be said with positive assurances that the arbitration clause is not susceptible of an interpretation that covers the asserted dispute; and doubts should be resolved in favor of coverage. United Steelworkers of America v. Warrior & Gulf Co., supra. A guide for the Court’s inquiry is found in District 50, United Mine Workers of America v. Chris-Craft Corp., 385 F.2d 946 (6 Cir., 1967), an action by a union to compel arbitration of grievances concerning the discharge of employees. The Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit said:

“In order to perform its function in applying the provisions of the contract, the Court must determine that a discharge occurred. After such a determination, the Court must then inquire as to the cause of the discharge and determine from the agreement if the discharge is a matter for arbitration. Such a determination necessarily entails some limited inquiry into the factual circumstances surrounding the discharge.”

On its face, plaintiff’s claim is governed by the collective bargaining agreement entered into by the parties. The provision specifically designed for plaintiff's grievance is Article 7(q). This provision is a clear exception to the general requirement of arbitration agreed upon by the parties. Although this Court is mindful of the strong national labor policy favoring arbitration of labor disputes, 29 U.S.C. § 171

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324 F. Supp. 859, 76 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3038, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14261, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hotel-restaurant-employees-v-playboy-clubs-international-inc-ohsd-1971.