Wyandot Inc v. Local 227

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• Decided: March 9, 2000
• Docket: 99-5013
• Status: Published

Opinion

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION 16 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 No. 99-5013 Pursuant to Sixth Circuit Rule 206 ELECTRONIC CITATION: 2000 FED App. 0085P (6th Cir.) File Name: 00a0085p.06 argument does not relate to how or why the enforcement of the Archer Award would impact the outcome of this case. Thus, the district court properly determined that the Union’s counterclaim to have the Archer Award enforced is moot. UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS CONCLUSION FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT _________________ For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM the judgment of

; the district court.

 WYANDOT, INC.,  Plaintiff/  Counter-Defendant-Appellee,  No. 99-5013

 v. >    LOCAL 227, UNITED FOOD

 AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS

Defendant/  UNION,  Counter-Plaintiff-Appellant.  1 Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky at Louisville. No. 97-00785—John G. Heyburn II, District Judge. Argued: December 7, 1999 Decided and Filed: March 9, 2000 Before: COLE and GILMAN, Circuit Judges; CARR, District Judge.*

* The Honorable James G. Carr, United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio, sitting by designation.

1 2 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 No. 99-5013 No. 99-5013 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 15

_________________ case of misinterpretation to which the court must defer. This is a case of no interpretation. Indeed, this is a case where the COUNSEL Arbitrator ignored the plain language of the Agreement. ARGUED: Jonathan D. Karmel, KARMEL & GILDEN, Fourth, the district court appropriately found that the Chicago, Illinois, for Appellant. David B. Sandler, Witney Award was based on general considerations of GREENEBAUM, DOLL & McDONALD, Louisville, fairness and equity instead of the precise terms of the Kentucky, for Appellee. ON BRIEF: Jonathan D. Karmel, Agreement. Although Arbitrator Witney avoided using the KARMEL & GILDEN, Chicago, Illinois, for Appellant. terms “fairness” and “equity” in his award, the district court David B. Sandler, GREENEBAUM, DOLL & McDONALD, concluded that these motivations must underlie the Louisville, Kentucky, for Appellee. arbitrator’s decision to ignore the Agreement’s deadlines requirements. Here, the Arbitrator not only ignored the _________________ Agreement’s deadlines, he did so while acknowledging that the Company did not waive the deadlines and had not been OPINION lax in enforcing them. _________________ In sum, all of the four Dobbs factors were violated in this JAMES G. CARR, District Judge. This is an appeal from case. Thus, based on the undisputed facts, it is clear that a labor arbitration. Wyandot, Inc. (the “Company”) filed suit Arbitrator Witney’s decision departed from the essence of the in the district court to vacate the arbitration award of Agreement and was properly vacated by the district court. Arbitrator Fred Witney (the “Witney Award”), which reinstated discharged union member, Sue Pollard. United III. Did the District Court Err in Finding the Archer Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 227, (the Award to be Moot? “Union”) counterclaimed to enforce the Witney Award and also to enforce the arbitration award of Arbitrator Edward The Union contends that the Archer Award, issued six Archer (the “Archer Award”), which required the Company months before the Witney Award, must be enforced because to remove absences charged against employees for missed the Company allegedly ignored the decision. The Company, work due to a snow day. The district court vacated the however, maintains that the Archer Award does not affect Witney Award and found the Archer Award to be moot Pollard’s discharge because Pollard still accumulated enough regarding the issues presented in this case. The Union absences from work — not including the day at issue in the appeals pursuant to Section 301 of the Labor Management Archer Award — to be discharged under the Company’s Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 185. For the following reasons, attendance policy. we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court. After the district court vacated the Witney Award rendering BACKGROUND Pollard’s grievance barred from arbitration, the district court held that enforcement of the Archer Award would have no I. The Witney Award impact on the outcome of this case because the merits of Pollard’s grievance would never be reached. On appeal, the The Witney Award involved the discharge of Sue Pollard, Union argues that the issue is not moot because the Union is a member of the Union, who was terminated for excessive entitled to attorney’s fees incurred from re-litigating the absences. Under the express terms of the Collective Archer Award during the Witney arbitration. But this 14 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 No. 99-5013 No. 99-5013 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 3

decision conflicts with the express terms of the Agreement, Bargaining Agreement (the “Agreement”) between the and thus fails to draw from the essence of the Agreement.5 Company and the Union, a grievance protesting a discharge must be filed in a timely manner or the grievance is barred. Second, the district court correctly determined that the The Agreement provides in pertinent part: Witney Award imposes additional requirements not explicitly provided for in the Agreement. The award requires the Article 6 Company to accommodate all written demands for arbitration. This contradicts the deadlines provided in the Agreement, not GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE AND ARBITRATION to mention Arbitrator Witney’s own conclusion that the deadlines are mandatory, and imposes additional requirements Section 6.1 Any dispute, complaints or grievances on the Company. arising from alleged violations of the Agreement by the Company shall be settled and determined through the Third, the district court accurately concluded that the following procedure: Witney Award is not rationally derived from the terms of the Agreement. Witney provided no support in the Agreement Step A: Any Employee and/or steward having a for finding the grievance arbitrable. He refers to no provision grievance will first attempt to adjust same by supporting his view that the July 1st letter cured the deadline conference between the Employee and/or problems. Rather, he merely concludes that the letter is “clear steward involved and his or her Area Manager. and unmistakable notice.” Step B: If a grievance is not settled in Step A of the The language in the Agreement regarding written notice to grievance procedure, the Employee will next the Company gives special weight to missing deadlines. A attempt to adjust same with his or her steward missed deadline creates a conclusive presumption that the and the Department Manager. Union accepts the Company’s answer to the grievance. (See Section 6.1, Step D). Conclusive presumptions cannot be Step C: If a grievance is not settled in Step B of the overcome by any amount of evidence to the contrary. Further, grievance procedure, then it shall be reduced to the Arbitrator’s “cure” of the deadline is not rationally writing and the aggrieved Employee, the derived from the terms of Agreement. In fact, the letter and Steward, and a Union Representative . . . and a the effect the Arbitrator gave to it contradicts the clear terms designated representative of the Company . . . of the Agreement. This, as the district court noted, is not a shall then attempt to settle the grievance. Step D: If the grievance has not been satisfactorily 5 settled and if the grievance is otherwise During oral argument, the Union contended that because the practice arbitrable under this Agreement, it may be of commencing discharge cases at Step C rather than Step A was not referred to arbitration . . . explicitly written in the Agreement, the Arbitrator was interpreting ambiguous contract terms when he found the July 1st letter to be sufficient notice. Although, if true, this would require the district court Section 6.2 Any disputes, complaints or grievances to affirm Arbitrator Witney’s Award, this is not what happened. Rather arising from alleged violations of this Agreement by the than finding any ambiguity, Arbitrator Witney explicitly determined that Company shall be deemed, considered and held to have the time deadline for filing Pollard’s grievance was not met, but been waived unless the same are presented for nevertheless concluded that the letter “cured the defect.” In other words, the arbitrator ignored the explicit time limit set forth in the Agreement. 4 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 No. 99-5013 No. 99-5013 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 13

settlement and determination of Step (A)1 of the Section 6.7 The function of the Arbitrator shall be of a Grievance Procedure of this Agreement within five (5) judicial rather than of a legislative nature. The Arbitrator working days from the date on which said dispute, shall not have the authority to add to, ignore or modify complaint or grievance first arose. *** any of the terms or provisions of the Agreement. Section 6.6 All time limits for the processing of In the instant matter, the district court did not substitute its grievances, up to and including the actual appeal in judgment for the judgment of the arbitrator. Rather, it applied writing to arbitration, shall be deemed mandatory the Dobbs factors and properly found that Arbitrator Witney’s requirements and the failure to comply with such decision departed from the essence of the Agreement. specified time limits shall cause the grievance to be barred and considered completely disposed of from the First, the district court held Witney’s decision conflicted standpoint of the Company, the Union and the with the express terms of the Agreement. The July 1, 1996 Employee or Employees involved. However, it is letter, on which Witney relied to find the grievance arbitrable, understood that the parties, through mutual agreement, is inconsequential to the determination of whether the Pollard may extend or waive the time limits of any of the above- grievance was timely filed. Although Witney decided that the mentioned steps of the grievance procedure. letter clarified the Union’s intention to arbitrate Pollard’s grievance, the fact remains that the notice was too late. Section 6.7 The function of the Arbitrator shall be of a judicial rather than a legislative nature. The Arbitrator Under the express terms of the Agreement, the grievance shall not have the authority to add to, ignore or modify was required to be submitted within five working days of any of the terms or provisions of the Agreement. The Pollard’s termination on May 31, 1996. The failure to comply Arbitrator shall never in any degree or to any extent with such times limits “shall cause the grievance to be barred substitute his judgment for the Company’s judgment, and considered completely disposed of from the standpoint of and where matters of judgment are involved (if the case the Company, the Union and the Employee.” Nowhere in the is otherwise arbitrable under this Agreement) he shall be Agreement is there a provision allowing a grievant to limited to deciding whether or not the Company acted circumvent the time deadline by letter of intent. capriciously or in bad faith. . . . Subject to the foregoing qualifications and limitations, the The July 1st letter — submitted over a month after Arbitrator’s award shall be final and binding upon the Pollard’s termination — clearly does not conform to this Company and the Union and the aggrieved Employee or requirement.4 Indeed, Witney recognized that the letter itself Employees. did not meet the time limits set forth in the Agreement. But then, without a reasoned explanation, Witney concluded that Section 6.8 If the Union fails, refuses, or declines to the letter somehow cured the defect regarding time deadlines. prosecute a grievance on behalf of an Employee, or if the Based on these undisputed facts, it is clear that the arbitrator’s Company and the Union settle any grievance on behalf of an Employee hereunder, the Employee who has filed such grievance or on whose behalf it has been filed shall

1 4 It is undisputed that, in a discharge situation, the parties commence Even if the ten-day deadline applied from Section 6.1 of the the grievance procedure at Step C instead of Step A. (J.A. 185). Agreement, the July 1, 1996 letter was too late. 12 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 No. 99-5013 No. 99-5013 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 5

agreement, not the court’s construction, to which the parties thereafter be estopped to revive or further prosecute said have agreed. See Misco, 484 U.S. at 37-38. Indeed, an grievance. arbitrator’s factual errors and even misinterpretation of a collective bargaining agreement are not subject to (J.A. 38-39) (emphasis added). reconsideration by the court. Id. at 36. Accordingly, the arbitrator’s decision will be upheld if it “draws its essence John Holzapel, the Company’s Human Resource Manager, from the collective bargaining agreement,” see Discussion mailed a letter to Sue Pollard on May 31, 1996, notifying her Part I, supra, and is not merely the arbitrator’s “own brand of that her employment was terminated because of a violation of industrial judgment.” United Steelworkers of Am. v. the Company’s Attendance Policy. (J.A. 176). Although Enterprise Wheel & Car Co., 363 U.S. 593, 597 (1960). Pollard received the termination letter on June 1, 1996, no written grievance was presented to the Company until June An arbitrator, however, does not have unfettered discretion. 18, 1996. (J.A. 177). Under the Agreement Pollard was An “arbitrator is confined to the interpretation and application required to present her grievance in writing within five (5) of the collective bargaining agreement, and although he may working days of receiving notification of her discharge — i.e., construe ambiguous contract language, he is without authority five working days after June 1, 1996. (J.A. 157, 185). to disregard or modify plain and unambiguous provisions.” Dobbs, Inc. v. Local 614, Int’l Brotherhood of Teamsters, 813 On June 14, 1996, a meeting was scheduled to discuss two F.2d 85, 86 (6th Cir. 1987). When an arbitrator disregards the other grievances. (J.A. 185). Alex Hernandez, the Union’s collective bargaining agreement and its terms or departs from business representative, and Ben Campbell, the Chief Union arguably construing the contract, the court must vacate the Steward, represented the Union at the meeting. (Id.). Pollard award. The Sixth Circuit in Dobbs identified four ways in also appeared at the meeting. (Id.). Although Holzapel was which an arbitrator may depart from the essence of the surprised to see Pollard, he agreed to listen to what the Union agreement: had to say while making it clear that the Company did not agree to waive the time limits for her grievance. (Id.). In fact, (1) an award conflicts with express terms of the Hernandez asked Holzapel during the meeting to consider agreement; (2) an award imposes additional requirements waiving the time limits, but Holzapel refused. (Id.). not expressly provided in the agreement; (3) an award is Moreover, at the meeting — thirteen days after Pollard without rational support or cannot be rationally derived received her termination letter — the Company still had not from the terms of the agreement, or (4) an award is based received a written grievance regarding Pollard’s termination. on general considerations of fairness and equity instead (Id.). of the precise terms of the agreement.3 Seventeen days after Pollard received her termination letter, Dobbs, 813 F.2d at 86 (quoting National Gypsum Co. v. on June 18, 1996, the Union submitted a written grievance on United Steelworkers of Am., 793 F.2d 759, 766 (6th Cir. her behalf. (Id. at 185-186). In response, the Company 1986)). The requirements set forth in Dobbs also are reflected informed the Union in writing that the grievance was not filed in part in the language of the Agreement: in accordance with the time deadlines set forth in the Agreement and therefore would be denied: 3 Grievance 5316, pertaining to Sue Pollard (termination), Although the district court found that all four of the Dobbs factors were present in this case, only one is required to find that the arbitrator was not submitted in a timely manner, therefore, departed from the essence of the agreement. grievance is denied. Sue Pollard was terminated on 6 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 No. 99-5013 No. 99-5013 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 11

5/31/96. Grievance was not submitted to Company until should be left to the arbitrator.” Id. (emphasis added); see 6/18/96. also Misco, 484 U.S. at 39-40 (same). In addition, the Company denied two other grievances in Accordingly, the Union’s reliance on the “procedural” the same letter because neither had been submitted in a timely standard of review set forth in Misco is misplaced. In Misco, manner under the grievance procedure of the Agreement. the matter at issue was subject to arbitration, and — after finding that the matter was arbitrable — the Supreme Court On July 1, 1996, the Union mailed a letter to the Company reviewed the arbitrator’s “procedural” decisions relating to advising it that the Union still was submitting Pollard’s the merits of the dispute. In the instant matter, the Company grievance to arbitration. (Id.). Pollard’s grievance was then challenges whether the matter is arbitrable. The district court presented to Arbitrator Fred Witney. Two issues were raised found that the Pollard dispute was not arbitrable and therefore at the hearing: (1) whether the grievance was arbitrable; and never examined the arbitrator’s “procedural” decisions. Thus, (2) if so, whether Pollard was terminated for just cause. At the standard of review set forth in Misco is not applicable to arbitration, the Company maintained that Pollard’s grievance the instant matter.2 was untimely, while the Union asserted that Pollard’s discharge did not conform to the Company’s No-Fault In sum, the district court applied the proper standard of Attendance Policy. review in vacating the Witney Award. Namely, the court examined whether the Pollard grievance was arbitrable by Arbitrator Witney issued an Award on October 20, 1997, determining whether the Witney Award drew its essence from reinstating Pollard. Witney recognized that the Company the Agreement. See Interstate Brands, 909 F.2d at 890-891 discharged Pollard effective on May 31, 1996 and that the (rejecting Union’s contention that an arbitrator’s decision written grievance protesting her discharge was not filed until regarding arbitrability is reviewed under the Misco June 18, 1996. In addition, Witney acknowledged that “affirmative misconduct” standard and holding that the proper “[t]here is no showing that Wyandot has been lax in the standard of review requires the court to determine whether the enforcement of the time limits. Likewise, no testimony was decision draws its essence from the collective bargaining offered by either side to show that time limits were either agreement). waived or extended in this case.” (Id. at 186). Nevertheless, the Arbitrator deemed the Agreement deadlines inapplicable: II. Did the District Court Substitute its Interpretation of the Agreement for That of Arbitrator Witney? As said, Wyandot discharged Pollard effective May 30, 1996. Accordingly, she or the Union had five (5) days The Supreme Court has made clear that courts must give an (Section 6.2) or ten (10) days (Section 6.1) Step D to file arbitrator’s decision substantial deference because it is the the grievance. Since it was not submitted until June 18, arbitrator’s construction of the collective bargaining 1996, the Company asserts the grievance was not timely and thus not arbitrable. To be sure about it, the Arbitrator fully understands the position of the Company. 2 Scores of decisions demonstrate that enforcement of time Moreover, it is important to note that while the Union characterizes limits has frequently been upheld by many arbitrators. the time deadline as “procedural,” it is not truly so. The time limit set Indeed, the published and unpublished cases of the forth in the Agreement is not analogous to a statute of limitations. Rather, the time bar is explicitly set forth in the Agreement and presumably was instant Arbitrator are proof positive of his understanding a bargained-for provision. In this sense, the deadline for filing grievances that time limits hold a venerable place in the arbitration is substantive, not procedural. 10 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 No. 99-5013 No. 99-5013 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 7

arbitrability only if it finds that the arbitrator’s decision “fails process. Not for the Union’s letter to Wyandot of to draw its essence from the collective bargaining July 1, 1996, the Arbitrator would have denied agreement”). Pollard’s grievance upholding her termination. In the instant matter, the district court vacated Arbitrator (Id. at 187-188) (emphasis added). Witney’s decision under the correct standard — the court found that the Witney Award did not draw its essence from Although Arbitrator Witney recognized that the July 1st the Agreement. The Union, however, argues that this is the letter from the Union (advising the Company that it was wrong standard of review. Because the applicability of time proceeding to arbitration) did not meet the time limits set limits provided in the Agreement is a procedural question, the forth in the Agreement, he determined that the letter was Union contends, the district court must determine that the “clear and unmistakable notice to Wyandot that the Union arbitrator acted in bad faith or was guilty of misconduct in intended to arbitrate the Pollard grievance,” (id. at 188), and order to vacate the award. “overcomes whatever defects [the Union] has in terms of time limits.” (Id. at 189). Based on this analysis, Witney ruled It is true that in cases where “procedural” decisions are that Pollard’s grievance was arbitrable. (Id.). reviewed, the Supreme Court has ruled that federal courts are empowered to set aside an arbitration award only when the The Company subsequently filed suit in the district court to arbitrator acted in bad faith or was guilty of misconduct. vacate the Witney Award. In examining the Award, the United Paperworks Intern. Union v. Misco, 484 U.S. 29, 40 district court recognized that courts have extremely limited (1987). But “procedural” decisions made in arbitration are authority to review arbitration awards. An arbitrator’s factual different than those made in other contexts. As used in the errors and even misinterpretation of the Agreement are not arbitration setting, procedural decisions occur when the subject to judicial reconsideration. An arbitrator is, however, arbitrator is faced with an issue that is not clearly specified in without authority to disregard or modify the plain and the collective bargaining agreement while resolving the merits unambiguous provisions of the Agreement. (J.A. 48). of the dispute. For example, the Supreme Court in Misco ruled that the arbitrator’s decision to limit evidence proffered The district court then found that the “Union failed to to resolve the merits of a dispute was procedural and best left timely grieve Pollard’s discharge,” and that the arbitrator to the arbitrator. Misco, 484 U.S. at 39-40. This was because ignored the Agreement’s deadlines “while acknowledging that the evidentiary decision was in effect “a construction of what the Company did not waive the deadline and had not been lax the contract required when deciding discharge cases.” Id. at in enforcing the grievance procedure deadlines.” (Id.) Thus, 39. the lower court concluded:

To make such a “procedural” decision, it must previously [S]imply because the Union and Witney assert that the be determined that the matter at issue is subject to arbitration. Witney Award draws its essence from the contract, does In John Wiley & Sons, Inc. v. Livingston, 376 U.S. 543, 557- not necessarily make it so. The Arbitrator’s finding that 58 (1964), the Supreme Court held that “[o]nce it is Pollard’s grievance and the July 1, 1996 letter were determined . . . that the parties are obligated to submit the timely fails to draw its essence from the [Agreement]. subject matter to arbitration, ‘procedural’ questions which Furthermore, the Arbitrator ignored the terms of the grow out of the dispute and bear on its final disposition [Agreement] in finding the grievance arbitrable. Thus, Arbitrator Witney’s award will be vacated. 8 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 No. 99-5013 No. 99-5013 Wyandot, Inc. v. Local 227 9

(Id. at 48) (internal citations omitted). only help her if the Witney Award were to be upheld. Presumably, the Archer Award will still have effect in II. The Archer Award every other applicable circumstance. (J.A. 48, n. 6). Sue Pollard and other Wyandot employees were considered DISCUSSION absent under the Company’s no-fault attendance policy for missing work on January 7 and 8, 1996. (Pollard missed only The principal issues on appeal are whether (1) the Pollard January 8). The Union submitted a class grievance to grievance is arbitrable, (2) Arbitrator Witney’s decision draws arbitration before Arbitrator Archer claiming that the its essence from the Agreement, and (3) the Archer Award is absences were due to bad weather and should be excused. On moot regarding the issues of this case. April 18, 1997, Arbitrator Archer agreed and ordered the Company to remove these infractions, including the infraction The Union argues that the district court erred in vacating for Pollard’s January 8th absence. the Witney Award because (1) it applied the wrong standard of review, and (2) it improperly substituted its interpretation The Company allegedly did not comply with the Archer of the Agreement for that of Arbitrator Witney. Further, the Award and failed to remove the January 8th absence from Union contends that the district court erred in finding the Pollard’s record. Then, in May 1996, the Company Archer Award to be moot even if it properly vacated the discharged Pollard for excessive absences under its no-fault Witney Award because the enforcement of the Archer Award attendance policy. Under the no-fault policy, employees are affects other remedies available to Pollard. terminated after 13 unexcused absences. Pollard had 14 unexcused absences including the January 8th absence. The Company argues that the district court properly vacated the Witney Award because (1) the Pollard grievance is not After the Company filed suit in the district court to vacate arbitrable, and (2) the arbitrator exceeded his authority by the Witney Award, the Union counterclaimed to enforce the disregarding the plain and unambiguous provisions of the Archer Award as well as the Witney Award. The district Agreement. Thus, according to the Company, the Witney court, however, held the Archer Award to be moot to the Award did not draw its essence from the terms of the outcome of this case: Agreement. Moreover, the Company contends that the district court properly held the Archer Award to be moot Enforcement of the Archer Award would not change this because it has no impact on the outcome of this case. result. As a result of vacating the Witney Award, the merits of Pollard’s grievance and the specific I. Did the District Court Apply the Wrong Standard of enforcement of the Archer Award are no longer material Review? to this case. Thus, the Union’s counterclaim to have the Archer Award enforced is now moot. *** An arbitrator’s decision on the issue of arbitrability will be affirmed “unless it fails to ‘draw its essence from the Enforcement of the Archer Award with regard to Pollard collective bargaining agreement.’” Vic Wertz Distributing v. alone would not have prevented her dismissal. At the Teamsters, Local 1038, 898 F.2d 1136, 1140 (6th Cir. 1990) time of her discharge, she had fourteen occurrences on (citing Eberhard Foods, Inc. v. Handy, 868 F.2d 890, 891 her attendance record when only thirteen are necessary to (6th Cir. 1989)). See also Interstate Brands v. Chaffeur, result in termination. Thus, enforcing the Archer Award Teamsters Local 135, 909 F.2d 885, 891 (6th Cir. 1990) would have no substantive effect on Pollard. It would (holding that a court could overturn an arbitrator’s ruling on