Local Union No. 15062 v. Rocky Mountain Division of Rockwool Industries, Inc.

467 F. Supp. 1132, 101 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2063, 1979 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13148
CourtDistrict Court, D. Colorado
DecidedApril 9, 1979
DocketCiv. A. No. 77-K-1176
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 467 F. Supp. 1132 (Local Union No. 15062 v. Rocky Mountain Division of Rockwool Industries, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Local Union No. 15062 v. Rocky Mountain Division of Rockwool Industries, Inc., 467 F. Supp. 1132, 101 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2063, 1979 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13148 (D. Colo. 1979).

Opinion

ORDER

KANE, District Judge.

This matter is before the court on cross motions for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Jurisdiction of this court is based upon the provisions of § 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, 29 U.S.C. § 185.

The United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO is a labor organization engaged in representing employees in the steel and mining industry throughout the United States. Local Union 15062 is chartered by the United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, and is a labor organization as defined by the Act. Defendant Rocky Mountain Division of Rockwool Industries, Inc. is a Delaware corporation authorized to do business in the State of Colorado and is an employer engaged in commerce as defined by the Act.

As the exclusive bargaining representative of certain production and maintenance employees employed by the defendant at its Pueblo, Colorado plant, the United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO, entered into a Collective Bargaining Agreement with defendant on January 6,1976. Article XIII of said Agreement provides for the resolution of disputes between plaintiff and defendant through a grievance and arbitration procedure. The Agreement also provides that the “decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on both parties.”

On June 22, 1977 a dispute arose between plaintiff and defendant with respect to the application and meaning of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Plaintiff processed the grievance through the various steps of the grievance procedure as provided in Article XIII up to and including the arbitration provision. On October 17, 1977 a hearing was held before Arbitrator John Phillip Linn. On November 21, 1977 Arbitrator Linn issued his Opinion and Award wherein the plaintiff’s grievance was upheld.

Plaintiff alleges that since November 21, 1977 the defendant has refused and continues to refuse to abide by the arbitrator’s decision. Plaintiff further alleges that it is without adequate remedy at law and will suffer immediate and irreparable injury. In its motion, plaintiff requests the following:

1. that the award of the arbitrator be confirmed;

2. that the court issue a decree of specific performance directing defendant to comply; and

3. that judgment enter against the company for the use and benefit of Mr. Willie Vigil for such sums as he may be entitled to under the Arbitration Award, together with all losses and damages which he has sustained by reason of the company’s failure to comply with the award.

The law is clear that the merits of an arbitration award are not subject to review by the courts. United Steelworkers of America v. American Manufacturing Company, 363 U.S. 564, 80 S.Ct. 1343, 4 L.Ed.2d 1403 (1960); United Steelworkers of America v. Warrior and Gulf Navigation Company, 363 U.S. 574, 80 S.Ct. 1347, 4 L.Ed.2d 1409 (1960); United Steelworkers of America v. Enterprise Wheel and Car Corporation, 363 U.S. 593, 80 S.Ct. 1358, 4 L.Ed.2d 1424 (1960). In Mistletoe Express Service v. Motor Expressmen’s Union, 566 F.2d 692 (10th Cir. 1977), the Tenth Circuit stated:

The narrow scope of judicial review of arbitration awards was outlined by the Supreme Court in the Steelworkers trilogy . . The courts may not review the merits of a grievance or award . . An arbitration award will be enforced if “it draws its essence from the collective bargaining agreement.” . In determining whether an award draws its essence from the Union contract, the courts have applied various tests. An [1134]*1134arbitrator’s award must be upheld unless it is contrary to the express language of the contract, ... or unless it is so unconnected with the wording and purpose of the * * * agreement as to “ ‘manifest an infidelity to the obligation of the arbitrator.’ ”... The award does not draw its essence from the agreement if “viewed in the light of its language, its context, and any other indicia of the parties’ intention,” it is without rational support. . . . (Citations omitted.)

Id. at 694. See Amalgamated Butcher Workmen Local Union No. 641 v. Capitol Packing Company, 413 F.2d 668 (10th Cir. 1969).

Recognizing that an arbitrator’s award must be rooted in the contract, the Tenth Circuit recently held, in International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union Nos. 12, 111, 113, 969 v. Professional Hold Drilling, Inc., 574 F.2d 497 (10th Cir. 1978), that:

Review of arbitration awards is strictly confined to whether the arbitrator interprets and applies the collective bargaining agreement so that his award is rooted in the agreement. So long as the Joint Conference Committee limited itself to interpreting and applying the agreement, we are obliged to give great deference to any award given. Campo Machinery Co., Inc., v. Local Lodge No. 1926 of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, 536 F.2d 330 (10th Cir. 1976). Where there is a broad arbitration provision in the contract, as there is in this ease, we will not interfere with an arbitrator’s decision unless it can be said with positive assurance that the contract is not susceptible of the arbitrator’s interpretation. Local 1912, International Association of Machinists v. U. S. Potash Company, 270 F.2d 496 (10th Cir. 1959).

On July 19, 1977 the General Manager of the defendant, Rocky Mountain Division of Rockwool Industries, Inc., terminated Willie Vigil’s employment because, in the opinion of the company’s management, Willie Vigil was physically unable to perform his job duties or the duties of any job in the bargaining unit of the plant. (Affidavit of Jack Wetherby (July 10, 1978).) Mr. Vigil and the plaintiff union protested the termination by filing a grievance. This grievance was processed according to the procedures set forth in Article XIII of the collective bargaining contract between the parties and was heard before Arbitrator John Phillip Linn on October 17, 1977.

The parties did not stipulate to the issues before the arbitrator.

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Bluebook (online)
467 F. Supp. 1132, 101 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2063, 1979 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13148, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/local-union-no-15062-v-rocky-mountain-division-of-rockwool-industries-cod-1979.