PARATRANSIT v. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE APPEALS BOARDAppellant’s Request for Judicial NoticeCal.May 29, 2013 SUPREME COURT ‘~-AILED LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: Sarah R. Ropelato, SBN 254848 Stephen E. Goldberg, SBN 173499 515 12" St. Sacramento, CA 95814 Telephone: (916) 551-2150 MAY 29 2013 ‘Frank A: McGuire Clerk Appearing for Appellant and Real Party in Interest Craig Medeiros IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA PARATRANSIT,INC. Respondent, V. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE APPEALS BOARD Respondent, CRAIG MEDEIROS Appellant and Real Party in Interest. Case No. 8204221 Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District No. C063863 Sacramento County Superior Court No. 34-2009-80000249 APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE IN SUPPORT OF REPLY BRIEF; MEMORANDUMOF POINTS AND AUTHORITIESIN SUPPORT THEREOF; DECLARATION OF STEPHENE. GOLDBERG IN SUPPORT THEREOF; PROPOSED ORDER TO THE HONORABLE TANI CANTIL-SAKAUYE, CHIEF JUSTICE; THE HONORABLEASSOCIATE JUSTICES OF THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT; RESPONDENTS AND THEIR ATTORNEYS OF RECORD: Pursuant to California Evidence Code Section 459 and California Rules of Court 8.252 and 8.520(g), Appellant Craig Medeiros hereby moves this Court to take judicial notice of the following documents: Deputy Pursuant to Evidence Code Sections 452(c) and 459, Matter ofReed, Precedent Benefit Decision No. 187 (1949, designated precedent 1976), a true and correct copy of whichis attached as Exhibit 1. Pursuant to Evidence Code Sections 452(c) and 459, In Re Barton Brands, Ltd. (1976) 120 LA 1764, a true and correct copy of which is attached as Exhibit2. Pursuant to Evidence Code Sections 452(c) and 459, In Re Bay Medical Center (1995) 104 LA 830,a true and correct copy of whichis attached as Exhibit 3. Pursuant to Evidence Code Sections 452(c) and 459, In Re City ofMattoon (1995) 105 LA 44, a true and correct copy of whichis attached as Exhibit 4. Pursuant to Evidence Code Sections 452(c) and 459, In Re Kilsby Tubesupply Co. (1981) 76 LA 921,a true and correct copy of whichis attached as Exhibit 5. Pursuant to Evidence Code Sections 452(c) and 459, In Re Sheller Mfg. Corp. (1995) 105 LA 689,a true andcorrect copy of whichis attached as Exhibit 6. Pursuant to Evidence Code Sections 452(c) and 459, In Re Transamerica Delaval, Inc. (1985) 84 LA: 190, a true and correct copy of which is attached as Exhibit 7. Pursuant to Evidence Code Sections 452(c) and 459, In Re Bechtel Power Co. (1985) 277 NLRB No.88, a true and correct copy of whichis attached as Exhibit 8. Pursuant to Evidence Code Sections 452(c) and 459, In Re City ofSouthfield (2009) 126 LA 1144, a true and correct copy ofwhich is attached as Exhibit9. 2 This motion is made on the groundsthat all of the aboveare properly noticeable under the Evidence Code andare relevantto the issues before this Court. It is based upon this motion, the attached memorandum of points and authorities, and the Declaration of Stephen E. Goldberg. DATED May17, 2013 Respectfully submitted, LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ; 7 } By: Leehe. 2,Cllrs, STEPHEN E. GOLDBERG Attorneys for Appellant Craig Medeiros MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE The Court ofAppeal can take judicial notice ofofficial acts of California executive departments. (Evid. Code § 452(c); Evid. Code § 459.) Appellant Craig Medeiros asks the Court to take judicial notice of one California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (CUIAB) Precedent Benefit decision, seven federal labor arbitrator decisions and one National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision. These decisions were not presented to the courts below. However, all are relevant to review of the majority opinion of the Court of Appeal and to respondto the arguments raised in Respondent’s AnswerBrief. Specifically, Matter ofReed demonstrates that the CUIABheld that misconduct for purposes of unemploymentinsuranceis different than good cause for termination of employment, and that laborarbitration proceedings are not binding in unemploymentinsurance cases. (Matter ofReed, (1949, designated precedent 1976) P-B-187 at pp. 4-5.) Because the Appeals Boardis charged with interpreting the Unemployment Insurance Code and accompanying regulations, this Court has determinedthat its interpretation of the sameis entitled to great weight unless clearly erroneous, unauthorized, or otherwise contrary to legislative intent. (Pacific Legal Foundation v. California Unemployment Ins. Appeals Bd. (1981) 29 Cal.3d 101, 111.) Accordingly, Precedent Benefit decisions are persuasive authority in deciding cases involving unemployment insurancebenefits. The seven federal labor arbitrator decisions and one NLRB decision respond to various federal labor law arguments raised in Respondent’s AnswerBrief. The labor arbitrator decisions also address federal common law interpretation of collective bargaining agreements in responseto Respondent’s argument that federal commonlaw is used to interpret 4 collective bargaining agreements. For these reasons, Appellant requests that this Court take judicial notice of the attached Precedent Benefit decision, seven federal labor arbitrator decisions, and one NLRB decision. DATED:May17, 2013 Respectfully submitted, LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA wy fa. Slay *YStEpHE E. GOLDBERG Attorneys for Appellant Craig Medeiros DECLARATION OF STEPHEN E. GOLDBERG IN SUPPORT OF REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE I, Stephen E. Goldberg, hereby declare: 1. I am anattorney licensed to practice law in the State of California. I am oneofthe attorneys representing Appellant and Real Party in Interest Craig Medeiros in Paratransit, Inc. v. Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, California Supreme Court No. $204221. 2. The documentattached as Exhibit | is a true and correct copy ofMatter ofReed, Precedent Benefit Decision No. 187 (1949, designated precedent 1976), which I downloaded on April 17, 2013 from the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board website at http://www.cuiab.ca.gov/Board/precedentDecisions/precDecNumerical.asp #benefit. 3. The documentattached as Exhibit2 is a true and correct copy ofIn Re Barton Brands, Ltd. (1976) 120 LA 1764, which I copied from the Labor Arbitration Reports at University of California Davis law library on April 4, 2013. 4. The documentattached as Exhibit 3 is a true and correct copy of In Re Bay Medical Center (1995) 104 LA 830, which I copied from the Labor Arbitration Reports at University of California Davis law library on April 4, 2013. 5. The document attached as Exhibit 4 is a true and correct copy of In Re City ofMattoon (1995) 105 LA 44, which I copied from the Labor Arbitration Reports at University of California Davis law library on April 4, 2013. 6. The documentattached as Exhibit 5 is a true and correct copy of In Re Kilsby Tubesupply Co. (1981) 76 LA 921, which I copied from the 6 Labor Arbitration Reports at University of California Davis law library on April 4, 2013. 7. The documentattached as Exhibit 6 is a true and correct copy ofIn Re Sheller Mfg. Corp. (1995) 105 LA 689, which I copied from the Labor Arbitration Reports at University of California Davis law library on April 4, 2013. 8. The documentattached as Exhibit 7 is a true and correct copy ofIn Re Transamerica Delaval, Inc. (1985) 84 LA 190, which I copied from the Labor Arbitration Reports at University of California Davis law library on April 4, 2013. 9. The documentattached as Exhibit 8 is a true and correct copy ofIn Re Bechtel Power Co. (1985) 277 NLRB No.88, which I downloaded from Westlaw on April 17, 2013. 10. The documentattached as Exhibit 9 is a true and correct copy of In Re City ofSouthfield (2009) 126 LA 1144, which I copied from the Labor Arbitration Reports at University of California Davis law library on May9, 2013 I declare under penalty of perjury under the lawsofthestate of California that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on May 17, 2013 at Sacramento, California. Whe. 2.bidl AT Stephen E. Goldberg ~~ IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA PARATRANSIT,INC. Case No. 8204221 Respondent, Court of Appeal, Third Appellate V. District No. C063863 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE APPEALS BOARD Sacramento County Superior Court Respondent, No. 34-2009-80000249 PROPOSED ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO TAKE JUDICIAL NOTICE CRAIG MEDEIROS Appellant and Real Party in Interest. Pursuant to Evidence Code Sections 459 and 452(c), Appellant’s motion for judicial notice is GRANTED. The Court takes judicial notice of the Precedent Benefit decision, seven federal labor arbitrator decisions and the National Labor Relations Board decision attached to the motion as Exhibits 1-9. DATED: HON. CHIEF JUSTICE OR ASSOCIATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE APPEALS BOARD THIS DECISION DESIGNATES FORMER BENEFIT DECISION NO. 5361 AS A PRECEDENT DECISION PURSUANT TO SECTION 409 OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CODE. In the Matterof: . PRECEDENT . BENEFIT DECISION MEREDITH A. REED No. P-B-187 (Claimant) FORMERLY RICHFIELD OIL CORPORATION BENEFIT DECISION (Employer) No. 5361 On February 11, 1949, the above-named claimant appealed the decision of a Referee (LA-19843) which affirmed a determination of the Department of Employment holding him disqualified for benefits under Section 58(a)(2) of the UnemploymentInsurance Act (now section 1256 of the Unemployment Insurance Code). . Basedon the record before us, our statementof fact, reason for decision, and decision are as follows: STATEMENT OF FACT The claimant was last employed for approximately four and one-half years as an instrument repairman by the above-named employeratits oil refinery in the Los Angeles area. A strike was called by the claimant's union in September, 1948, which resulted in the establishmentof picket lines at the plant in which the claimant was employed. Theclaimant actively participated in picketing activities during the period of the strike, which ended in a settlement agreement on November9, 1948. Pursuant to a provision of the agreementthe claimant wasnotified by the employer on November12, 1948, that he was discharged as of November10, 1948, becauseof alleged improperactivities during the strike. P-B-187 On November15, 1948, in the Long Beach office of the Department of Employment, the claimant registered for work and reopeneda claim for benefits originally filed to establish his benefit year on February 3, 1948. On December8, 1948, the Department issued a determination disqualifying the claimantfor benefits under Section 58(a) (2) of the Act (now section 1256 of the code) from November15, 1948, to December 19, 1948, on the ground that he had been discharged for misconduct connected with his work. The claimant appealed this determination to a Referee, who on February 3, 1949, issued his aforesaid decision affirming the determination and denying benefits whereuponthis appeal wastaken. A provisionofthe strike settlement agreement providesin pertinent part as follows: "The employer has evidence that in connection with the strike certain employees have engagedin acts or threatsof violence towards other employeesorto the property of the employer, or acts constituting physical interference with restraint or coercion of other employees entering or attempting to enter the property of the employer. If the employer dischargesor refuses to reinstate such an employee . . . he shall be given a hearing. ... The hearing will be by a committee consisting of two representatives appointed by the employer and two representatives appointed by the union, at which hearing such committee shall hear the circumstances andreview the evidence against each employee and will hear the evidence of the employee or any others on his behalf. In the event the employeeis discharged or refused reinstatementhe shall not be reentitled to claim any rights or benefits under the new article of the agreement. .. ." The claimant exercised his right to request a hearing underthis provision after receiving his notice of discharge. On November29, 1948, a hearing to review the claimant's discharge washeld before a joint panel constituted under the quoted provision of the _ agreement. Later, the panelissuedits ruling sanctioning the discharge by a three-to-one vote and recommending leniency. No phonographic record of the hearing was kept. The only evidencebefore us with respect to the content of this proceeding is the sworn testimony of the claimant given at the hearing before the Referee. An employer representative was presentat that hearing, buttestified that he had no knowledgeof whattranspired at the hearing before -2- P-B-187 the panel and could not, even by hearsay,testify as to what the panel's findings of fact were. The evidence discloses that the claimant took an active part in the strike. He admitted that he was considered a "nuisance"bythe plant managementduring the courseofhis picketing activities, because he energetically sought to dissuade workers from entering the plant. However, he insisted that he never at any time indulged in profanity nor engagedin acts or threats of violence towards other employeesor the property of the employer, and denied exercising any physicalinterference, restraint or coercion on other employeesor with respect to the property of the employer. Typical of the charges specified against him was onethat he obstructed the progress of cars andtrucksinto the employer's plant. The claimant admitted that on several occasions he signalled such vehicles to stop and then when they did stop he conversed with their occupantsin an attempt to persuade them not to enter the company property, in which activity he was sometimes successful. He denied that he stood in front of advancing vehicles to force them to stop orthat helaid violent hands upon them. The claimantis a practicing memberof a recognized church well-known to be opposedto violence in any form. The claimant asserts that because of his religious principles he carefully avoided even the appearanceof force or intimidation during his strike activities, and at all times counselled against the use of such tactics on the part of his fellow strikers. He contendsin this appealthat throughoutthe strike he never went beyond verbal persuasion, andthatat all times he conducted himself within the law while picketing. The employer representative testified that he himself had no knowledge,direct or indirect, of any activity on the part of the claimant exceeding suchlimits, but maintained that it was self-evident from the decision of the joint panel that the claimant must have been guilty of misconduct. REASON FOR DECISION Byvirtue of its stand in the instant case, the employerin effect contends that the decision of the joint panel which approvedthe claimant's dischargeis sufficient to sustain his disqualification for benefits under Section 58(a)(2) (now section 1256 of the code). The Departmentin its determination and the Referee in his decision accepted this theoryin finding the claimant guilty of disqualifying misconduct. We cannot sanction such a disposition of this case. lt is our statutory duty to give to this claimant a fair and impartial hearing. We must decide this case upon an evaluationofall the evidence in the record before us, and should not depart therefrom in so doing. P-B-187 Weare not bound bythe decision of the joint panel, nor may weinfer from it alone that the claimant's activities during the strike were such as to constitute misconduct. The function of the panel was to decide whetheror not the claimant's said activities were such asto justify a discharge. It is our function in this appeal to decide whetherornot thoseactivities were misconductwithin the meaning of Section 58(a)(2) of the Act (now section 1256 of the code). These two functionsdiffer in purpose and in end, and the basic issues with which they are concerned are wholly different. It is well settled that a discharge for causeis not of necessity a discharge for misconduct. For example, an employer may properly discharge an employee whois temperamentally unsuited to his job, but such a discharge would not be for misconductin the absence of acts or omissions demonstrating a wilful or wanton disregard of the employee's duty as such. Moreover,it is our judgement,notthat of the panel, which must prevail in this case at this stage of the matter. We would abdicate our statutory duty to adjudicate this appeal fairly and impartially if we were to consider thatthe action of the panel foreclosed us from making an independent evaluationof the facts of the case. Theonly direct evidence before us asto the claimant's activities during the strike was offered by the claimant himself. The claimant's testimony exhibits complete candor and credibility, and gives every appearance of having been comprehensiveofall his strike activities. The record reveals neither inherent inconsistency nor improbability in that testimony. There is no evidence before us contradictory ofit, and nothing to showthat the joint panel had before it any evidence not adducedat the hearing before the Referee. The claimant's testimonyis therefore entitled. to its full measure of weight (Dillard vs. McKnight, 87 A.C.A. 1). The direct evidence of one witness who wasentitled to full credit is sufficient proof to establish a fact (C.C.P. 1844, Klein vs. Farmer, 85 Cal. App. 2d 545). The evidencein the instant case fails to establish that the claimant's activities during the strike exceededthe legallimitations upon picketing activities. It affirmatively showsthat the claimant, though he picketed energetically, always did so within the confines of peaceful picketing. "Peaceful picketing" is picketing which does notinterfere with another's person or property by unlawfuluse of force, violence, intimidation or threats. It is a right secured by constitutional provision and allowsindividuals to conveytheir opinions and promote their causes with respect to a labor controversy by presenting persuasive facts to other workmenin legitimate. manner(Ex parte Bell, 37 Cal. App. 2d 582). It is lawful so long as it remains an appeal to reason asdistinct from a weaponofillegal coercion (7 Cal. Jur. Supp., Labor, Sec. 35). P-B-187 To constitute misconduct under Section 58(a)(2) (now section 1256 of the code) the acts or omissions which brought aboutthe discharge of a claimant must have been wrongful or improper in character. Inasmuch as the acts for which the claimant herein was discharged were acts donein the lawful exercise ofhis right to picket peacefully, they were neither wrongful nor improper. They did not therefore constitute disqualifying misconduct. Whetheror not they were of a characterto justify the employer in discharging _ him is a question neither pertinent to this case nor within our jurisdiction to decide. It is the conclusion of this Board that the claimant is not subject to disqualification for benefits with respect to his discharge on November10, 1948. DECISION The decision of the referee is reversed. Benefits are allowedif the claimantis otherwiseeligible. Sacramento,California, April 29, 1949. CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE APPEALS BOARD MICHAELB. KUNZ, Chairman GLENNV. WALLS | PETER E. MITCHELL Pursuantto section 409 of the Unemployment Insurance Code,the above Benefit Decision No. 5361 is hereby designated as Precedent Decision No. P-B-187. Sacramento,California, January 27, 1976. CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE APPEALS BOARD DON BLEWETT, Chairperson MARILYN H. GRACE CARLA. BRITSCHGI HARRY K. GRAFE RICHARD H. MARRIOTT 1 2 0 L A 1 7 6 4 In ad di ti on to th e in fo rm at io n pr ov id ed .a t th e he ar in g c o n c e r n i n g sl ee p ap ne a, th e Ar bi - ‘t ra to r fo cu se d on th e re as on s: gi ve n by th e Gr ie va nt fo r he r in ab il it y to re po rt to w o r k o n ti me . Th ef i r s t t w o in st an ce s of b e i n g ab se nt f r o m th e w o r k p l a c e wi th ou t le av e a n d fa il in g to re - qu es t le av e pr io r to th e ab se nc e, th e Gr ie va nt g a v e re as on s f o r no t re po rt in g o n ti me as b a c k pa in pr ob le ms . O n Oc to be r 2n d, sh e in di ca te d th at sh e w a s no t at w o r k b e c a u s e of sl ee p ap - ne a, bu t th e O c t o b e r 21 st a b s e n c e ag ai n w a s ap pa re nt ly re la te d to b a c k pa in . It w a s ea rl y S e p t e m b e r , 2 0 0 3 w h e n s h e r e c e i v e d w o r d t h a t sh e ha d sl ee p ap ne a an d it wa s on Oc to be r 10 th at he r do ct or in di ca te d th at sh e w a s b e i n g tr ea te d fo r sl ee p ap ne a. W h y di d th e Gr ie va nt gi ve re as on s of b a c k pa in o n th e 21 st of O c - to be r? W h y di d sh e in di ca te th at s o m e of th e in st an ce s w e r e d u e to th e m e d i c a t i o n sh e w a s ta ki ng fo r he r b a c k pa in ? W h y di d sh e in di - ca te , in he r or al re pl y to th e ch ar ge s, th at al l of th e oc cu rr en ce s we re du e to he r sl ee p ap - n e a co nd it io n? T h e s e in co ns is te nt po si ti on s re fl ec t u p o n th e Gr ie va nt ’s cr ed ib il it y. In m o s t ca se s w h e r e sl ee p a p n e a w a s de te r- m i n e d to h a v e an i m p a c t o n th e e m p l o y e e ’ s w o r k a n d th e E m p l o y e r w a s re qu ir ed to m a k e an a c c o m m o d a t i o n , th e in di vi du al wa sf a l l i n g as le ep du ri ng th e d a y in ex pl ic ab ly . Se e, ¢. g. , Ph yl li s A. Mi ll er v. Ce nt en ni al St at e B a n k , 47 2 N . W . 2 d 34 9 [5 6 F E P Ca se s 41 6] (J un e 25 , 19 91 M i n n e s o t a C o u r t of Ap pe al s) . Th is ca se , as we ll as ot he rs , de al s wi th th e in ab il it y of an in di vi du al to p e r f o r m th e du ti es of th ei r w o r k as a re su lt of a di sa bi li ty . In th is c a s e , th er e is n o e v i d e n c e to d e m o n s t r a t e th at th e il ln es s of sl ee p a p n e a in ge ne ra l, n o r th e il l- ne ss of sl ee p a p n e a re la te d to th e Gr ie va nt , pr ev en te d he r f r o m se tt in g a n a l a r m cl oc k a n d w a k i n g up a t a de si gn at ed ho ur . T h e la ck of th is n e x u s c o m b i n e d w i t h th e .e xc us es gi ve n fo rf ai lu re to ’ re po rt to w o r k o n ti me a n d th e fr eq ue nc y at w h i c h th ey ex is te d c o m p e l l e d th e Ar bi tr at or to c o n c l u d e th at th e Gr ie va nt ’s a b s e n c e wa s n o t r e l a t e d to ci rc um - st an ce s b e y o n d he r c on tr ol . T h e Gr ie va nt a l l e g e d th at th e E m p l o y e r d i s - cr im in at ed ag ai ns t he r b e c a u s e sh e w a s di sc i- pl in ed as a re su lt of c o n d u c t th at re su lt ed f r o m he r sl ee p a p n e a di sa bi li ty . T h e fa ct s in th is p r o c e e d i n g d o n o t su pp or t s u c h an al le ga ti on . T h e Gr ie va nt fa il ed to es ta bl is h a p r i m a fa ci e ca se of di sc ri mi na ti on b e c a u s e th e re co rd re - Fe de ra l B u r e a u of Pr is on s fl ec ts th at sh e di d no t i n f o r m th e a g e n c y wi th su ff ic ie nt m e d i c a l e v i d e n c e n o r w a s th e E m - pl oy er ot he rw is e ma de , aw ar e of he ra ll eg ed di sa bi li ty pr io r to th e is su an ce of th e, no ti ce of p r o p o s e d s u s p e n s i o n in D e c e m b e r , 20 03 . In ot he r wo rd s, on ea ch of th e fo ur in st an ce s in - vo lv ed , th e E m p l o y e r di d no t h a v e su ff ic ie nt kn ow le dg e of an y ph ys ic al di sa bi li ty at th e ti me th e ch ar ge of A W O L a n d f a i l u r e to pr op - er ly fo ll ow re po rt pr oc ed ur es wa s lo dg ed a g a i n s t t h e G r i e v a n t . A s d i s c u s s e d a b o v e , t h e Em pl oy er ca nn ot be fo un d to ha ve di sc ri mi - na te d in th e w a y th at th ey h a n d l e d th e Gr ie v- an t no t re po rt in g to w o r k on t i m e o r c a l l i n g in o n t i m e o n th e fo ur oc ca si on s in 20 03 . Ra th er , th e G r i e v a n t m u s t b e he ld ac co un ta bl e fo r he r ac ti on s. ‘ [4 ] W h i l e th e Ar bi tr at or fi nd s th at th e Gr ie va nt di d e n g a g e in th e c o n d u c t th at su b- je ct ed he r to di sc ip li ne , h e do es no t ag re e th at a th re e d a y s u s p e n s i o n is ap pr op ri at e u n d e r th e ci rc um st an ce s fo r t w o re as on s. Fi rs t, th e Gr ie va nt d o e s h a v e an e x e m p l a r y e m p l o y m e n t re co rd a n d th e Ar bi tr at or .d oe s no t be li ev e th at he r re co rd w a s pr op er ly ta ke n in to co ns id er - at io n. Se co nd ly , th e Ar bi tr at or do es no t fe el th at th e G r i e v a n t w a s ad eq ua te ly w a r n e d th at sh e c o u l d b e su bj ec te d to a le ng th y su sp en - si on , if sh e co nt in ue d to fa il to re po rt on i m e a n d no t- fo ll ow th e pr op er le av e re qu es t pr oc e- du re . A s th e Ar bi tr at or in di ca te d ea rl ie r, e m - pl oy ee s ar e c h a r g e d wi th k n o w l e d g e th at fa il - ur e to re po rt to w o r k wi ll le ad to di sc ip li na ry ac ti on , bu t it is i n c u m b e n t u p o n an e m p l o y e r to sp ec if ic al ly w a r n th e e m p l o y e e of th e na - tu re of th e di sc ip li ne th at wi ll b e us ed as a co rr ec ti ve m e a s u r e . T h e c o n c e p t of pr og re s- si ve di sc ip li ne as se t fo rt h in Ar ti cl e 3 0 of th e pa rt ie s’ A g r e e m e n t re qu ir es th is . T h e Gr ie v- an t’ s su pe rv is or co ul d ea si ly h a v e to ld he rt h a t he rf a i l u r e to re po rt to w o r k o n ti me wi th ou t ca ll in g in be fo re he r sh if t w o u l d le ad to a su s- p e n s i o n th e ne xt ti me it oc cu rr ed . A w a r n i n g le tt er co ul d h a v e b e e n g i v e n to he r. In th is ca se th er e w a s n o ve rb al o r wr it te n w a r n i n g of th e co ns eq ue nc es o f he ra ct io ns . F o r th es e re a- so ns , th e Ar bi tr at or be li ev es th at th e ap pr op ri - at e di sc ip li ne u n d e r th es e ci rc um st an ce s is a on e da y su sp en si on . A W A R D . Fo ra l l of th e fo re go in g re as on s a n d co nc lu - si on s, th e gr ie va nc e is su st ai ne d in pa rt a n d de ni ed -i n pa rt . T h e G r i e v a n c e is su st ai ne d to B a r t o n B r a n d s Lt d. th e ex te nt th at a th re e d a y s u s p e n s i o n fo rt h e of fe ns es c h a r g e d is im pr op er ; th e Gr ie va nc e i s de ni ed to th e ex te nt th at di sc ip li ne w a s wa r- ra nt ed b a s e d u p o n a sh ow in g o f ju st a n d su f- fi ci en t ca us e. T h e Ar bi tr at or th er ef or e or de rs th at th e di sc ip li na ry ac ti on ta ke n b y th e E m - pl oy er b e re du ce d t o a o n e d a y su sp en si on a n d th at th e Gr ie va nt be m a d e wh ol e as to an y lo st wa ge s o r ot he rd if fe re nt ia ls c a u s e d b y th e ad - di ti on al tw o da ys of su sp en si on . T h e Un io n’ s re qu es t fo r re as on ab le at to rn ey fe es is de ni ed . It ca nn ot be de te rm in ed f r o m th e ev id en ce of re co rd th at th e Em pl oy er ac te d- in ba d fa it h or ot he rw is e e n g a g e d in c o n d u c t wa rr an ti ng th e im po si ti on of at to rn ey fe es . : ‘ A B a r t o n B r a n d s L t d . D e c i s i o n of A r b i t r a t o r In te B A R T O N B R A N D S , L I D . [ O w e n s b o r o , Ky .] a n d U N I T E D F O O D A N D C O M M E R C I A L W O R K E R S I N T E R N A - T I O N A L U N I O N , D I S T I L L E R Y , W I N E A N D A L L I E D W O R K E R S D I V I S I O N L O - C A L 3 1 D . F M C S C a s e N o . 0 4 - 0 3 1 0 8 - 7 F e b r u a r y 18 , 2 0 0 5 Ar bi tr at or : H a r o l d D . Sm it h, se le ct ed b y pa rt ie s t h r o u g h p r o c e d u r e s of th e Fe de ra l M e - di at io n a n d Co nc il ia ti on Se rv ic e E M P L O Y E E B E N E F I T S [1 ] H e a l t h i n s u r a n c e — P r e m i u m s — C e r - ti fi ed di sa bi li ty — Ba rg ai ni ng hi st or y > 1 1 6 . 6 0 1 1 > 11 6. 81 > 2 4 . 3 7 E m p l o y e r vi ol at ed co ll ec ti ve -b ar ga in in g a g r e e m e n t wh en i t re qu ir ed e m p l o y e e s o n ce r- ti fi ed di sa bi li ty fo r u p to 2 4 m o n t h s to p a y ‘o ne -h al f of he al th -i ns ur an ce p r e m i u m , w h e r e pr ov is io n st at in g th at e m p l o y e e s w h o w o r k le ss th an 16 ho ur s in w e e k wi ll p a y on e- ha lf of p r e m i u m r e q u i r e s th at e m p l o y e e o n di sa bi l- it y w o r k s o m e ho ur s in w e e k to b e ob li ga te d to p a y co st -s ha ri ng co nt ri bu ti on , r e v i e w of a g r e e m e n t as w h o l e do es no t su pp or t ar gu - me nt th at em pl oy ee ca n w o r k ze ro ho ur s an d b e ob li ga te d to pa y, th er e is in su ff ic ie nt ev i- d e n c e th at u n i o n ev er ag re ed to s u c h re qu ir e- me nt , a n d e m p l o y e e s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty 12 0 L A 17 65 h a d no t b e e n re qu ir ed u n d e rp r i o r a g r e e m e n t to sh ar e in co st of he al th in su ra nc e p r e m i u m s . [2 ] H e a l t h i n s u r a n c e — P r e m i u m s — C e r - ti fi ed di sa bi li ty — P a s t pr ac ti ce — B a r g a i n i n g hi st or y > 1 1 6 . 6 0 1 1 > 11 6. 81 > 24 .3 61 & 24 .3 7 Em pl oy er vi ol at ed co ll ec ti ve -b ar ga in in g a g r e e m e n t w h e n it re qu ir ed e m p l o y e e s on c e r - ti fi ed di sa bi li ty fo r up to 24 mo nt hs to pa y o n e - h a l f o f h e a l t h - i n s u r a n c e p r e m i u m , w h e r e pr ov is io n st at in g th at em pl oy ee s w h o w o r k le ss th an 16 ho ur s in w e e k wi ll pa y on e- ha lf of p r e m i u m re fe rs to e m p l o y e e s w h o w o r k s o m e ho ur s le ss th an 16 in we ek , ra th er th an e m p l o y e e s w h o d o no t w o r k a n y h o u r s in w e e k , si nc e e m p l o y e r ’ s fa il ur e to c h a r g e s u c h e m p l o y e e s th ei r sh ar e of in su ra nc e p r e m i u m s fo r s o m e ti me fo ll ow in g ef fe ct iv e da te of n e w co nt ra ct in di ca te s th at e m p l o y e r pa rt ic ip an ts in ne go ti at io ns di d no t c o m e a w a y wi th cl ea r un de rs ta nd in g th at e m p l o y e e s on ce rt if ie d di s- ab il it y w e r e to be c h a r g e d sh ar e of p r e m i u m s , ev en if it do es no t es ta bl is h pa st pr ac ti ce . [3 ] H e a l t h i n s u r a n c e — P r e m i u m s — C e r - ti fi ed di sa bi li ty > 1 1 6 . 6 0 1 1 > 11 6. 81 E m p l o y e r vi ol at ed co ll ec ti ve -b ar ga in in g a g r e e m e n t wh en i t re qu ir ed e m p l o y e e s o n ce r- ti fi ed di sa bi li ty fo r u p to 2 4 m o n t h s to p a y on e- ha lf of he al th -i ns ur an ce p r e m i u m , w h e r e pr ov is io n st at in g th at e m p l o y e e s w h o w o r k le ss th an 16 h o u r s in w e e k wi ll p a y on e- ha lf of p r e m i u m re qu ir es th at em pl oy ee on di sa bi l- it y b e e n g a g e d in so me a c t i v i t y fo r w h i c h h e re ce iv es w a g e s be fo re e m p l o y e e is re qu ir ed to p a y on e- ha lf of th ei r w e e k l y p r e m i u m , an - ot he r pr ov is io n in a g r e e m e n t st at es th at “ ( e J m p l o y e e s pr oh ib it ed f r o m w o r k i n g fo r ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty co nd it io ns a n d w h o r e m a i n o n th e se ni or it y li st wi ll be p r o v i d e d he al th in su ra nc e fo r as lo ng as th ey r e m a i n o n t h e li st ,’ ? a n d it is i n c o n s i s t e n t to s a y th at e m - pl oy ee s w h o ar e ‘“ ‘p ro hi bi te d f r o m w o r k i n g ” du e to ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty ar e al so co ns id er ed e m p l o y e e s “ w h o w o r k ” l e s s th an 16 ho ur s in w e e k . A p p e a r a n c e s : F o r th e e m p l o y e r — D a v i d B . Sa nd le r ( G r e e n b a u m Do ll & M c D o n a l d P L L C ) , a t t o r n e y ; T h o m a s P. O ’ B r i e n , s e n i o r vi ce pr es id en t, h u m a n re so ur ce s. F o r th e u n i o n — I r w i n H , Cu tl er Jr . (S eg al , St ew ar t, 12 0 L A 17 66 ‘C ut le r, Li nd sa y, Ja ne s & Be rr y, P L L C ) , at to r- n e y ; T o m R . B a l l a r d , i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e p r e s e n t a - ti ve . H E A L T H I N S U R A N C E S M I T H , Ar bi tr at or . B a c k g r o u n d T h e Un io n fi le d a gr ie va nc e on Ja nu ar y 27 , 2 0 0 4 ch al le ng in g th e C o m p a n y ’ s ac ti on in re - qu ir in g e m p l o y e e s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty to p a y an yt hi ng t o w a r d s he al th in su ra nc e p r e m i - u m s . T h e gr ie va nc e re qu es ts th at th e C o m - p a n y st op ch ar gi ng e m p l o y e e s on c e r t i f i e d di s- ab il it y on e- ha lf of th ei r s c h e d u l e d a m o u n t t o - w a r d s in su ra nc e p r e m i u m s , a n d to r e i m b u r s e a n y e m p l o y e e s w h o h a v e b e e n c h a r g e d in th e pa st . St ip ul at ed Is su e D I D T H E C O M P A N Y V I O L A T E T H E C O L - L E C T I V E B A R G A I N I N G A G R E E M E N T B Y R E Q U I R I N G R A M O N D A T O W E R Y , A N D O T H E R E M P L O Y E E S O N C E R T I F I E D DI S- A B I L I T Y , T O P A Y O N E - H A L F O F T H E E M - P L O Y E E ’ S S H A R E O F H E A L T H I N S U R A N C E P R E M I U M S ? IF SO , W H A T IS T H E P R O P E R R E M E D Y ? A p p l i c a b l e C o n t r a c t u a l Pr ov is io ns AR TI CL E IV SE NI OR IT Y (5 9) A n y p e r s o n w h o qu it s or re si gn s hi s po si - ti on , or is d i s c h a r g e d fo r ca us e, fo rf ei ts hi s s e - ni or it y ri gh ts . A n y em pl oy ee w h o ha s no t wo rk ed fo r th e Co mp an y f o r a pe ri od of tw el ve (1 2) co n- se cu ti ve m o n t h s , fo rf ei ts hi s se ni or it y ri gh ts . Pr o- vi de d, h o w e v e r , th at if s u c h e m p l o y e e is pr oh ib - it ed f r o m w o r k i n g so le ly b y r e a s o n of a pr op er ly ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty co nd it io n s u c h e m p l o y e e ' s se - ni or it y sh al l no t b e b r o k e n un ti l th ey h a v e no t w o r k e d fo r a pe ri od of t w e n t y fo ur (2 4) c o n s e c u - ti ve m o n t h s un le ss th e e m p l o y e e is cl as si fi ed as to ta ll y a n d p e r m a n e n t l y di sa bl ed u n d e r th e K e n - t u c k y W o r k e r s ’ C o m p e n s a t i o n L a w . . . . A R T I C L E X I E G R I E V A N C E A N D A R B I T R A T I O N (9 7) (4 ). .. . T h e Ar bi tr at or sh al l no t b e e m - p o w e r e d to ru le co nt ra ry to , to a m e n d , to a d d to , or to el im in at e an y of th e pr ov is io ns of th is A g r e e m e n t . B a r t o n B r a n d s Lt d. A R T I C L E X V I H E A L T H A N D W E L F A R E (1 04 ) D u r i n g th e t e r m of th is a g r e e m e n t th e C o m p a n y wi ll co nt in ue to pr ov id e ce rt ai n gr ou p he al th , li fe an d di sa bi li ty be ne fi ts fo r el ig ib le e m - pl oy ee s on th e se ni or it y li st . He al th In su ra nc e be ne fi ts wi ll be as de fi ne d in th e Co ns te ll at io n Br an ds , In c. St an da rd P P O an d En ha nc ed P P O pl an s, su bj ec t to ch an ge fr om ti me to ti me .. .. L a i d of f e m p l o y e e s wi ll b e c o v e r e d fo r t w o (2 ) mo nt hs fr om th e da te of th ei r la y- of f. Em pl oy ee s pr oh ib it ed fr om wo rk in g fo r ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty co nd it io ns a n d w h o r e m a i n on t h e s e n i o r i t y li st in ac co rd an ce wi th Pa ra gr ap h 59 wi ll be pr ov id ed he al th i n s u r a n c e fo r as l o n g as th ey r e m a i n o n th e li st .. . H k ok (1 06 ) Th e Co mp an y wi ll pr ov id e De nt al Co v- er ag e as in cl ud ed in th e he al th pl an . T h e co st of th is c o v e r a g e is in di ca te d in th e he al th i n s u r a n c e co st ta bl e a n d d e p e n d s o n c o v e r a g e se le ct ed . A R (1 08 ) E a c h ac ti ve e m p l o y e e wi ll m a k e co st sh ar in g co nt ri bu ti on s a c c o r d i n g to th e m e d i c a l an d de nt al co ve ra ge se le ct ed , An nu al in cr ea se s wi ll n o t e x c e e d 1 0 % in a n y c a l e n d a r ye ar . E m - p l o y e e s w h o w o r k le ss t h a n si xt ee n (1 6) h o u r s in a w e e k wi ll p a y on e- ha lf (1 /2 ) of th ei r s c h e d u l e d a m o u n t . P R E M I U M S U N D E R P R I O R C O N T R A C T Ar ti cl e X V I H e a l t h a n d We lf ar e, P a r a g r a p h (1 01 ), of th e pr io r C o n t r a c t ef fe ct iv e Ap ri l 6, 1 9 9 8 to Ap ri l 7, 2 0 0 3 , p r o v i d e s in pa rt : .. . Em pl oy ee s pr oh ib it ed fr om wo rk in g fo r ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty co nd it io ns a n d w h o r e m a i n o n th e se ni or it y li st in ac co rd an ce wi th pa ra gr ap h 57 wi ll be pr ov id ed he al th in su ra nc e fo r as lo ng as th ey r e m a i n o n th el i s t . . . . Pa ra gr ap h (1 05 ) pr ov id es in pa rt : T h e ap pr op ri at e em pl oy ee /d ep en de nt co nt ri bu - ti on le ve l re fe re nc ed in p a r a g r a p h 1 0 6 m u s t b e _m ai nt ai ne d as a co nd it io n of ma in ta in in g al l co v- e r a g e in cl ud in g D e n t a l C o v e r a g e d u r i n g th e t e r m of th is [ A ] g r e e m e n t . Pr ov id ed , h o w e v e r , th at e m - p l o y e e s w h o d o no tr e c e i v e at le as t 3 2 h o u r s of p a y in a w e e k wi ll no t b e re qu ir ed to m a k e th e w e c k l y e m p l o y e e co nt ri bu ti on fo r th at w e e k . Pa ra gr ap h (1 06 ) pr ov id es : E a c h ac ti ve e m p l o y e e wi ll p a y $ 1 5 p e r w e e k fo r th e fi rs t t w o ye ar s of th e A g r e e m e n t . E m - p l o y e e in cr ea se s af te r t h e s e c o n d y e a r of th e A g r e e m e n t wi ll be a m a x i m u m of 1 0 % of th ei r co nt ri bu ti on in e a c h r e m a i n i n g ye ar of th e A g r e e - me nt . T h e C o m p a n y wi ll pa y th e re ma in de r of th e p r e m i u m an d wi ll ab so rb th e re ma in de ro f . th e p r e m i u m in cr ea se s. B a r t o n B r a n d s Lt d. Ne go ti at io ns fo r C u r r e n t C o n t r a c t T h o m a s P. O’ Br ie n, Se ni or V i c e Pr es id en t, H u m a n ’ Re so ur ce s, f r o m ‘t he C h i c a g o of fi ce , se rv ed as ch ie f ne go ti at or fo r th e C o m p a n y du ri ng th e se ss io ns le ad in g to th e cu rr en t C o n - tr ac t. T h e Un io n’ ne go ti at in g co mm it te e in - cl ud ed Lo ca l ‘U ni on Pr es id en t Ja me s Ca rl is le , an d In te rn at io na l Re pr es en ta ti ve , T h o m a s Ba l- la rd . Ba rt on , I n c . is a di vi si on of Co ns te ll at io n Br an ds . B a r t o n e m p l o y e e s , at va ri ou s fa ci li - ti es , w e r e c o v e r e d b y th e Co ns te ll at io n B r a n d s in su ra nc e pl an . T h e r e ar e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 9 0 0 e m p l o y e e s (h ou rl y a n d sa la ri ed ) in th e B a r t o n Di vi si on ; a p p r o x i m a t e l y “2 00 at th e O w e n s - b o r o fa ci li ty , wi th a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 3 0 at th at fa ci li ty b e i n g c o v e r e d b y th e Co ll ec ti ve Ba r- ga in in g A g r e e m e n t . O’ Br ie nt es ti fi ed th at d u e to th e es ca la ti ng co st fo r he al th in su ra nc e, i t w a s hi s po si ti on th at e v e r y o n e h a d to p a y s o m e t h i n g t o w a r d th e co st s. O ’ B r i e n sa id th e C o m p a n y n e v e r m o d i f i e d it s po si ti on th ro ug h- ou t ne go ti at io ns , th at e v e r y o n e h a d to co nt ri b- ut e s o m e t h i n g to he al th in su ra nc e. T h e C o m - pa ny ’s in it ia l pr op os al w a s to el im in at e th e l a n g u a g e i n p a r a g r a p h s 1 0 5 a n d 10 6, a n d su b- st it ut e th e fo ll ow in g l a n g u a g e in p a r a g r a p h 10 5: Em pl oy ee /d ep en de nt he al th co nt ri bu ti on le ve l sh al l mi rr or th e sc he du le (s ub je ct to ch an ge fr om ti me to ti me ) of th e P P O pl an s du ri ng th e t e r m o f th is a g r e e m e n t . Al l el ig ib le e m p l o y e e s o n th e se ni or it y li st sh al l be re qu ir ed to m a k e su ch co nt ri bu ti on s, re ga rd le ss o f h o u r s w o r k e d / p a i d . O ’ B r i e n sa id th at wi th in th e la st c o u p l e of d a y s of ne go ti at io ns th e U n i o n of fe re d a c o u n - te rp ro po sa l, th at e m p l o y e e s w o r k i n g at le as t 16 h o u r s in a w e e k w o u l d p a y th e re gu la rl y sc he du le d co nt ri bu ti on am ou nt . Em pl oy ee s w h o wo rk ed le ss th an 16 ho ur s in a w e e k w o u l d p a y on e+ ha lf of th e s c h e d u l e d a m o u n t . Th is m e t th e c o m p a n y ’ s de ma nd t h a t e v e r y o n e co nt ri bu te s o m e t h i n g t o w a r d he al th in su ra nc e so it w a s ac ce pt ab le to th e C o m p a n y . Ca rl is le ha s wo rk ed at th e Ow en sb or o f ac il - it y fo r 2 2 ye ar s. H e ha s se rv ed a s pr es id en t of th e lo ca l U n i o n fo r ni ne ye ar s. H e te st if ie d th at u n d e r th e pr ev io us Co nt ra ct , if an e m - p l o y e e w o r k e d le ss th an 3 2 ho ur s in a w e e k th er e w a s no re qu ir em en t fo r th e em pl oy ee to co nt ri bu te to th e in su ra nc e p r e m i u m . He t e s t i - fi ed th at pr io r to th e cu rr en t Co ll ec ti ve Ba r- ga in in g A g r e e m e n t , e m p l o y e e s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty a b s e n c e w e r e no t c h a r g e d an yt hi ng fo r he al th in su ra nc e c o v e r a g e fo r u p to 2 4 m o n t h s . H e re fe rr ed to th e Se ni or it y pr ov i- 12 0 L A 17 67 si on , Ar ti cl e IV , p a r a g r a p h 59 , w h i c h pr ov id es th at if an em pl oy ee is pr oh ib it ed fr om wo rk - in g so le ly b y re as on of a pr op er ly ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty co nd it io n, s u c h e m p l o y e e ’ s se ni or it y sh al l no t b e b r o k e n un ti l th ey h a v e no t w o r k e d fo r a pe ri od of 24 co ns ec ut iv e mo nt hs . Ca rl is le te st if ie d th at du ri ng th e 20 03 ne go - ti at io ns th e C o m p a n y pr op os ed th at a l l el i- gi bl e e m p l o y e e s o n th e se ni or it y li st b e re - qu ir ed to m a k e co nt ri bu ti on s to wa rd he al th in - su ra nc e re ga rd le ss of ho ur s w o r k e d . T h e Un io n r e j e c t e d th at pr op os al . T h e U n i o n ev en - tu al ly a g r e e d to th e cu rr en t 16 -h ou rs la n- gu ag e. T h e qu es ti on re ga rd in g e m p l o y e e s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty w a s no t b r o u g h t u p b y ei - th er si de at .t he ti me th e cu rr en t l a n g u a g e w a s ne go ti at ed . R e g a r d i n g th e l a n g u a g e i n pa ra - gr ap h 10 8, -C ar li sl e co ns id er s “a ct iv e em - p l o y e e ” to m e a n an e m p l o y e e w h o ha s p u n c h e d a ti me ca rd . a n d is at th e fa ci li ty w o r k i n g . H e a c k n o w l e d g e d th at th e t e r m ‘‘ ac - ti ve e m p l o y e e ” al so w a s no t di sc us se d du ri ng ne go ti at io ns . . T h e cu rr en t Co nt ra ct b e c a m e ef fe ct iv e Ap ri l 7, 2 0 0 3 . Ca rl is le te st if ie d th at h e w a s on c e r t i - fi ed di sa bi li ty a b s e n c e f r o m N o v e m b e r 15 , 2 0 0 3 to th e e n d of D e c e m b e r , a n d h e ne ve r r e - ce iv ed a n y bi ll in gs f r o m th e C o m p a n y fo r he al th in su ra nc e. H e fi rs t le ar ne d th e c o m p a n y w a s at te mp ti ng to ch ar ge e m p l o y e e s o n ce rt i- fi ed di sa bi li ty fo r he al th in su ra nc e w h e n th e C o m p a n y se nt a le tt er to R a m o n d a T o w e r y , o n J a n u a r y 2 3 , 2 0 0 4 , bi ll in g h e r f o r o n e - h a l f o f th e s c h e d u l e d a m o u n t fo r he al th in su ra nc e. O ’ B r i e n a c k n o w l e d g e d th at ,. af te r ne go ti a- ti on s co nc lu de d, th er e wa s a br ea kd ow n of c o m m u n i c a t i o n s re ga rd in g ch ar gi ng e m p l o y - ee s w h o w e r e o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty le av e. In th e C o m p a n y ’ s po st -h ea ri ng br ie f, a po rt io n of O’ Br ie n’ s te st im on y is se t fo rt h: A n d so , th er e w e r e s o m e er ro rs m a d e ea rl y o n af te r th e co nt ra ct w e n t in to pl ac e a n d w e w e r e ab le to id en ti fy th os e- er ro rs a n d w e co rr ec te d th e si tu at io n an d w e al so ha d s o m e ch an ge s in pe op le at th e ti me , th at ’s no t an ex cu se .. . bu t th er e w a s s o m e c o n f u s i o n in t e r m s o f w h a t h a p p e n e d or w h a t s h o u l d h a v e h a p p e n e d . B u t w e w e n t b a c k . an d st ar te d ta ki ng th os e co nt ri bu ti on s fr om e m p l o y e e s a n d in te re st in gl y e n o u g h , n o o n e re - al ly c o m p l a i n e d , y o u k n o w , i n t e r m s of h a v i n g to m a k e pa ym en ts . Th er e w a s [t he in st an t] gr ie v- an ce , ob vi ou sl y, th at w e re ce iv ed , bu t in ge ne ra l em pl oy ee s di dn ’t re al ly sa y or do an yt hi ng .. .. T h e C o m p a n y ’ s po si ti on is th at e m p l o y e e s w h o w o r k le ss th an 16 ho ur s in a w e e k in - cl ud es e m p l o y e e s w h o w o r k ze ro h o u r s in a 1 2 0 L A 1 7 6 8 w e e k an d, th us , e m p l o y e e s o n ce rt if ie d di s- ab il it y le av e ar e re qu ir ed co nt ra ct ua ll y, to p a y on e- ha lf of th ei r s c h e d u l e d a m o u n t fo r he al th in su ra nc e. Di sc us si on a n d Op in io n In St ee lw or ke rs v. E n t e r p r i s e W h e e l & C a r Co rp ., 3 6 3 U. S. 59 3, 5 9 7 [3 4 L A 56 9] (1 96 0) , th e S u p r e m e C o u r t he ld th at : .. . [ A J n ar bi tr at or i s c o n f i n e d to in te rp re ta ti on an d ap pl ic at io n of th e co ll ec ti ve ba rg ai ni ng a g r e e m e n t ; h e d o e s no t si t to d i s p e n s e hi s o w n b r a n d of in du st ri a] ju st ic e. H e m a y of c o u r s e l o o k fo r g u i d a n c e f r o m m a n y s o u r c e s , ye t hi s a w a r d is le gi ti ma te on ly so lo ng as it d r a w s it s e s s e n c e fr om . t h e co ll ec ti ve ba rg ui ni ng a g r e e m e n t . :. . It is we ll es ta bl is he d th at w h e n th e te rm s of th e co nt ra ct ar e cl ea r a n d u n a m b i g u o u s , th e ar bi tr at or m u s t ap pl y t h e te rm s of th e co nt ra ct as wr it te n: In E a s t Li ve rp oo l B o a r d of E d u c a - ti on a n d E a s t L i v e r p o o l E d u c a t i o n As so ci a- ti on , 11 3 L A 11 27 , 1 1 2 9 (F ul im er , 19 99 ), th e ar bi tr at or st at ed : A s wi th a n y co nt ra cl in te rp re ta ti on ca se th e fi rs t re fe re nc e is to th e sp ec if ic te rr ns of th e pa r- ti es ’ a g r e e m e n t . If th ey u n a m b i g u o u s l y re so lv e th e po in t at is su e, th e ar bi tr at or ha s no ch oi ce bu t to ap pl y th em a s wr it te n. A s a ge ne ra l ru le , l a n g u a g e is a m b i g u o u s if it is re as on ab ly su sc ep ti bl e to m o r e th an o n e m e a n i n g . B a s e d o n th e l a n g u a g e c h a n g e s f r o m th e pr io r Co nt ra ct , a n d th e di ff er en t m e a n i n g s at ta ch ed th er et o b y th e pa rt ie s, th e ar bi tr at or co nc lu de s th at th e la ng ua ge in Ar ti cl e X V I , pa ra gr ap hs 1 0 4 a n d 1 0 8 co ul d h a v e a di ff er en t m e a n i n g to re as on ab le pe op le , wi th re fe re nc e to th e is su e pr es en te d in th is ca se . Th er ef or e, th e ar bi tr at or wi ll lo ok to th e ‘R ul es of Co n- tr ac t Co ns tr uc ti on ” f o r re so lu ti on of th e is su e. T h e R u l e s of Co nt ra ct Co ns tr uc ti on ar e se t to rt h in Fa ir we at he r’ s Pr ac ti ce a n d P r o c e d u r e in L a b o r Ar bi tr at io n, 4t h ed ., Ed it or R a y J. S c h o o n h o v e n , B N A 19 99 , pp . 24 6- 24 9: T h e R u l e s ar e: A. In te rp re ta ti on Co mp at ib le wi th ot he r Co n- tr ac t L a n g u a g e B. Sp ec if ic G o v e r n s G e n e r a l L a n g u a g e C, A v o i d a n c e of H a r s h , In eq ui ta bl e, a n d A b - su rd Re su lt s D. E x p r e s s i o n s of O n e T h i n g E x c l u d e s . A n - ot he r Ar bi tr at or s h a v e co ns is te nt ly he ld th at th e te rm s of a co ll ec ti ve ba rg ai ni ng a g r e e m e n t ar e to b e ap pl ie d in a lo gi ca l m a n n e r , co ns is te nt B a r t o n B r a n d s Lt d. wi th th e la ng ua ge , in te nt of th e pa rt ie s, an d wi th th e en ti re ag re em en t. Co op er /I : S m i t h St ev ed or in g Co ., 9 9 L A 29 7, 3 0 4 (M as se y, 19 92 ). In El ko ur i & El ko ur i, H o w Ar bi tr at io n Wo rk s, 6t h ed it io n, pp . 46 2, 46 3, R u b e n , Ed it or -i n- Ch ie f, B N A , 20 03 , th e co ns tr uc ti on of an ag re em en t b y co ns id er in g th e co nt ra ct as a w h o l e is di sc us se d as fo ll ow s: T h e pr im ar y ru le in co ns tr ui ng a wr it te n in st ru - m e n t is to de te rm in e, no t al on e fr om ’ a s i n g l e w o r d or ph ra se , bu t fr om th e in st ru me nt as a w h o l e , th e tr ue in te nt o f th e pa rt ie s, a n d to in te r- pr et th e m e a n i n g of a q u e s t i o n e d w o r d , or pa rt , wi th re ga rd to th e co nn ec ti on in wh ic hi t is us ed , th e su bj ec t ma tt er a n d it s re la ti on to al l ot he r pa rt s or pr ov is io ns . (C it at io ns om it te d) . P a a r Se ct io ns or po rt io ns c a n n o t b e is ol at ed f r o m th e re st of th e a g r e e m e n t a n d g i v e n co ns tr uc ti on i n d e p e n d e n t l y of th e p u r p o s e a n d a g r e e m e n t of th e pa rt ie s as e v i d e n c e d b y th e en ti re d o c u - m e n t . . . . T h e m e a n i n g of e a c h p a r a g r a p h a n d ea ch se nt en ce mu st be de te rm in ed in re la ti on of th e co nt ra ct as .a w h o l e . (C it at io ns om it te d) . B o t h O ’ B r i e n a n d Ca rl is le a c k n o w l e d g e d th at th e qu es ti on n e v e r c a m e up , du ri ng n e g o - tl at io ns , as to wh et he r em pl oy ee s onc er ti fi ed di sa bi li ty w o u l d be in cl ud ed in th e g r o u p of e m p l o y e e s w h o w o u l d b e re qu ir ed to p a y on e- ha lf of th e e m p l o y e e ’ s sh ar e of th e he al th in - su ra nc e p r e m i u m s . H a d th e qu es ti on b e e n ra is ed , b y ei th er si de , su re ly cl ar if yi ng la n- g u a g e w o u l d h a v e b e e n in se rt ed in p a r a g r a p h 10 8, P a r a g r a p h 1 0 4 cl ea rl y st at es th at th e C o m p a n y wi ll pr ov id e he al th in su ra nc e to e m - pl oy ee s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty fo r as lo ng as th ey r e m a i n o n th e se ni or it y li st in a c c o r d a n c e wi th pa ra gr ap h 59 ; th is .c ou ld be up to tw o ye ar s. T h e r e is n o m e n t i o n of ‘t he e m p l o y e e h a v i n g to p a y a n y po rt io n of th e p r e m i u m . I n - de ed , pr io r to th e cu rr en t Co nt ra ct , e m p l o y e e s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty w e r e no t c h a r g e d an y- th in g t o w a r d s th e in su ra nc e p r e m i u m s . D u r i n g ne go ti at io ns fo r th e cu rr en t C o n - tr ac t, ac co rd in g to te st im on y b y O ’ B r i e n a n d hi s ne go ti at io n no te s, h e p r o p o s e d th at ev er y- o n e co nt ri bu te s o m e t h i n g to wa rd s he al th in - su ra nc e “r eg ar dl es s of ho ur s wo rk ed /p ai d’ ’. T h e U n i o n su bm it te d co pi es of th e C o m p a - ny ’s fo rm al pr op os al th at ha s th e 32 -h ou r p r o - vi si on li ne d ou t of pa ra gr ap h 10 5, wi th th e fo ll ow in g in it s pl ac e: E m p l o y e e / d e p e n d e n t he al th co nt ri bu ti on le ve l sh al l mi rr or th e s c h e d u l e (s ub je ct to c h a n g e f r o m t i m e to ti me ) of th e Co ns te ll at io n S t a n d a r d B a r t o n B r a n d s Lt d. P P O du ri ng th e te rm of : th is ag re em en t. Al l el i- gi bl e em pl oy ee s on th e se ni or it y li st sh al l be re - q u i r e d to m a k e s u c h co nt ri bu ti on s re ga rd le ss o f ho ur s wo rk ed /p ai d. T h e pr op os al w a s no t a c c e p t e d b y th e U n i o n . T h e Un io n al so su bm it te d a co py of a C o m - pa ny pr op os al to ch an ge th e la ng ua ge in pa ra - g r a p h 10 1, as fo ll ow s: .. . Du ri ng th e te rm of th is ag re em en t th e C o m p a n y wi ll c o n t i n u e to p r o v i d e ce rt ai n g r o u p he al th , li fe a n d di sa bi li ty be ne fi ts fo r el ig ib le e m - pl oy ee s on th e se ni or it y li st . He al th be ne fi ts sh al l m i r r o r th e at ta ch ed P P O P l a n (s ub je ct to c h a n g e f r o m t i m e to ti me ). In ad di ti on , Li fe a n d A D & D I n s u r a n c e in th e a m o u n t o f $ 5 0 , 0 0 0 a n d W e e k l y Di sa bi li ty be ne fi ts wi ll be pr ov id ed . W e e k l y Di s- ab il it y be ne fi ts wi ll b e $ 3 0 0 fo r th e t e r m o f th is ag re em en t. La id of f em pl oy ee s wi li be co ve re d o n l y fo r th e la st m o n t h w o r k e d , w i t h c o v e r a g e re - su mi ng up on th ei r re tu rn to w o r k (e mp lo ye e pa id C O B R A of fe re d in th e in te ri m) . Em pl oy ee s pr o- hi bi te d f r o m w o r k i n g fo rc er ti fi ed di sa bi li ty c o n - di ti on s an d w h o re ma in on t h e se ni or it y li st in ac - co rd an ce wi th pa ra gr ap h 57 wi ll be pr ov id ed he al th in su ra nc e fo r th e sh or te r of si x mo nt hs or th e da te th ey ar e no lo ng er on th e se ni or it y li st . Al l be ne fi ts sh al l be gi n on th e fi rs t of th e m o n t h fo ll ow in g th e pr ob at io na ry pe ri od . T h e U n i o n al so re je ct ed th e pr op os al to ch an ge pa ra gr ap h 10 1. T h e U n i o n po in ts ou t th at u n d e r p a r a g r a p h 10 6, of th e pr io r A g r e e m e n t , a n d p a r a g r a p h 1 0 8 , o f t h e c u r r e n t A g r e e m e n t , e a c h “ a c t i v e e m p l o y e e ” is ob li ga te d to p a y or sh ar e th e co st of in su ra nc e p r e m i u m s . T h e U n i o n ar gu es th at th e Co nt ra ct n o w h e r e ob li ga te s e m p l o y - ee s w h o ar e no t “a ct iv e e m p l o y e e s ” to p a y a n y sh ar e of he al th in su ra nc e p r e m i u m s . A c - co rd in g to th e U n i o n , th e la st se nt en ce of pa ra gr ap h: 1 0 8 me an s t h a t ‘‘ ac ti ve e m p l o y e e s ” w h o w o r k le ss th an 16 ho ur s in a w e e k p a y on e- ha lf of th ei r s c h e d u l e d a m o u n t . It -i s n o t e w o r t h y th at , in th e C o m p a n y pr o- po sa ls th at w e r e re je ct ed , th e C o m p a n y u s e d th e t e r m ‘‘ el ig ib le ’’ e m p l o y e e s in st ea d of “‘ ac - ti ve ’’ e m p l o y e e s . T h e U n i o n no te s th e fo ll ow - in g in it s po st -h ea ri ng br ie f: ,. . Al l el ig ib le em pl oy ee s in cl ud es , of co ur se , no t o n l y e m p l o y e e s w h o ar e ac ti ve ly w o r k i n g bu t al so e m p l o y e e s w h o ar e o n di sa bi li ty or la y of f. T h e y ar e el ig ib le f o r co ve ra ge . T h e C o m p a n y , ho we ve r, w a s no t su cc es sf ul in ge tt in g th is la n- g u a g e in th e co nt ra ct . In st ea d, w h a t th e C o m p a n y g o t w a s th e la n- g u a g e th at n o w a p p e a r s in p a r a g r a p h 10 8, n a m e l y , th at e a c h ac ti ve e m p l o y e e wi ll m a k e co st sh ar in g co nt ri bu ti on s, Cl ea rl y, th e te rm “‘ ac ti ve 1 2 0 : L A 1 7 6 9 em pl oy ee s” is le ss co mp re he ns iv e th an t h e te rm “e li gi bl e e m p l o y e e s ’ . C o m p a n y co un se l ar gu ed at th e he ar in g th at th e t e r m “ a c t i v e ” e r n p l o y e e s in cl ud es e m p l o y e e s on la yo ff or di sa bi li ty . T o m a k e su ch a n as se rt io n is to m a k e th e t e r m “a ct iv e” a m e a n i n g l e s s ad - je ct iv e. T h e C o m p a n y is vi rt ua ll y ar gu in g th at al l em pl oy ee s a r e ac ti ve em pl oy ee s. T h e cl ea r me an - in g of th e te rm , to di st in gu is hi t fr om al l em pl oy - ee s or a l l el ig ib le em pl oy ee s, i s th at it re fe rs to e m p l o y e e s w h o ar e ac ti ve ly w o r k i n g d u r i n g th at pa rt ic ul ar we ek . .. . : / T h e Un io n ci te s U. S. Po st al Se rv ic e v. Po st al Wo rk er s, 2 0 4 F 3 d 52 3, 5 3 0 [1 63 L R R M 2 5 7 7 ] (4 th Ci r. 20 00 ), w h e r e th e co ur t he ld th at a pa rt y m a y no t ob ta in th ro ug h ar bi - tr at io n w h a t it co ul d no t ac qu ir e th ro ug h ne - go ti at io n. In Su pe ri or Pr od uc ts Co ., .4 2 L A 51 7, 5 2 3 (S mi th , 19 64 ), - Ar bi tr at or ’ ‘S mi th st at ed : , Ar bi tr at or s ar e co ns ta nt ly re qu ir ed an d ex - pe ct ed to gi ve me an in g to co nt ra ct pr ov is io ns w h i c h ar e un cl ea r, in si tu at io ns w h i c h w e r e no l sp ec if ic al ly fo re se en by th e co nt ra ct ne go ti at or s. S o l o n g as th is is d o n e b y ap pl ic at io n o f pr in - ci pl es r e a s o n a b l y d r a w n f r o m th e pr ov is io ns of th e A g r e e m e n t , a n d no t b y tr ea ti ng of a su bj ec t no t co ve re d ata l l by th e Ag re em en t, ar bi tr al au - th or it y is no t be in g im pr op er ly as su me d. T h e fo cu s: o f th e pa rt ie s’ ar gu me nt s, in th e i n s t a n t c a s e , is o n t h e m e a n i n g . o f ‘‘ ac ti ve e m - pl oy ee ” a n d ‘‘ wo rk ” a s u s e d in p a r a g r a p h 1 0 8 of th e Co nt ra ct . T h e U n i o n ma in ta in s th at e m - pl oy ee s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty ar e no t “a ct iv e e m p l o y e e s ” . T h e C o m p a n y ’ s po si ti on is th at “a ct iv e e m p l o y e e s ” in cl ud e e m p l o y e e s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty . T h e r e w a s n o e v i d e n c e pr es en te d by th e C o m p a n y , or di sc ov er ed b y th e ar bi tr at or in hi s re se ar ch , th at re fl ec ts a co ns is te nt ap pl ic a- ti on of th e te rm ‘‘ ac ti ve em pl oy ee ’’ . I n R o c k w e l l S p r i n g & A x l e C o . , 2 3 L A 4 8 1 , 48 3, 4 8 6 ( D w o r k i n , 19 54 ), th e c o m p a n y m a i n t a i n e d th at ce rt ai n e m p l o y e e s o n la yo ff w e r e no t en ti tl ed to va ca ti on s wi th p a y u n d e r t h e t e r m s o f t h e c o n t r a c t , f o r t h e r e a s o n th at th ey w e r e no t ‘‘ ac ti ve ly e m p l o y e d ” o n th e qu al if yi ng da te . T h e qu al if yi ng da te is se t fo rt h in th e co ll ec ti ve ba rg ai ni ng a g r e e m e n t as fo ll ow s: O n Ju ne i of ea ch ye ar an y em pl oy ee wh oi s in th e ac ti ve e m p l o y of th e Di vi si on an d w h o ha s si x (6 ) m o n t h s or m o r e D i v i s i o n se rv ic e sh al l b e el ig ib le fo r va ca ti on w i t h p a y in a c c o r d a n c e wi th th e fo ll ow in g pr ov is io ns . . .. It w a s th e c o m p a n y ’ s in te rp re ta ti on a n d co ns tr uc ti on of th e. l a n g u a g e “a ct iv el y e m - 1 2 0 L A 1 7 7 0 p l o y e d ” as re qu ir in g th at th e e m p l o y e e b e “a ct ua ll y at w o r k ” as di st in gu is he d f r o m be - in g me re ly “i n th e em pl oy ” or ‘o n th e pa y- ro ll ” or ‘‘ on th e se ni or it y li st ’” ’. In re je ct in g th e c o m p a n y ’ s a r g u m e n t , Ar bi tr at or D w o r k i n wr ot e: . .. It is th e co nc lu si on of th e ar bi tr at or th at th e em pl oy ee s in vo lv ed i n th is gr ie va nc e we re in th e ac ti ve em pl oy of th e c o m p a n y on Ju ne Is t, no t- wi th st an di ng th at th ey ha d be en la id of f pr io r to sa id da te an d, ac co rd in gl y, h a v i n g m e t th e ot he r qu al if yi ng co nd it io ns a n d re qu ir em en ts , th ey we re en ti tl ed to th e va ca ti on be ne fi ts sp ec if ie d in th e co nt ra ct . T o ho ld ot he rw is e w o u l d le ad to an a b s u r d a n d u n t e n a b l e re su lt , a n d it is a n es ta b- li sh ed ru le of co ns tr uc ti on th at wh er e on e in te r- pr et at io n of th e l a n g u a g e o f th e co nt ra ct w o u l d le ad to an a b s u r d re su lt , w h i l e an al te rn at iv e in - te rp re ta ti on wo ul d le ad to a ju st an d re as on ab le re su lt , th e la tt er in te rp re ta ti on wi ll b e us ed . . T h e st at us of a n e m p l o y e e w h o is la id of f b y re a- s o n of la ck o f w o r k is en ti re ly di ff er en t’ fr om a n e m p l o y e e w h o h a d qu it or b e e n di sc ha rg ed , fo r th e e m p l o y e r - e m p l o y e e re la ti on sh ip co nt in ue s an d he re ta in s hi s se ni or it y to hi s jo b cl as si fi ca - ti on on th e ba si s of hi s pl an t se ni or it y— . .. In M i d - A m e r i c a C a n n i n g Co rp ., 8 5 L A 9 0 0 ( I m u n d o , 1 9 8 5 ) , t h e c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t p r o v i d e d th at : .. . Af te r o n e fu ll ca le nd ar y e a r of a c t i v e e m - pl oy me nt , an em pl oy ee is en ti tl ed to ta ke se ve n (7 ) d a y s of f w i t h p a y pe r ye ar fo r si ck ne ss or to ta ke ca re of pe rs on al an d fa mi ly bu si ne ss . .. . 85 L A 90 1 : : T h e pa rt ie s’ po si ti on s ar e st at ed as fo ll ow s: .. . T h e Un io n be li ev es th e po rt io n of th e de - fi ne d ca le nd ar ye ar th e G r i e v a n t s w o r k e d pr io r t o b e i n g la id of f s h o u l d b e cr ed it ed t o w a r d s th e fu ll ye ar re qu ir em en t, M a n a g e m e n t be li ev es th at th e pa rt ia l y e a r of se rv ic e ti me w a s lo st w h e n th e Gr ie va nt s we re la id of f. M a n a g e m e n t ha s co n- te nd ed th at e m p l o y m e n t wa s te rm in at ed an d th e G r i e v a n t s w e r e re hi re d. T h e re su lt b e i n g th at th e da te e a c h re tu rn ed w a s th ei r se ni or it y da te wi th re sp ec t to si ck le av e ac cr ua l. 8 5 L A . 9 0 4 T h e Ar bi tr at or wr ot e: .. . In th e Ar bi tr at or ’s op in io n th e wo rd s “a c- ti ve e m p l o y m e n t ” m e a n an em pl oy ee i s id en ti fi ed in th e C o m p a n y ’ s p e r s o n n e l re co rd s as a cu rr en t e m p l o y e e . A n e m p l o y e e w h o ha s b e e n la id of f wo ul d no t be li st ed as a cu rr en t or ac ti ve e m - pl oy ee . .. . .. . th e wo rd s “o ne fu ll ca le nd ar y e a r o f ac ti ve e m p l o y m e n t ” m e a n a to ta l of t w e l v e m o n t h s w h e t h e r or no t ac ti ve se rv ic e w a s in te rr up te d so l o n g as se ni or it y w a s no t t e r m i n a t e d . . . . 8 5 L A 90 4- 90 5 B a r t o n B r a n d s Lt d. A di st in ct io n is s o m e t i m e s : m a d e b e t w e e n e m p l o y e e s o n l o n g t e r m di sa bi li ty a n d ac ti ve e m p l o y e e s . In Ci ty o f D u l u t h a n d In te rn a- ti on al As so ci at io n of Fi re Fi gh te rs , L o c a l 10 1, 94 -1 A R B 4 1 4 3 ( B o g n a n n o , 19 93 ), lo ng te rm . di sa bi li ty re ci pi en ts we re tr ea te d si mi - la rl y to ‘a ct iv e’ e m p l o y e e s fo r p u r p o s e s of he al th ca re co ve ra ge . T h e di st in ct io n im pl ie s th at em pl oy ee s on lo ng te rm di sa bi li ty ar e no t ac ti ve em pl oy ee s. In th e in st an t ca se , e m p l o y e e s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty co ul d be ab se nt fo r a sh or t pe ri od or as lo ng as 2 4 m o n t h s be fo re th ei t se ni or it y is br ok en . T h e r e is n o sp ec if ic l a n g u a g e in th e co nt ra ct to in di ca te w h e t h e r a n e m p l o y e e o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty is co ns id er ed an ac ti ve e m - p l o y e e or a n in ac ti ve e m p l o y e e . In de ed , th e C o m p a n y m a k e s a g o o d a r g u m e n t in po in ti ng o u t th at u n d e r t h e U n i o n ’ s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , a n e m p l o y e e c o u l d b e ac ti ve a n d in ac ti ve ’ ov er a pe ri od of se ve ra l w e e k s an d, po ss ib ly , in th e s a m e w e e k . It is un li ke ly th at th e pa rt ie s wo ul d ha ve in te nd ed su ch a re su lt in ne go ti at - in g th e l a n g u a g e in Ar ti cl e X V I , p a r a g r a p h 10 8 of th e Co nt ra ct . (1 ] A c c o r d i n g to th e gr ie va nc e, th e U n i o n cl ai ms th at th e la st se nt en ce of p a r a g r a p h 1 0 8 is in te nd ed to re fe r to e m p l o y e e s w h o w o r k s o m e ho ur s le ss th an 16 in a w e e k , ra th er th an ‘ e m p l o y e e s w h o d o no t w o r k a n y h o u r s in a w e e k d u e to b e i n g on ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty . T h e ar bi tr at or is no t c o n v i n c e d b y th e C o m p a n y ’ s a r g u m e n t th at an e m p l o y e e c a n w o r k ze ro ho ur s a n d b e ob li ga te d, b y p a r a g r a p h 10 8, to p a y on e- ha lf of - th ei r s c h e d u l e d a m o u n t to - w a r d s th e he al th in su ra nc e co st . E v e n if e m - pl oy ee s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty ar e c o n s i d e r e d to b e ac ti ve e m p l o y e e s , a r e v i e w of th e C o n - tr ac t as a wh ol e co nv in ce s th e ar bi tr at or th at th e la st se nt en ce in p a r a g r a p h 1 0 8 re qu ir es th at sa id e m p l o y e e s m u s t w o r k s o m e ho ur s in a w e e k to b e ob li ga te d fo r th e co st -s ha ri ng co nt ri bu ti on s. N o do ub t, th e te st im on y of C o m p a n y ch ie f ne go ti at or T h o m a s O ’ B r i e n is cr ed ib le , th at it w a s hi s in te nt th at e v e r y o n e h a d to co nt ri bu te s o m e t h i n g . t o w a r d s th e he al th in su ra nc e co st . H o w e v e r , th er e is in su f- fi ci en t e v i d e n c e to c o n v i n c e th e ar bi tr at or th at th e U n i o n ev er a g r e e d to s u c h a re qu ir em en t. T h e C o m p a n y ’ s pr op os al s w e r e re je ct ed b y th e U n i o n . T h e co un te r- pr op os al b y th e U n i o n , w i t h t h e 1 6 - h o u r p r o v i s i o n , d o e s n o t in di ca te th e U n i o n w a s ag re ei ng th at e m p l o y - ee s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty w o u l d b e g i n to p a y t o w a r d s th e in su ra nc e p r e m i u m s wi th th e n e w B a r t o n B r a n d s Lt d. Co nt ra ct . T h e fa ct th at e m p l o y e e s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty h a d no t b e e n re qu ir ed to sh ar e in th e- co st of he al th in su ra nc e pr em iu ms be fo re th e cu rr en t Co nt ra ct w e i g h s in fa vo r of th e Un io n’ s po si ti on . It is si gn if ic an t th at C o m - pa ny pr op os al s, wh ic h co nt ai ne d th e fo ll ow - in g la ng ua ge , w e r e re je ct ed b y th e U n i o n : .. . Al l el ig ib le em pl oy ee s on th e se ni or it yl is t - sh al l be re qu ir ed to m a k e su ch co nt ri bu ti on s re - ar dl es s_ of ho ur s wo rk ed /p ai d. (U nd er li ni ng a d d e d ) [2 ] A pa st pr ac ti ce ha s no t be en es ta b- li sh ed by th e Co mp an y’ s fa il ur e to ch ar ge em - pl oy ee s on c e r t i f i e d di sa bi li ty fo r he al th in su r- a n c e co st s fo r a pe ri od of ti me af te r ne go ti a- ti on s. Ho we ve r, it is an in di ca ti on th at th e lo - ca l H u m a n R e s o u r c e pe rs on ne l w h o pa rt ic i- pa te d in ne go ti at io ns di d no t c o m e a w a y wi th a cl ea r un de rs ta nd in g th at sa id e m p l o y e e s w e r e to b e c h a r g e d th ei r sh ar e of he al th in su r- a n c e p r e m i u m s u n d e r th e n e w Co nt ra ct . M e r r i a m - W e b s t e r ’ s Co ll eg ia te Di ct io na ry , E l e v e n t h Ed it io n, M e r r i a m - W e b s t e r In co rp o- ra te d, 2 0 0 3 , p. 14 42 , de fi ne s ‘‘ wo rk ” as fo l- lo ws : .. . ac ti vi ty in w h i c h o n e ex er ts st re ng th or fa c- ul ti es to do or pe rf or m so me th in g. .. . A t p a g e 14 43 , “ w o r k i n g ” is de fi ne da s : .. , e n g a g e d in w o r k es p. fo r wa ge s o r a sa la ry . Bl ac k’ s L a w Di ct io na ry , E i g h t h Ed it io n, B r y a n A . G a r n e r , E d i t o r - i n - C h i e f , T h o m p s o n - W e s t , 2 0 0 4 , de fi ne s ‘‘ wo rk ” as ‘‘ ph ys ic al a n d me nt al ! ex er ti on to at ta in an en d. es p. as co n- tr ol le d b y a n d fo rt h e be ne fi t of an e m p l o y e r . ” Ro be rt s’ Di ct io na ry of In du st ri al Re la ti on s, T h i r d Ed it io n, H a r o l d S. Ro be rt s, B N A , 19 86 , de fi ne s “ w o r k ” as , .. . “ a n ac ti vi ty th at pr o- du ce s so me th in g of va lu e fo r ot he r pe op le .” In T i g e r M a i n t e n a n c e C o r p . , 8 9 L A 2 7 6 (H oc ke nb er ry , 19 87 ), th e ar bi tr at or st at ed : W h a t i s re ad il y a p p a r e n t t r o m th e cr ed ib le te s- ti mo ny of bo th ch ie f sp ok es pe rs on s is th at th er e w a s n e v e r a m e e t i n g o f th e m i n d s as to th e s a m e in te rp re ta ti on of th e di sp ut ed la ng ua ge ‘‘ fo r ea ch re gu la r h o u r w o r k e d ” . T h e C o m p a n y t o o k th e l a n g u a g e w h i c h th ey p r o p o s e d at it s fa ce va lu e, ac tu al ti me sp en t pe rf or mi ng w o r k ex cl us iv e of o v e r t i m e or va ca ti on s, et c. .. . 8 9 L A 2 7 8 h o e oR .. , th e C o m p a n y w a s en ti tl ed to as su me th at th e t e r m s of ‘r eg ul ar h o u r s w o r k e d ” w o u l d b e g r a n t e d th ei r ge ne ra l m e a n i n g . . . . W h i l e th e in - 12 0 L A 17 71 te nt be tw ee n th e pa rt ie s re ma in s am bi gu ou s, th e l a n g u a g e u s e d is cl ea r a n d en ti tl ed to it s ap pa re nt , ra ti on al de fi ni ti on as ad va nc ed by th e C o m p a n y ; th at i n s u r a n c e co nt ri bu ti on s w o u l d b e m a d e b y th e E m p l o y e r to th e U n i o n He al th an d We lf ar e F u n d ba se d up on ac tu al ho ur s wo rk ed by th e e m - pl oy ee an d no t up on an in fl ex ib le st an da rd of 2 0 8 0 ho ur s pe r ye ar . 89 L A 27 9 [3 ] In th e in st an t ca se , Ar ti cl e X V I (1 04 ) pr ov id es , in pa rt : .. . E m p l o y e e s pr oh ib it ed fr om wo rk in g fo r ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty co nd it io ns an d w h o re ma in on th e se ni or it y li st in ac co rd an ce wi th pa ra gr ap h 59 wi ll be pr ov id ed he al th in su ra nc e fo r as lo ng as t h e y r e m a i n on t h e li st . .. . It is in co ns is te nt to sa y th at e m p l o y e e s w h o ar e pr oh ib it ed f r o m w o r k i n g d u e to a ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty ar e al so co ns id er ed e m p l o y e e s “ w h o w o r k ” le ss th an 16 ho ur s in a we ek . T h e ar bi tr at or c o n c l u d e s th at th e l a n g u a g e in p a r a g r a p h 1 0 8 re qu ir es th at a n e m p l o y e e o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty be en ga ge d in so me a c t i v - it y fo r w h i c h h e re ce iv es w a g e s f r o m th e ‘ C o m p a n y be fo re th e e m p l o y e e is re qu ir ed to pa y on e- ha lf of th ei r sc he du le d co nt ri bu ti on to he al th in su ra nc e p r e m i u m s fo r a n y gi ve n w e e k . T h e l a n g u a g e in th e la st se nt en ce of p a r a g r a p h 1 0 8 re fe rs to e m p l o y e e s w h o w o r k s o m e ho ur s le ss th an 16 in a w e e k , ra th er th an e m p l o y e e s w h o d o no t w o r k a n y ho ur s in a w e e k d u e to b e i n g on ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty . A W A R D T h e gr ie va nc e is gr an te d. T h e C o m p a n y vi ol at ed Ar ti cl e XV I, pa ra gr ap hs 10 4 an d 10 8, b y re qu ir in g R a m o n d a T o w e r y , a n d ot he r e m - pl oy ee s o n ce rt if ie d di sa bi li ty , to p a y on e- ha lf of th e e m p l o y e e ’ s sh ar e of he al th in su ra nc e p r e m i u m s . T o w e r y , a n d ot he r e m p l o y e e s w h o h a v e b e e n c h a r g e d p r e m i u m s wh il e on c e r t i - fi ed di sa bi li ty , sh al l b e re im bu rs ed . E m p l o y - ee s w h o ar e pr oh ib it ed f r o m w o r k i n g , fo r ce r- ti fi ed di sa bi li ty co nd it io ns , sh al l no t b e c h a r g e d th ei r s c h e d u l e d a m o u n t fo r in su ra nc e p r e m i u m s fo r th e du ra ti on of th e Co nt ra ct pe - ri od , or un ti l ot he rw is e ag re ed b y th e pa rt ie s. T h e ar bi tr at or wi ll re ta in ju ri sd ic ti on fo r 6 0 d a y s f r o m th e da te of th is A w a r d , in th e ev en t th e pa rt ie s ne ed di re ct io n in co mp ly in g wi th th e r e m e d y . 1 0 4 L A 8 3 0 B A Y M E D I C A L C E N T E R b u t w h e n t h e s e n i o r d i d , t h e r e h a s n e v - e r D e e n a c l a i m f o r h i g h e r p a y f o r T a n k . A r b i t r a b i l i t y . _ T h e C i t y r a i s e d a n i s s u e o f a r b i t r a b i - li ty f o r t h e fi rs t t i m e a t t h e a r b i t r a t i o n le ve l. A g r i e v a n c e f o l l o w e d a t h r e e s t e p p r o c e d u r e . A s a m a t t e r o f p r a c t i c e , t h e S a f e t y D i r e c t o r a n d t h e U n i o n w o u l d g o d i r e c t l y t o s t e p t h r e e a n d b y p a s s o n e a n d t w o . T h i s w a s d o n e i n t h i s c a s e . T h e C o l l e c t i v e B a r g a i n i n g A g r e e - m e n t s p e c i f i e d t h a t a g r i e v a n c e is a d i s p u t e b e t w e e n t h e c i t y a n d t h e U n i o n o r a n e m p l o y e e o r g r o u p o f e m - p l o y e e s f o r a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s t h e i n - t e r p r e t a t i o n o f a n y t e r m s o r p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e A g r e e m e n t . ‘ T h e r e is n o p r o v i s i o n w h e n a d e f e n s e t h a t t h e r e is a n o n - a r b i t r a b l e i s s u e m u s t b e ra is ed . I n t h e a b s e n c e of l a n - g u a g e , to t h e c o n t r a r y , m y d e c i s i o n is t h a t t h i s d e f e n s e m a y b e r a i s e d a t a n y t i m e p r i o r t o t h e h e a r i n g b e f o r e t h e a r b i t r a t o r . T h i s d e f e n s e is v e r y m u c h li ke t h e d e f e n s e o f “ l a c k o f j u r i s d i c t i o n ” i n a C o u r t of la w, E i t h e r a C o u r t h a s ju ri s- d i c t i o n o r it d o e s n o t . It m u s t e n t e r t a i n c h a l l e n g e r s t o i t s j u r i s d i c t i o n w h e n r a i s e d . _ A n a r b i t r a t o r l i k e w i s e n o l o n g e r h a s j u r i s d i c t i o n if t h e i s s u e b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s is n o t a r b i t r a b l e . T h e U n i o n s t a t e d t h a t t h i s g r i e v a n c e q u e s t i o n e d t h e A r t i c l e t h a t r e q u i r e d t h a t a l l e x e r c i s e s o f ‘ m a n a g e m e n t r i g h t s s h a l l b e m a d e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a “ F a i r a n d P r u d e n t M a n a g e - m e n t S t a n d a r d ” , T h e A g r e e m e n t t h e n s e t o u t t h a t “ T h i s s t a n d a r d s h a l l p r o - v i d e t h e b a s i s f o r g r i e v a n c e b y m e m - b e r s o f t h e b a r g a i n i n g u n i t ” , T h e c l a i m o f p a y f o r r a n k m a y c o n - c e i v a b l y i n v o l v e t h e e x e r c i s e of t h e m a n a g e m e n t r i g h t s o f t h e e m p l o y e r a n d t h e r e f o r e it is f o u n d t h a t t h e g r i e v a n c e is p r o p e r l y b e f o r e t h i s a r b i - t r a t o r a n d t h e i s s u e is a r b i t r a b l e . D i s c u s s i o n E q u a l p a y f o r e q u a l w o r k c e r t a i n l y s o u n d s fa ir a n d e q u i t a b l e a s a g e n e r a l pr op os it io n. : T h e A g r e e m e n t , h o w e v e r , i s s i l e n t a s t o t h i s i s s u e . T h e s a m e A g r e e m e n t is s p e c i f i c i n s p e l l i n g o u t t h a t a n a r b i t r a - t o r h a s n o p o w e r t o a d d to o r s u b t r a c t f r o m o r m o d i f y a n y of t h e t e r m s o f t h e A g r e e m e n t . T h e p a y f o r r a n k b e n e f i t g o t n o w h e r e a t t h e c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g t a - bl e. T h e C i t y s a y s t h a t t h i s g r i e v a n c e is a n a t t e m p t t o b o o t s t r a p t h e b e n e f i t a n d o b t a i n t h e b e n e f i t i n a r b i t r a t i o n t h a t w a s l o s t i n n e g o t i a t i o n s . T h o u g h s o m e o f t h e w o r k of t h e of fi - c e r w i t h m o r e s e n i o r i t y p a r a l l e l s t h a t - o f a l i e u t e n a n t , t h e r e w a s n o q u e s t i o n t h a t a p a t r o l m a n w a s e v e r a n O . L C . ( O f f i c e r I n C h a r g e ) . O v e r t i m e h a d t o b e a p p r o v e d b y t h e s h i f t c o m m a n d e r . A t al l t i m e s , t h e ja il w a s u n d e r t h e s h i f t c o m m a n d e r ’ s c o n t r o l . _ C u s t o m a n d p r a c t i c e e x i s t e d f o r s e n - j o r of fi ce rs t o t a k e m o r e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t h e n a j u n i o r p a t r o l m a n . — T h e v e r b a l r e m a r k o f t h e m a j o r m e r e l y r e i t e r a t e d w h a t h a s ’ a l w a y s b e e n d o n e . _ N o m e m b e r o f t h e U n i o n a t a n y t i m e i n t h e f i f t e e n ( 1 5 ) m o n t h p e r i o d g r i e v e d t h a t t h e C i t y a b u s e d i t s m a n a g e m e n t r i g h t s w h e n it e n t r u s t e d t h e j a i l k e e p - e r s t o p e r f o r m t h e i r d u t i e s w i t h o u t a l i e u t e n a n t o r a t l e a s t a s e r g e a n t b e i n g p r e s e n t . . T h e A g r e e m e n t h a s n o p a y f o r r a n k p r o v i s i o n s a n d i n t h e a b s e n c e of s u c h l a n g u a g e t h e g r i e v a n c e c a n n o t b e s u s - t a i n e d . A W A R D T h e g r i e v a n c e is d e n i e d a n d t h e c o s t s of t h i s a r b i t r a t i o n s h a l l b e b o r n e b y t h e U n i o n . B A Y M E D I C A L C E N T E R — D e c i s i o n o f A r b i t r a t o r I n r e B A Y M E D I C A L C E N T E R [ B a y C i t y , M i c h . ] a n d S E R V I C E E M P L O Y - E E S I N T E R N A T I O N A L U N I O N L O - C A L 7 9 , A A A C a s e N o . 5 4 - 3 0 0 - 0 0 8 3 7 - 9 4 , M a r c h 7, 1 9 9 5 A r b i t r a t o r : E r w i n B . E l m a n n W A G E S — G e n e r a l i n c r e a s e > 1 1 4 . 2 2 » 1 1 4 . 8 4 2 4 , 3 7 P 2 4 T S T , N u r s e s ’ b a r g a i n i n g u n i t is n o t e n t i t l e d to w a g e i n c r e a s e g i v e n t o 4 5 s a l a r i e d e r n p l o y - ee s, d e s p i t e c o l l e c t i v e - b a r g a i n i n g c o n t r a c t m e t o o c l a u s e ” s t a t i n g t h a t n e g o t i a t e d r a t e s r e m a i n i n e f f e c t ‘ ‘ s u b j e c t o n l y t o a n y g e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e g i v e n t o s a l a r i e d a n d n o n - r e p r e s e n t e d e m p l o y e e s , ” w h e r e r a i s e w a s g i v e n t o l e s s t h a n s i x p e r c e n t o f s a l a - ti ed , p r o f e s s i o n a l , a n d n o n - r e p r e s e n t e d e m - p l o y e e s a n d c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d g e n e r a l . i n c r e a s e , a n d p a r t i e s h a d n o t a g r e e d to l a n - g u a g e i n c o r p o r a t i n g u n i o n ' s p r o p o s a l al - l o w i n g a n y i n c r e a s e t o t r i g g e r w a g e i n - c r e a s e f o r u n i t b u t h a d s p e c i f i e d t h a t o n l y g e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e ” d i d so . B A Y M E D I C A L C E N T E R A p p e a r a n c e s : F o r t h e e m p l o y e r — J o s e p h L y o n s , vi ce : p r e s i d e n t , h u m a n r e s o u r c e s ; K a t h y R o b e r t s , h u m a n r e - s o u r c e s m a n a g e r ; M a r i l y n B o s t i c k , e m p l o y e e r e l a t i o n s a s s i s t a n t ; G a r y K l o t z , a t t o r n e y . F o r t h e u n i o n — M a r y G i b s o n , l o c a l p r e s i d e n t ; L u a n n M . T o y z a n , s e c r e t a r y ; L e e J. O f f e n - b e c k e r , v i c e p r e s i d e n t ; J a n e t M . N e - v e a u , s t e w a r d ; J a n e B o w e n , g r i e v a n c e c h a i r m a n ; D a v i d F . C l a x t o n , l o c a l 7 9 - l e g a l af fa ir s. G E N E R A L I N C R E A S E E L L M A N N , A r b i t r a t o r : — T h e B a y M e d i c a l C e n t e r h a s s o m e 1 , 8 0 0 e m - p l o y e e s o f w h o m a b o u t 8 2 5 a r e n o n u n ~ i o n i z e d w h i l e 9 7 5 a r e i n t h r e e s e p a r a t e l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s . T h e P r o f e s s i o n a l R e g i s t e r e d N u r s e s S t a f f C o u n c i l is t h e e x c l u s i v e b a r g a i n i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f o r s o m e 3 5 0 r e g i s t e r e d n u r s e s e m - p l o y e d b y t h e C e n t e r . E a c h n u r s e is p l a c e d a t a n a p p r o p r i a t e s t e p o n t h e w a g e s c h e d u l e r e f l e c t i n g p r i o r e x p e r - i e n c e . I n S e c t i o n 1 o f A r t i c l e X X X I X of t h e c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t n e g o t i a t e d a n d s i g n e d b y t h e U n i o n a n d t h e E m p l o y e r t h e p a r t i e s s e t f o r t h w a g e r a t e s f o r t h e v a r i o u s s t e p s f o r e a c h o f t h e t h r e e y e a r s c o v e r e d b y t h e a g r e e m e n t . F o r t h e fi rs t y e a r it w a s e x p r e s s l y i n d i c a t e d : T h e s e r a t e s r e m a i n i n e f f e c t t h r o u g h J a n u - a r y 21 , 1 9 9 5 , s u b j e c t o n l y t o a n y g e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e g i v e n t o s a l a r i e d a n d n o n - r e p r e s e n t e d e m p l o y e e s f o r p a y r o l l y e a r 1 9 9 4 o r a n y g e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e n e g o t i a t e d a f t e r r a t i f i c a t i o n w i t h a n y o t h e r b a r g a i n i n g u n i t f o r p a y r o l l y e a r 1 9 9 4 , b u t e x c l u d i n g a n y w a g e i n c r e a s e s f o r p a y r o l l y e a r 1 9 9 5 . T h e m e a n i n g t o b e g i v e n t o t h i s q u o t e d l a n g u a g e h a s d i v i d e d t h e p a r t i e s a n d p r e c i p i t a t e d t h i s g r i e v a n c e fi le d b y M a r y G i b s o n i n b e h a l f of al l m e m b e r s of t h e b a r g a i n i n g u n i t . D u e t o lo ss o f r e v e n u e a n d a p r e c a r - j o u s b u d g e t c o n d i t i o n , t h e C e n t e r m a n a g e m e n t s a w fi t, i n t h e s p r i n g of 1 9 9 4 , t o e l i m i n a t e s o m e 1 2 9 p o s i t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e o f a b o u t 2 5 n o n r e p r e - s e n t e d h o u r l y e m p l o y e e s a n d 3 5 s a l a ~ ri ed . e m p l o y e e s . R e m a i n i n g s a l a r i e d e m p l o y e e s w e r e a s s i g n e d a d d i t i o n a l d u t i e s . A c k n o w l e d g i n g t h i s f a c t a s w e l l a s c o m p e t i t i v e c o n d i t i o n s , t h e C e n t e r t h e n d e c i d e d t o i n c r e a s e t h e c o m p e n - s a t i o n o f s o m e 4 5 a f f e c t e d s a l a r i e d w o r k e r s b y o n e t o f o u r d o l l a r s p e r h o u r . T h e a m o u n t s w e r e d e t e r m i n e d b y i n d i v i d u a l e v a l u a t i o n o n a c a s e b y c a s e b a s i s a n d t h e a d j u s t m e n t s b e c a m e e f f e c t i v e i n t h e l a t t e r p a r t o f M a y . T h e U n i o n , t h o u g h it d i d n o t r e p r e s e n t a n y of t h e a f f e c t e d w o r k e r s , w a s d u l y n o t i - f i e d o f t h e s e w a g e a d j u s t m e n t s . I t e m - p h a s i z e s t h a t it d i d n o t a g r e e t o t h i s a c t i o n . 1 0 4 L A 8 3 1 U n d e r t h e q u o t e d l a n g u a g e o f A r t i - cl e X X X I X , w h i c h h a s b e e n r e f e r r e d t o a s a “ m e t o o c l a u s e , ” it w a s t h e U n i o n ' s p o s i t i o n t h a t if a n y e m p l o y e e r e c e i v e d a n i n c r e a s e i n ra te s, a n e q u a l p e r c e n t a g e i n c r e a s e w a s p a y a b l e to al l m e m b e r s o f t h e b a r g a i n i n g u n i t . A c - c o r d i n g l y , t h e i n c r e a s e g r a n t e d to t h e 4 5 s a l a r i e d e m p l o y e e s c o n s t i t u t e d a “ s e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e ” w h i c h re - q u i r e d a n e q u a l p e r c e n t a g e i n c r e a s e in . t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n of e a c h u n i o n m e m - be r. : T h e C e n t e r r e j e c t e d t h e c l a i m , c o n - t e n d i n g t h a t it w a s c o n t r a r y to t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e a g r e e m e n t a n d t h e n e - g o t i a t i n g h i s t o r y o f t h e p r o v i s i o n it - se lf . U n i o n w i t n e s s e s i n t u r n e m p h a - s i z e d t h e i r f i r m u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t t h e c o n t r a c t e m b o d i e d t h e i r i n t e n t i o n t h a t if a n y e m p l o y e e r e c e i v e d a n i n - c r e a s e d b e n e f i t , al l m e m b e r s of t h e b a r g a i n i n g u n i t w e r e e n t i t l e d t o a c o r - r e s p o n d i n g i n c r e a s e . O p i n i o n D u r i n g t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s of t h e c u r - r e n t c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t , w h i c h e x t e n d e d o v e r s o m e m o n t h s , t h e r e w a s b a s i s f o r t h e U n i o n ’ s i n t e r - p r e t a t i o n i n s o m e w r i t i n g s w h i c h t h e C e n t e r s u b m i t t e d a t t h e b a r g a i n i n g ta bl e. T h u s , t h e C e n t e r ’ s R e v i s e d P r o - p o s a l s , d a t e d M a r c h 1, 1 9 9 4 , i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e r e w o u l d b e n o i n c r e a s e i n c o m p e n s a t i o n t h e fi rs t y e a r b u t “ s u b - je ct to a n y i n c r e a s e g i v e n to s a l a r i e d a n d n o n - r e p r e s e n t e d e m p l o y e e s . ” I a m s a t i s h e d t h a t b o t h b e f o r e a n d a f t e r M a r c h i s t U n i o n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a r - t i c u l a t e d w h a t t h e y i n t e n d e d b y t h e “ m e t o o c l a u s e ” a n d t h a t r e p r e s e n t a - t i v e s of t h e C e n t e r a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t t h e y ‘ u n d e r s t o o d ’ t h a t ‘p os it io n. T h e r e w a s n o c r e d i b l e e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e e m p l o y e r c o n c u r r e d i n t h a t i n t e r - p r e t a t i o n , h o w e v e r . O n t h e c o n t r a r y . o n - M a r c h 3 r d t h e C e n t e r p r e s e n t e d R e v i s e d P r o p o s a l s . W i t h r e s p e c t t o w a g e s , t h e p r o p o s a l r e a d : I s t y e a r - 0 % ; s u b j e c t o n l y t o a n y g e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e g i v e n to s a l a r i e d a n d n o n - r e p - r e s e n t e d e m p l o y e e s i n J u l y 1 9 9 4 , b u t e x c i u d - i n g a n y o t h e r g e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e s t h a t m a y b e n e g o t i a t e d w i t h a n y . o t h e r b a r g a i n - i n g u n i t . ( E m p h a s i s a d d e d . ) L a t e r i n M a r c h a c o m p r e h e n s i v e e n u m e r a t i o n o f s o m e 5 5 s e p a r a t e “ C o n t r a c t C h a n g e s ” w a s p r e p a r e d . U n d e r W a g e s , t h e C e n t e r r e c i t e d : I s t y e a r - 0 % ; s u b j e c t . o n l y t o a n y g e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e g i v e n to s a l a r i e d a n d n o n - r e p - r e s e n t e d e m p l o y e e s i n J u l y 1 9 9 4 , b u t e x c l u d - j n g a n y o t h e r g e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e s t h a t m a y b e n e g o t i a t e d w i t h a n y o t h e r b a r g a i n - i n g u n i t . ( E m p h a s i s a d d e d . ) O n M a r c h 1 5 , 1 9 9 4 r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f b o t h p a r t i e s f o r m a l l y s i g n e d a T h i r - 1 0 4 L A 8 3 2 t e e n t h P a r t i a l A g r e e m e n t w h i c h o n c e a g a i n r e i t e r a t e d u n d e r W a g e s : I s t y e a r - 0 % ; s u b j e c t o n l y t o a n y g e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e g i v e n to s a l a r i e d a n d n o n - r e p - r e s e n t e d e m p l o y e e s f o r p a y r o l l y e a r 1 9 9 4 o r a n y g e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e n e g o t i a t e d a f t e r r a t i f i c a t i o n w i t h a n y o t h e r b a r g a i n i n g u n i t f o r p a y r o l l y e a r 1 9 9 4 , b u t e x c l u d i n g a n y w a g e i n c r e a s e s f o r p a y r o l l y e a r 1 9 9 5 . ( E m - p h a s i s a d d e d . ) : T h i s d o c u m e n t b e a r s t h e s i g n a t u r e o f U n i o n p r e s i d e n t G i b s o n a n d - a n o t h e r U n i o n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , G . P . M c C a r t y . It w a s t h e n i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t h e co ll ec - t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t i n t h e f i n a l p r i n t e d v e r s i o n . A n a l y s i s of t h e s e d o c u m e n t s l e a v e s n o d o u b t t h a t t h e k i n d of w a g e i n - c r e a s e w h i c h w o u l d t r i g g e r a n a d j u s t - m e n t f o r t h e n u r s e s w a s n o t “ a n y ” i n c r e a s e , a s o r i g i n a l l y s u g g e s t e d , b u t a “ g e n e r a l ” i n c r e a s e t o b o t h s a l a r i e d a n d n o n r e p r e s e n t e d w o r k e r s . W i t t i n g l y o r u n w i t t i n g l y , t h e U n i o n u l t i m a t e l y a g r e e d t o t h a t l a n g u a g e r e g a r d l e s s o f w h a t “ i n t e n t i o n ” s o m e o r al l of t h e U n i o n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s m a y h a v e p r i - v a t e l y h a r b o r e d . T h e c o n t r o l l i n g p r i n - c i p l e w a s f o r m u l a t e d a l m o s t a c e n t u r y a g o b y M r . J u s t i c e H o l m e s i n T h e P a t h o f t h e L a w : “ T h e m a k i n g o f a c o n t r a c t d e p e n d s n o t o n t h e a g r e e m e n t o f t w o m i n d s i n o n e i n t e n - ti on , b u t o n t h e a g r e e m e n t o f t w o s e t s o f e x t e r n a l s i g n s , — n o t o n t h e p a r t i e s ’ h a v i n g m e a n t t h e s a m e t h i n g b u t o n t h e i r h a v i n g s a i d s a m e t h i n g . ” S e e S o c i a l S e c u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , 8 5 L A 87 4, 8 7 6 n. 4 ( E l i m a n n , 19 85 ); M i c h i - g a n C h a n d e l i e r C o m p a n y , 2 9 7 M i c h . 4 1 , 4 9 ( 1 9 4 1 ) , U n d e r S e c t i o n 5 o f A r t i c l e V I I I o f t h e l a b o r c o n t r a c t t h e p a r t i e s e x p l i c i t l y c o n f i n e d t h e p o w e r s o f a n a r b i t r a t o r to “ a p p l y i n g a n d i n t e r p r e t - i n g t h i s A g r e e m e n t a s w r i t t e n . ” T h e p o w e r t o a l t e r o r m o d i f y it w a s w i t h - h e l d . . T h e a d j u s t m e n t i n . c o m p e n s a t i o n g i v e n i n M a y to f o r t y - f i v e e m p l o y e e s , p r i n c i p a l l y m a n a g e r s a n d _ di re ct or s, . r e p r e s e n t e d a s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e f o r a s i g n i f i c a n t m u m b e r o f ‘ e m p l o y e e s . W h e t h e r r e g a r d e d a s a o n e - t i m e b o - n u s , o r r e c o g n i t i o n o f s p e c i a l m e r i t o r s p e c i a l c o m p e t i t i v e c o n d i t i o n s , i t c o u l d r e a s o n a b l y h a v e b e e n v i e w e d b y t h e U n i o n a s a n u p w a r d a d j u s t m e n t i n t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n of t h e s e a f f e c t e d e m - p l o y e e s , b u t it w a s n o t a “ g e n e r a l w a g e i n c r e a s e . ” T r u e , it d i d n o t h a v e t o b e u n i v e r s a l f o r t h e C e n t e r i t s e l f i n J u l y g r a n t e d a 1 % a d j u s t m e n t “ a c r o s s t h e b o a r d ” w h i c h it a c k n o w l e d g e d w a s a “ g e n e r a l w a g e a d j u s t m e n t ” a l t h o u g h it e x c l u d e d t h e f o r t y - f i v e w h o h a d a l - r e a d y r e c e i v e d s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n i n M a y . B u t l e s s t h a n 6 % o f t h e s a l a r i e d , p r o f e s s i o n a l a n d n o n - r e p r e s e n t e d e ¢ m - p l o y e e s o f t h e C e n t e r w e r e a f f e c t e d b y t h a t a d j u s t m e n t . T h e U n i o n ’ s c o n t e n - B A Y M E D I C A L C E N T E R t i o n t h a t ‘ ‘ g e n e r a l ” c a n m e a n e v e n a n i n s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t o f t h e w h o l e f i n d s n o s u p p o r t i n e i t h e r d i c t i o n a r y o r c o m m o n u s a g e . A s d e f i n e d i n W e b - st er ’s N i n t h C o l l e g i a t e D i c t i o n a r y , “ g e n e r a l ” r e f e r s to “ e v e r y m e m b e r o f a c l a s s ” o r to a t l e a s t a ‘ m a j o r i t y of i n d i - v i d u a l s i n v o l v e d . ’ T h e R a n d o m H o u s e D i c t i o n a r y o f t h e E n g l i s h L a n g u a g e ( 2 n d e d 1 9 8 7 ) d e f i n e s “ g e n e r a l ” a s ‘‘ pe r- t a i n i n g to o r t r u e o f s u c h p e r s o n s o r t h i n g s i n t h e m a i n , w i t h p o s s i b l e e x - c e p t i o n s , c o m m o n t o m o s t . ” B l a c k ’ s L a w D i c t i o n a r y i n d i c a t e s t h e w o r d r e - f e r s “ t o t h e w h o l e k i n d , cl as s, o r o r - d e r . ” It is “ d i r e c t e d to t h e w h o l e , a s d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m a n y t h i n g a p p l y i n g to o r d e s i g n e d f o r a p o r t i o n o n l y . ’ A p - p l i c a t i o n t o o n l y 6 % o f t h e g r o u p d o e s n o t m e e t e v e n t h e m o s t i d i o s y n c r a t i c n o t i o n o f a “ g e n e r a l ” i n c r e a s e . ” N o s u c h m o d i f i c a t i o n o f o r d i n a r y l a n - g u a g e w a s e v e r s u g g e s t e d i n t h e c o u r s e o f b a r g a i n i n g . F o r t h i s r e a s o n , t h e g r i e v a n c e c a n n o t b e s u s t a i n e d . A W A R D T h e g r i e v a n c e is d e n i e d . C O N E M I L L S C O R P . C O N E M I L L S C O R P . — D e c i s i o n o f A r b i t r a t o r I n r e C O N E M I L L S C O R P O R A - T I O N , W H I T E O A K P L A N T , G r e e n s - b o r o , N . C . a n d A M A L G A M A T E D C L O T H I N G A N D T E X T I L E W O R E - E R S U N I O N , L O C A L 1 3 9 1 , F M C S C a s e N o . 9 4 / 2 5 4 6 1 , A p r i l 24 , 1 9 9 5 A r b i t r a t o r : D e n n i s R . N o l a n , se le ct - e d b y p a r t i e s t h r o u g h p r o c e d u r e s o f t h e F e d e r a l M e d i a t i o n a n d C o n c i l i a - t i o n S e r v i c e . D I S C H A R G E — S a f e t y > 1 1 8 . 6 5 9 E m p l o y e r -d id n o t h a v e j u s t c a u s e t o di s- c h a r g e e m p l o y e e f o r n o t w e a r i n g f a c e s h i e l d w h i l e p u m p i n g c h e m i c a l s , w h e r e e m p l o y e r f a i l e d t o p r o v e t h a t e m p l o y e e k n e w o f it s s u p p o s e d r u l e r e q u i r i n g f a c e m a s k s w h e n h a n d l i n g a n y c h e m i c a l s ; n o d o c u m e n t s d i s - t r i b u t e d t o e m p l o y e e s c o n t a i n e d s u c h a r u l e , t r a i n i n g v i d e o c o m m u n i c a t e d o p p o s i t e m e s s a g e b y s h o w i n g e m p l o y e e s h a n d l i n g c h e m i c a l s w h i l e w e a r i n g o n l y g o g g l e s , a n d s u p e r v i s o r w h o te st if ie d t h a t h e t o l d e m - p l o y e e o f r u l e w a s u n r e l i a b l e w i t n e s s . E V I D E N C E — C r e d i b i l i t y — S a f e t y » 9 4 . 6 0 5 0 5 r 1 1 8 . 6 5 9 » 9 4 . 6 0 5 1 9 S u p e r v i s o r w h o t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e t o l d e m - p l o y e e o f s u p p o s e d r u l e r e q u i r i n g f a c e m a s k w h e n h a n d l i n g a n y c h e m i c a l s w a s u n r e l i a - b l e w i t n e s s , e v e n t h o u g h e m p l o y e e w h o w a s d i s c h a r g e d f o r n o t w e a r i n g m a s k w h i l e p u m p i n g c h e m i c a l s h a d i n t e r e s t i n d e n y i n g h e h a d b e e n t o l d o f r u l e , w h e r e s u p e r v i s o r h a d i n t e r e s t i n d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t h e c a r - r i e d o u t h i s s u p e r i o r ’ s . o r d e r s , s u p e r v i s o r w a s u n a b l e t o k e e p h i s s t o r y s t r a i g h t a b o u t w h e t h e r e m p l o y e e ‘ h a d t o l d h i m o f h i s m e d i - c a l p r o b l e m a b o u t w e a r i n g m a s k s , a n d d a t e o f n o t e p u r p o r t e d l y r e c o r d i n g s u b s t a n c e o f c o n v e r s a t i o n i n w h i c h s u p e r v i s o r a l l e g e d l y t o l d e m p l o y e e o f r u l e d i f f e r e d f r o m d a t e su -~ p e r v i s o r c l a i m s c o n v e r s a t i o n o c c u r r e d , A p p e a r a n c e s : F o r t h e e m p l o y e r — C h a r l e s P . R o b e r t s , I I I ( H a y n s w o r t h , B a l d w i n , J o h n s o n a n d G r e a v e s , P. A. ), a t t o r n e y . F o r t h e u n i o n — P h i l C o h e n , d i s t r i c t m a n a g e r , C e n t r a l N o r t h C a r o - l i n a D i s t r i c t . S A F E T Y S t a t e m e n t o f t h e C a s e . N O L A N , A r b i t r a t o r : — T h e U n i o n fi le d t h i s g r i e v a n c e o n J a n u a r y 5, 1 9 9 4 t o p r o t e s t t h e d i s c h a r g e o f R _ t h e p r e - v i o u s d a y f o r a s a f e t y v i o l a t i o n . F h e 10 4 LA 83 3 p a r t i e s c o u l d n o t r e s o l v e t h e d i s p u t e i n t h e g r i e v a n c e p r o c e d u r e , a n d ’ t h e U n i o n d e m a n d e d a r b i t r a t i o n . Il . S t a t e m e n t o f t h e F a c t s A . B a c k g r o u n d U n t i l h i s d i s c h a r g e i n J a n u a r y of 1 9 9 4 , t h e G r i e v a n t h a d w o r k e d f o r t h e C o m p a n y ’ s W h i t e O a k p l a n t f o r n i n e y e a r s , t h e la st t h r e e a s a s u l f u r d y e m i x e r i n t h e d y e h o u s e , A n i m m i g r a n t f r o m P a k i s t a n , h e l e a r n e d E n g l i s h a s h i s f o u r t h l a n g u a g e . H e r o s e t o s u p e r - v i s o r y s t a t u s a t a n o t h e r ‘ c o m p a n y b e - f o r e s t a r t i n g w o r k a t C o n e . S o f a r a s t h e r e c o r d s h o w s , h i s p e r f o r m a n c e w a s c o m p l e t e l y s a t i s f a c t o r y u n t i l M a r c h o f 1 9 9 3 , w h e n th e s e r i e s o f i n c i d e n t s l e a d - i n g t o h i s d i s c h a r g e b e g a n . B e c a u s e t h e c a s e . c o n c e r n s f a c t s r a t h e r t h a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s , a c a r e f u l s t a t e m e n t o f t h e b a c k g r o u n d a n d o f t h e d i s c h a r g e i n c i d e n t is e s s e n t i a l . D y e m i x e r s u s e d y e s , c a u s t i c s , a c i d s , a n d v a r i o u s o t h e r c h e m i c a l s i n t h e i r w o r k : A m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , t h e y h a v e to ‘ p u m p , w e i g h , a n d m i x t h e i n g r e d i - é n t s f o r t h e C o m p a n y ’ s . d y e s . M a n y of t h e c h e m i c a l s a r e p o t e n t i a l l y to xi c, s o e m p l o y e e s h a v e to f o l l o w d e t a i l e d s a f e - t y r e g u l a t i o n s . P u r s u a n t to f e d e r a l l a w ; i n d u s t r i a l c h e m i c a l s c o m e w i t h a M a t e r i a l S a f e t y D a t a S h e e t ( M S D S ) li st in g h a r m f u l i n g r e d i e n t s , s a f e t y p r e c a u t i o n s , a n d f i r s t - a i d t r e a t m e n t s i n c a s e s o f a c c i d e n t a l e x p o s u r e . O c c u - p a t i o n a l S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h A d m i n i s - t r a t i o n r e g u l a t i o n s o b l i g e e m p l o y e r s t o p r o v i d e a s a f e w o r k p l a c e f o r t h e i r e m ~ p l o y e e s . O n e m e t h o d u s e d b y C o n e t o e n s u r e s a f e t y is a J o b S a f e t y A n a l y s i s , o r J S A . T h i s d o c u m e n t li st s t h e h a z - a r d s a n d c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s f o r e a c h d u t y . T h e C o m p a n y a i s o p o s t s o r di s- t r i b u t e s o t h e r s a f e t y ru le s. B. T h e A p p l i c a b l e R u l e s T h i s c a s e c o n c e r n s t h e s a f e t y r u l e s a p p l i c a b l e to t h e d y e m i x e r s , i n p a r - t i c u l a r t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r é m p l o y e e s t o u s e p e r s o n a l p r o t e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t , o r P P E , t o p r e v e n t i n j u r i e s f r o m e x p o - s u r e t o t o x i c c h e m i c a l s . S e c t i o n K I X C o f t h e A g r e e m e n t r e q u i r e s e m p l o y e e s t o o b s e r v e a l l p o s t e d s h o p r u l e s . T h a t s e c t i o n a l s o o b l i g a t e s t h e C o m p a n y t o d i s c u s s p r o p o s e d c h a n g e s i n t h e r u l e s w i t h t h e U n i o n , a l t h o u g h it m a y t h e n i m p l e m e n t c h a n g e s w i t h o u t t h e U n - i o n ’ s c o n s e n t , s u b j e c t t o t h e U n i o n ’ s r i g h t t o g r i e v e t h e c h a n g e s . T h e cr it i- c a l r u l e is C l a s s B , n u m b e r 7: it r e - q u i r e s e m p l o y e e s t o w e a r “ m a n d a t o r y p e r s o n a l p r o t e c t i v e e q u i p m e n t i n d e s - i g n a t e d a r e a s , a n d o n j o b s a n d t a s k s 1 0 5 L A 4 4 i m m e d i a t e s u p e r v i s o r of t h e g r i e v a n t , o r h i s d e l e g a t e , s h a l l m e e t w i t h t h e g r i e v a n t a n d t h e U n i o n to r e v i e w t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e g r i e v a n t a n d a n y p r o b - l e m s e n c o u n t e r e d i n h i s p e r f o r m a n c e a n d t r a i n i n g . T h e C o m p a n y s h a l l m a k e a s s e s s m e n t s o f h i s p e r f o r m a n c e u s i n g a p p r o p r i a t e m e t h o d s . T h e p e r - f o r m a n c e a n d a s s e s s m e n t s of t h e g r i e v a n t s h a i l b e d o c u m e n t e d a n d k e p t o n fi le t o s h o w i n s t a n c e s o f b o t h ef fe c- t i v e a n d i n e f f e c t i v e p e r f o r m a n c e , A f t e r t w e l v e w e e k s t h e C o m p a n y s h a l l m a k e a d e c i s i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e a b i l i t y of t h e g r i e v a n t to p e r f o r m t h e w o r k of m e c h a n i c B : T h e C o m p a n y s h a l l i n f o r m t h e g r i e v a n t a n d t h e U n i o n o f i t s d e c i s i o n . T h e a r b i t r a t o r r e t a i n s j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h i s _ m a t t e r p e n d i n g t h i s C o m p a n y d e c i s i o n a n d a n y g r i e v a n c e f i l e d b y t h e g r i e v a n t o r t h e U n i o n r e g a r d i n g it . C I T Y O F M A T T O O N — D e c i s i o n o f A r b i t r a t o r I n r e C I T Y O F M A T T O O N a n d A M E R I C A N F E D E R A T I O N O F S T A T E , C O U N T Y A N D M U N I C I P A L E M P L O Y E E S ( A F S C M E ) , C O U N C I L 31 , L O C A L 3 8 2 1 , F M C S C a s e N o . 9 5 / 0 1 5 0 6 , M a y 17 , 1 9 9 5 A r b i t r a t o r : R o b e r t G . B a i l e y , s e l e c t - e d b y p a r t i e s t h r o u g h p r o c e d u r e s o f t h e F e d e r a l M e d i a t i o n a n d C o n c i l i a - t i o n S e r v i c e D I S A B I L I T Y — L i g h t d u t y » 1 0 0 . 0 8 > 2 4 . 3 6 8 C i t y ’ s d e n i a l o f l i g h t - d u t y a s s i g n m e n t t o i n j u r e d e m p l o y e e d i d n o t v i o l a t e c o l l e c t i v e - b a r g a i n i n g c o n t r a c t , w h e r e c o n t r a c t d i d n o t r e q u i r e c i t y t o c r e a t e l i g h t - d u t y a s s i g n m e n t a s a c c o m m o d a t i o n , a n d s e v e n i n s t a n c e s o f g i v i n g o f l i g h t - d u t y a s s i g n m e n t s i n p a s t 1 0 y e a r s , w i t h o n l y t w o i n p a s t fi ve , d o n o t c o n s t i t u t e b i n d i n g p a s t p r a c t i c e . H O L I D A Y P A Y — W o r k a f t e r h o l i d a y > 1 0 0 . 4 8 1 5 I n j u r e d e m p l o y e e w h o w a s i n s t r u c t e d n o t t o c o m e t o w o r k o n d a y a f t e r h o l i d a y b e - c a u s e n o l i g h t d u t y w a s a v a i l a b l e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n g i v e n h o l i d a y p a y , e v e n t h o u g h c o l l e c t i v e - b a r g a i n i n g c o n t r a c t r e q u i r e d e m - p l o y e e s t o w o r k s c h e d u l e d w o r k d a y s b e f o r e a n d a f t e r h o l i d a y t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r h o l i d a y p a y , w h e r e c o n t r a c t a l s o p r o v i d e d f o r h o l i - d a y p a y if a b s e n c e f r o m w o r k o n e i t h e r d a y w a s a p p r o v e d b y ci ty , a n d ci ty ’s i n s t r u c t i n g C I T Y O F M A T T O O N e m p l o y e e n o t to c o m e to w o r k is e q u i v a l e n t t o a p p r o v a l , A p p e a r a n c e s : F o r t h e e m p l o y e r — R o b e r t D . S h u f f , a t t o r n e y ; W a y n e B o l - s o n , s t r e e t s u p e r i n t e n d e n t ; W a n d a F e r g u s o n , m a y o r ; M i c h a e l E . M i s n e r , s u p e r i n t e n d e n t of w a t e r d e p a r t m e n t . F o r t h e u n i o n — C a t h e r i n e S t r u - z y n s k i , a t t o r n e y ; D o n a l d L. O s b o r n e , p r e s i d e n t ; D a v i d L e r o y H a r r i n g t o n , v i c e p r e s i d e n t ; G a r y O l s e n , s t r e e t f o r e - m a n : R i c k P u r c e l l , j a n i t o r ; T i m D a l y , l a b o r e r ; S t e v e C a m d e n , m a i n t e n a n c e . L I G H T D U T Y I. I s s u e s B A I L E Y , A r b i t r a t o r : — T h e r e a r e t w o i s s u e s to b e r e s o l v e d i n t h i s di s- p u t e : (1 ) W h e t h e r t h e C o m p a n y v i o l a t - e d t h e c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t o r a n y r e l a t e d p a s t p r a c t i c e w h e n it d e n i e d t h e G r i e v a n t , K e n n e t h K i n g , l i g h t d u t y ; a n d , if so , w h a t r e m e d y s h a l l i s s u e ? (2 ) W h e t h e r t h e C o m p a n y v i o l a t e d t h e c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t w h e n it d e n i e d t h e G r i e v - a n t h o l i d a y p a y f o r M e m o r i a l D a y ; a n d , if so , w h a t r e m e d y s h a l l i s s u e ? Ul . A p p l i c a b l e C o n t r a c t P r o v i s i o n s A R T I C L E II M A N A G E M E N T R I G H T S S e c t i o n 1 — M a n a g e m e n t R i g h t s S u b j e c t to t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h i s A g r e e - m e n t t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e E m p l o y e r , t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f it s p o l i - ci es , b u d g e t , a n d o p e r a t i o n s , t h e m a n n e r o f e x e r c i s e o f it s s t a t u t o r y f u n c t i o n s a n d t h e d i r e c t i o n o f it s w o r k f o r c e , i n c l u d i n g b u t n o t l i m i t e d to , t h e r i g h t t o h i r e , p r o m o t e , d e m o t e , t r a n s f e r , a l l o c a t e , a s s i g n a n d d i r e c t e m p l o y e e s ; t o d i s c i p l i n e , s u s p e n d a n d di s- c h a r g e f o r j u s t c a u s e ; t o r e l i e v e e m p l o y e e s f r o m d u t y b e c a u s e o f l a c k o f w o r k o r f o r o t h e r l e g i t i m a t e r e a s o n s ; to m a k e a n d e n - f o r c e r e a s o n a b l e r u l e s o f c o n d u c t a n d r e g u ~ l a t i o n s ; t o d e t e r m i n e t h e d e p a r t m e n t s , d i v i - s i o n s a n d s e c t i o n s - a n d w o r k t o b e p e r f o r m e d t h e r e i n ; to d e t e r m i n e q u a l i t y ; to d e t e r m i n e t h e n u m b e r o f h o u r s o f w o r k a n d s h i f t s p e r w o r k w e e k , if a n y ; t o e s t a b l i s h a n d c h a n g e w o r k s c h e d u l e s a n d a s s i g n m e n t s , t h e r i g h t t o i n t r o d u c e n e w m e t h o d s o f o p e r a t i o n s , to e l i m i n a t e , r e l o c a t e , t r a n s f e r o r s u b c o n t r a c t w o r k ; t o m a i n t a i n e f f i c i e n c y i n t h e d e p a r t - m e n t a n d t o t a k e s u c h a c t i o n s a s a r e n e c e s - s a r y i n a n e m e r g e n c y is v e s t e d e x c l u s i v e l y i n t h e E m p l o y e r p r o v i d e d t h e e x e r c i s e o f s u c h r i g h t s b y m a n a g e m e n t d o e s n o t c o n - fl ic t w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h i s A g r e e m e n t . S e c t i o n 2 — R e s e r v a t i o n s It is u n d e r s t o o d a n d a g r e e d t h a t a n y o f t h e r i g h t s , p o w e r s , o r a u t h o r i t y t h e C i t y o r U n i o n h a d p r i o r t o t h e s i g n i n g o f t h i s A g r e e m e n t a r e r e t a i n e d b y t h e C i t y o r C I T Y O F M A T T O O N 1 0 5 L A 4 5 U n i o n e x c e p t t h o s e s p e c i f i c a l l y a b r i d g e d , g r a n t e d , o r m o d i f i e d b y t h i s A g r e e m e n t . A R T I C L E I X H O L I D A Y S S e c t i o n 1, A m o u n t s A l l e m p l o y e e s s h a l l h a v e t i m e of f w i t h fu ll s a l a r y p a y m e n t o n t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y s : N e w Y e a r s D a y G o o d F r i d a y M e m o r i a l D a y F o u r t h o f J u l y L a b o r D a y V e t e r a n ’ s D a y ‘ T h a n k s g i v i n g D a y . D a y a f t e r T h a n k s g i v i n g D a C h r i s t m a s E v e C h r i s t m a s D a y . E m p l o y e e ’ s B i r t h d a y : If a h o l i d a y fa ll s o n a S a t u r d a y , t h e n t h e p r e c e d i n g F r i d a y s h a l i b e c b s e r v e d a s t h e h o l i d a y . If a h o l i d a y fa ll s o n a S u n d a y , t h e n t h e f o l l o w i n g M o n d a y s h a l l b e o b s e r v e d a s t h e h o l i d a y . S e c t i o n 6. El ig ib il it y - T o b e e l i g i b l e f o r h o l i d a y p a y , t h e e m p l o y : e e s h a l l w o r k t h e e m p l o y e e ’ s la st s c h e d u l e d w o r k d a y b e f o r e t h e h o l i d a y a n d fi rs t s c h e d - u l e d w o r k d a y a f t e r t h e h o l i d a y , u n l e s s a b - s e n c e o n e i t h e r o r b o t h o f t h e s e w o r k d a y s i s a p p r o v e d b y t h e E m p l o y e r . A R T I C L E X I S I C K L E A V E S e c t i o n 1. U s e S i c k L e a v e m a y b e u s e d f o r il ln es s, di s- ab il it y, o r i n j u r y o f t h e e m p l o y e e , a p p o i n t - m e n t s w i t h D o c t o r , D e n t i s t o r o t h e r p r o f e s - s i o n a l m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r , a n d i n t h e e v e n t o f il ln es s, d i s a b i l i t y , o r i n j u r y o f a m e m b e r o f a n e m p l o y e e ’ s i m m e d i a t e f a m i l y o r h o u s e h o l d . F o r p u r p o s e s o f d e f i n i t i o n , t h e “ i m m e d i a t e f a m i l y o r h o u s e h o l d ” s h a l l b e h u s b a n d , w i f e , m o t h e r , f a t h e r o r c h i l - d r e n ( i n c l u d i n g s t e p c h i l d r e n ) . S u c h d a y s m a y b e u s e d in ’ i n c r e m e n t s o f n o le ss t h a n o n e - h a l f d a y a t a t i m e . T h e D e p a r t m e n t H e a d o r a n y a u t h o r i z e d s u p e r v i s o r m a y d i r e c t a n e m p l o y e e w h o a p - p e a r s il l t o l e a v e w o r k to p r o t e c t t h e h e a l t h o f o t h e r e m p l o y e e s . E m p l o y e e s w h o a r e u n a b l e to r e t u r n t o w o r k u p o n e x p i r a t i o n o f s i c k l e a v e b e n e f i t s m u s t r e q u e s t a l e a v e o f a b s e n c e w i t h o u t p a y . N o t i c e o f a n e m p l o y e e ' s d e s i r e to r e t u r n fo w o r k a f t e r a n e x t e n d e d il ln es s m u s t b e g i v e n t o t h e D e p a r t m e n t H e a d n o le ss t h a n t w e n t y - f o u r (2 4) h o u r s i n a d v a n c e . S e c t i o n 2. A c c u m u l a t i o n S i c k l e a v e w i l l b e a c c r u e d a t t h e r a t e o f 1 0 d a y s p e r y e a r . S i c k l e a v e m a y b e a c c u m u - L a t e d a n d c a r r i e d o v e r f r o m y e a r t o y e a r u p to o n e h u n d r e d t w e n t y (1 20 ) d a y s . A R T I C L E X I I L E A V E S O F A B S E N C E e c t i o n 5. W o r k R e l a t e d J: n j u r i e s L e a v e f o r w o r k r e l a t e d i n j u r i e s s h a l l b e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h c u r r e n t p r a c t i c e . A R T I C L E X X X V I M I S C E L L A N E O U S s e c t i o n 1. P e r s o n n e l C o d e s , O r d i n a n c e s , R u l e a n d R e g u l a t i o n s T h i s A g r e e m e n t i n c o r p o r a t e s b y r e f e r e n c e t h e C i t y o f M a t t o o n p e r s o n n e l C o d e , C i t y o f M a t t o o n O r d i n a n c e s , a n d a n y r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s n o w i n ef fe ct . T o t h e e x t e n t t h a t t h i s A g r e e m e n t is i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e C i t y o f M a t t o o n P e r s o n n e l C o d e , C i t y o f M a t t o o n O r d i n a n c e s , r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s t h e t e r m s o f t h i s A g r e e m e n t s h a l l c o n t r o l , p r o v i d e d h o w e v e r t h a t t h e P e r s o n n e l C o d e , O r d i n a n c e s , r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s m a y b e a m e n d e d f r o m t i m e to t i m e p r o v i d e d s u c h c h a n g e s a r e n o t m a n d a t o r y s u b j e c t s o f b a r - ga in in g. Ti l. F a c t s T h e C i t y o f M a t t o o n (C it y) a n d T h e A m e r i c a n F e d e r a t i o n o f S t a t e , C o u n t y a n d M u n i c i p a l E m p l o y e e s ( U n i o n ) n e - g o t i a t e d f o r n e a r l y t w o y e a r s b e f o r e e n t e r i n g i n t o t h e i r f i r s t c o l l e c t i v e b a r - g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t o n M a y 3, 1 9 9 4 . K e n n e t h K i n g , t h e G r i e v a n t , a n d a m e m b e r o f t h e U n i o n , c o m m e n c e d h i s e m p l o y m e n t w i t h t h e C i t y o n J u n e 1, 1 9 8 5 . T h e G r i e v a n t is a l a b o r e r w i t h t h e C i t y . . O n W e d n e s d a y , . M a y 25 , 1 9 9 4 , t h e G r i e v a n t i n j u r e d h i s r i g h t e l b o w w h i l e w o r k i n g o n h i s c a r d u r i n g h i s n o n - d u t y h o u r s . T h e G r i e v a n t w e n t t o t h e S a r a h B u s h L i n c o l n H e a l t h C e n t e r w h e r e h e w a s t r e a t e d a n d p l a c e d o n l i g h t d u t y f o r t h r e e t o f o u r d a y s . O n M a y 26 , t h e G r i e v a n t c a l l e d h i s s u p e r - v i s o r , W a y n e B o l s e n , a n d r e q u e s t e d l i g h t d u t y . S u p e r v i s o r B o l s e n i n - f o r m e d t h e G r i e v a n t t h a t t h e r e w a s n o l i g h t d u t y a v a i l a b l e . T h e G r i e v a n t re - p o r t e d f o r w o r k a n y w a y , b u t w a s s e n t h o m e b y h i s s u p e r v i s o r . T h e G r i e v a n t r e c e i v e d a h a l f - d a y c r e d i t f r o m h i s r e - m a i n i n g s i c k le av e. A f t e r b e i n g s e n t h o m e , t h e G r i e v a n t c o n t a c t e d U n i o n S t e w a r d H a r r i n g t o n . T h e G r i e v a n t a d v i s e d H a r r i n g t o n o f h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h S u p e r v i s o r B o l - s e n . H a r r i n g t o n t h e n s p o k e w i t h S u - p e r v i s o r B o l s e n . B o l s e n a d v i s e d H a r - r i n g t o n t h a t h e d i d n o t w a n t a n i n j u r e d e m p l o y e e o n t h e st re et s. H a r - r i n g t o n q u e s t i o n e d B o l s e n a b o u t p a s t l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t s a n d B o l s e n i n - d i c a t e d t h a t h e w a n t e d t o s e e if h e h a d t o p r o v i d e l i g h t d u t y . U n i o n P r e s i d e n t O s b o r n e a l s o s p o k e w i t h S u p e r v i s o r B o l s e n a b o u t a l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t f o r t h e G r i e v a n t . B o l s e n a l s o t o l d O s - b o r n e t h a t h e w a n t e d to d e t e r m i n e i f h e h a d t o p r o v i d e a l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n - “ m e n t f o r t h e G r i e v a n t . S u p e r v i s o r B o l s e n c o n t a c t e d S p e c i a l L a b o r C o u n s e l S h u f f t o d i s c u s s th es i t ~ u a t i o n . B o l s e n w a s i n f o r m e d b y S h u f f t h a t t h e C i t y w a s u n d e r n o o b l i g a t i o n to c r e a t e l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t s f o r e m p l o y e e s i n j u r e d d u r i n g n o n - d u t y h o u r s , O n F r i d a y , M a y 2 7 , t h e C i t y j a n i t o r c a l l e d i n s i c k f o r w o r k a n d S u p e r v i s o r B o l s e n c a l l e d t h e G r i e v a n t to c o m e to w o r k a s l i g h t d u t y w o r k w a s a v a i l a b l e . T h e n e x t M o n d a y w a s t h e M e m o r i a l 1 0 5 L A 4 6 D a y h o l i d a y a n d t h e G r i e v a n t d i d n o t w o r k . O n T u e s d a y , M a y 31 , t h e G r i e v - a n t t e l e p h o n e d S u p e r v i s o r B o l s e n t o r e q u e s t l i g h t d u t y w o r k . S u p e r v i s o r B o l s e n a d v i s e d t h e G r i e v a n t t h a t h e d i d n o t h a v e a n y l i g h t d u t y w o r k a v a i l a b l e . ; O n J u n e 1, t h e G r i e v a n t r e t u r n e d t o h i s d o c t o r f o r a c h e c k - u p . T h e d o c t o r G i d n o t r e l e a s e t h e G r i e v a n t to p e r - f o r m h i s fu ll d u t i e s , b u t r a t h e r h e e x - c u s e d t h e G r i e v a n t f r o m th er e s t of t h e w e e k ’ s w o r k . T h e G r i e v a n t r e c e i v e d s i c k l e a v e p a y f o r t h i s t i m e a s h i s s i c k l e a v e d a y s h a d b e e n r e n e w e d o n J u n e 1, 1 9 9 4 , T h e G r i e v a n t r e t u r n e d t o w o r k o n M o n d a y , J u n e 6. D u r i n g t h e p e r i o d f r o m . M a y 2 6 to J u n e 3, t h e G r i e v a n t h a d h i s n o n - d o m i n a n t r i g h t a r m i n a s l i n g . O n J u n e 8, 1 9 9 4 , t h e U n i o n f i l e d a g r i e v a n c e w i t h t h e C i t y o n t h e G r i e v - a n t ' s b e h a l f . T h e g r i e v a n c e s t a t e d t h a t p a s t p r a c t i c e r e q u i r e d a s s i g n i n g l i g h t d u t y to t h e G r i e v a n t . T h e U n i o n re - q u e s t e d t h a t t h e G r i e v a n t b e c o m p e n - s a t e d f o r l o s t w a g e s . O n J u l y 2 0 , t h e U n i o n fi le d a g r i e v a n c e w i t h t h e C i t y o n t h e G r i e v a n t ’ s b e h a l f r e q u e s t i n g h o l i d a y p a y f o r t h e M e m o r i a l D a y h o l i d a y . T h e U n i o n n o t e d t h a t t h e G r i e v a n t h a d b e e n t o l d to s t a y h o m e o n M a y 31 , 1 9 9 4 . O n A u g u s t 3, 1 9 9 4 , t h e C i t y a d v i s e d t h e U n i o n t h a t t h e g r i e v a n c e s w e r e d e n i e d . I V . P o s i t i o n o f t h e P a r t i e s A . U n i o n T h e U n i o n in si st s t h a t t h e C i t y v i o - l a t e d A r t i c l e X X V I o f t h e a g r e e m e n t b y u n i l a t e r a l l y e l i m i n a t i n g t h e p a s t p r a c t i c e o f a s s i g n i n g l i g h t d u t y t o t h e G r i e v a n t . T h e U n i o n c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e a g r e e m e n t i n c o r p o r a t e d t h e p a r - ti es ’ p a s t p r a c t i c e o f a s s i g n i n g l i g h t d u t y . T h e U n i o n a s s e r t s t h a t t h e p a r - ti es ’ p a s t p r a c t i c e of a s s i g n i n g l i g h t d u t y is a n i m p l i e d p r o v i s i o n of t h e a g r e e m e n t . F l k o u r i a n d E l k o u r i , H o w A r b i t r a t i o n W o r k s 4 3 7 ( 4 t h ed . 19 85 ). T h e U n i o n m a i n t a i n s t h a t a r b i t r a t o r s m o s t f r e q u e n t l y a p p l y o n e o f t w o t e s t s to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r a p a s t p r a c t i c e h a s b e c o m e a n i m p l i e d p r o v i s i o n o f t h e a g r e e m e n t . T h e t w o t e s t s a r e a f i v e f a c t o r te st o r t h e m e t h o d s of o p e r a - t i o n s / e m p l o y e e b e n e f i t s te st . Ja ff e, P a s t P r a c t i c e , M a i n t e n a n c e a n d B e n e - fi ts , a n d Z i p p e r C l a u s e s , 1 L a b . a n d E m p l . A r b . , § 1 8 . 0 1 a t 1 8 - 2 ( F e b r u a r y 1 9 9 5 ) ; E l k o u r i a n d E l k o u r i , H o w A r b i - t r a t i o n W o r k s a t 44 0. T h e U n i o n a r g u e s t h a t u n d e r t h e fi ve f a c t o r te st , t h e p a s t p r a c t i c e b e - c a m e a b i n d i n g . i m p l i e d p r o v i s i o n o f t h e a g r e e m e n t . T h e U n i o n n o t e s t h a t C I T Y O F M A T T O O N a t l e a s t si x t i m e s i n t h e la st t e n y e a r s t h e C o m p a n y h a s a s s i g n e d l i g h t d u t y to e m p l o y e e s i n j u r e d w h i l e b e i n g of f t h e i r jo bs . T h e U n i o n c l a i m s t h e r e w a s a c o n s i s t e n c y of p r a c t i c e w h i c h w a s n e v e r c h a l l e n g e d b y t h e C i t y . M o r e - o v e r , t h e U n i o n s u b m i t s t h a t t h e © G r i e v a n t w a s a te st c a s e u n d e r t h e n e w a g r e e m e n t a n d t h a t t h e d e n i a l o f l i g h t d u t y t o t h e G r i e v a n t w a s @ S i g n i f i c a n t d e p a r t u r e f r o m t h e p a r t i e s ’ p a s t p r a c t i c e . T h e U n i o n p o i n t s o u t t h a t t h e p a s t p r a c t i c e h a s b e e n a d - h e r e d t o f o r t e n y e a r s a n d s h o u l d e a s i - ly m e e t t h e l o n g e v i t y f a c t o r . T h e { i n i o n in si st s t h a t t h e r e h a s b e e n n o c h a n g e i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s w a r r a n t - i n g t h e d i s c o n t i n u a n c e of t h e p a r t i e s ’ p r a c t i c e . F u r t h e r , t h e U n i o n a s s e r t s t h a t t h e r e w a s n o t h r e a t t o s a f e t y w h i c h w o u l d j u s t i f y t h e p a s t p r a c t i c e s d i s c o n t i n u a n c e . F i n a l l y , t h e U n i o n m a i n t a i n s t h a t n o n o t i c e o f t h e C i t y ’ s i n t e n t to m o d i f y o r e l i m i n a t e t h e p a s t p r a c t i c e w a s p r o v i d e d to t h e U n i o n d u r i n g t h e c o n t r a c t n e g o t i a t i o n s . I n - d e e d , t h e U n i o n d e c l a r e s t h a t t h e a g r e e m e n t c o n t a i n s a s p e c i f i c p r o v i - si on , A r t i c l e X X V I , S e c t i o n 1, w h i c h i n c o r p o r a t e s p a s t p r a c t i c e . A s a c o n s e - q u e n c e o f f u l f i l l i n g a l l f i v e f a c t o r s , t h e U n i o n a r g u e s t h a t a p a s t p r a c t i c e o f a s s i g n i n g l i g h t d u t y b e c a m e a n i m - p l i e d p r o v i s i o n o f t h e a g r e e m e n t a n d m u s t b e g i v e n b i n d i n g ef fe ct . P a c i f i c a n d A r c t i c R a i l w a y , 1 7 L A 1 0 1 7 ( C o u n - ci l 1 9 8 3 ) . A s to t h e s e c o n d te st , t h e U n i o n s u b - m i t s t h a t t h e m e t h o d s of o p e r a t i o n s b e a r d i r e c t l y o n t h e e m p l o y e r ’ s c o r e b u s i n e s s f u n c t i o n s , w h i l e e m p l o y e e b e n e f i t s o n l y i m p a c t t h o s e c o r e f u n c - t i o n s i n d i r e c t l y , if a t al l. T h e U n i o n s t a t e s t h a t if t h e p a s t p r a c t i c e h a s n o d i r e c t b e a r i n g o n t h e e f f i c i e n c y o r a d e - q u a c y o f p r o d u c i n g t h e e m p l o y e r ’ s g o o d s o r s e r v i c e s , t h e n u n i l a t e r a l m o d i f i c a t i o n o r e l i m i n a t i o n o f a p a s t p r a c t i c e is a b r e a c h o f t h e a g r e e m e n t . T h e U n i o n c o n t e n d s t h a t t h i s is e s p e - ci al ly s o if t h e p a s t p r a c t i c e m a y b e d e e m e d to b e o f p e r s o n a l v a l u e to t h e e m p l o y e e . T h e U n i o n in si st s t h a t u n - d e r t h e f a c t s o f t h i s c a s e , t h e p a s t p r a c t i c e w a s o f g r e a t p e r s o n a l v a l u e t o t h e e m p l o y e e a n d h a d a t m o s t a n i n d i - r e c t ef fe ct o n t h e C i t y ’ s c o r e b u s i n e s s f u n c t i o n s . A s to t h e C i t y ’ s d e n i a l o f p a y to t h e G r i e v a n t f o r M e m o r i a l D a y , t h e U n i o n a r g u e s t h a t t h e C i t y v i o l a t e d A r t i c l e I X , S e c t i o n 6 o f t h e a g r e e m e n t b e c a u s e t h e m e a n i n g o f a n “ a p p r o v e d ” a b s e n c e w a s n o t d i s c u s s e d d u r i n g n e g o t i a t i o n s . T h e U n i o n n o t e s t h a t t h e G r i e v a n t w o r k e d o n t h e F r i d a y b e f o r e M e m o r i a l D a y , s o t h e o n l y i s s u e s h o u l d b e w h e t h e r h i s a b s e n c e o n T u e s d a y , a f t e r M e m o r i a l D a y , w a s a p p r o v e d b y t h e C I T Y O F M A T T O O N C i t y . T h e U n i o n p o i n t s o u t t h a t t h e G r i e v a n t m a d e h i m s e l f a v a i l a b l e f o r l i g h t d u t y o n T u e s d a y b u t t h e C i t y r e f u s e d to a s s i g n h i m . T h e U n i o n c o n - t e n d s t h a t if t h e G r i e v a n t h a d h a d a n y m o r e s i c k d a y s , h e w o u l d h a v e b e e n e l i g i b l e f o r h o l i d a y p a y . H o w e v e r , s i n c e h e h a d u s e d h i s y e a r l y : a l l o t m e n t . o f s i c k d a y s , t h e U n i o n s u b m i t s t h a t he i s p e i n g u n f a i r l y p e n a l i z e d f o r b e i n g i n - j u r e d a t t h e e n d o f t h e b e n e f i t p e r i o d a n d t h a t s u c h l a c k of s i c k d a y s s h o u l d n o t w o r k a p e n a l t y o n t h e G r i e v a n t . T h e U n i o n s u g g e s t s t h a t A r t i c l e I X , S e c t i o n 6 w a s d e s i g n e d t o d i s c o u r a g e e m p l o y e e s f r o m u s i n g h o l i d a y s to c r e - a t e e x t e n d e d v a c a t i o n s , n o t t o p e n a l i z e a n e m p l o y e e w h o is i n j u r e d . I n a d d i - ti on , t h e U n i o n p o i n t s o u t t h a t a n y o t h e r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n c o u l d w e l l c r e a t e a d o u b l e s t a n d a r d b e t w e e n l a b o r e r s a n d n o n - l a b o r e r s a s n o n - l a b o r e r s c a n st il l p e r f o r m t h e i r d u t i e s w i t h m i n o r i n j u r i e s a n d t h u s co ll ec t h o l i d a y p a y w h i l e a l a b o r e r c a n n o t d o so . I n c o n c l u s i o n , t h e U n i o n r e q u e s t s t h a t t h e g r i e v a n c e s b e s u s t a i n e d a n d t h a t t h e G r i e v a n t b e m a d e w h o l e b y g r a n t i n g o n e a n d o n e - h a l f d a y s b a c k p a y f o r l o s t r e g u l a r t i m e , o n e d a y h o l i - d a y p a y a n d r e s t o r a t i o n of t h r e e a n d o n e - h a l f s i c k d a y s . F u r t h e r , if t h e A r - b i t r a t o r d e c i d e s a g a i n s t t h e U n i o n o n t h e f i r s t i s s u e , t h e U n i o n r e q u e s t s t h a t t h e G r i e v a n t b e m a d e w h o l e b y g r a n t - i n g h i m h i s o n e lo st d a y of h o l i d a y p a y . B. Ci ty T h e C i t y c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e p a r t i e s ’ a g r e e m e n t is s i l e n t w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e i s s u e o f l i g h t d u t y f o r n o n - w o r k r e l a t - e d i n j u r i e s . F u r t h e r , t h e C i t y n o t e s t h a t f o r a p a s t p r a c t i c e to b e c o m e a n i m p l i e d c o n t r a c t t e r m , t h e p r a c t i c e m u s t b e u n e q u i v o c a l , c l e a r l y e n u n c i - a t e d a n d a c t e d u p o n , a n d r e a d i l y a s - c e r t a i n a b l e f o r a . r e a s o n a b l e p e r i o d o f t i m e a s a f i x e d a n d e s t a b l i s h e d p r a c - ti ce a c c e p t e d b y b o t h p a r t i e s . E l k o u r i a n d E l k o u r i , H o w A r b i t r a t i o n W o r k s 4 3 5 ( 4 t h ed . 19 85 ). T h e C i t y a s s e r t s t h a t it h a s n o t a g r e e d to o r a c c e p t e d a p r a c - t i c e o f p r o v i d i n g l i g h t d u t y f o r e m p l o y - e e s i n j u r e d d u e t o n o n - w o r k r e l a t e d c o n d i t i o n s . . M o r e o v e r , t h e C i t y m a i n t a i n s t h a t t h e b e s t e v i d e n c e o f t h e p a r t i e s ’ a g r e e - m e n t is t h e i r w r i t t e n c o n t r a c t . T h e C i t y in si st s t h a t t h e a g r e e m e n t ’ s m a n - a g e m e n t ’ s r i g h t s c l a u s e p r o v i d e s t h e C i t y w i t h t h e r i g h t t o e s t a b l i s h m e t h - e d s o f o p e r a t i o n a n d t o d i r e c t t h e w o r k i n g f o r c e . T h e C i t y c o n t e n d s t h a t u r i n g t h e c o n t r a c t n e g o t i a t i o n s , w o r k r e l a t e d i n j u r i e s a n d n o n - w o r k r e l a t e d i n j u r i e s w e r e d i s c u s s e d a n d t h u s t h e U n i o n m u s t e s t a b l i s h b y s t r o n g ev i- d e n c e t h e e x i s t e n c e of a n y a d d i t i o n a l 10 5 L A 47 i m p l i e d t e r m of t h e a g r e e m e n t . T h e C i t y in si st s t h a t t h e U n i o n h a s f a i l e d t o m e e t it s b u r d e n o f p r o o f a n d t h a t t h e c o n t r a c t is c l e a r a s t o t h e p a r t i e s ’ i n t e n t . F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e C i t y c l a i m s t h a t t h e U n i o n ’ s e v i d e n c e a s to p a s t p r a c - ti ce i n v o l v e s a l l e g a t i o n s o f r e m o t e i n c i - d e n t s w h i c h o c c u r r e d p r i o r t o 1 9 9 1 . T h e C i t y d e c l a r e s t h a t t h e a l l e g e d p a s t p r a c t i c e w a s n o t u n e q u i v o c a l a s t h e M a y o r a n d t w o C i t y d e p a r t m e n t h e a d s t e s t i f i e d t h a t n o u n e q u i v o c a l p a s t p r a c t i c e e x i s t e d r e g a r d i n g l i g h t d u t y d u e t o a n o n - w o r k r e l a t e d i n j u r y . F u r - t h e r , t h e C i t y a s s e r t s t h a t d u r i n g n e - g o t i a t i o n s f o r t h e a g r e e m e n t m a n y i s - s u e s r e l a t e d t o l i g h t d u t y w e r e d i s c u s s e d a n d a t n o t i m e d i d t h e U n i o n s e e k c l a r i f i c a t i o n o f a n y of t h e s e re la t- e d t e r m s . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e C i t y p o i n t s o u t t h a t w o r k s a f e t y i s s u e s w e r e d i s c u s s e d a n d i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e M a t t o o n s a f e t y p o l i c y . T h e C i t y c o n t e n d s t h a t t h i s p o l i c y w a s t h e r e s u l t of m e e t i n g s b e - t w e e n t h e C i t y a n d t h e U n i o n . T h i s p o l i c y s p e c i f i c a l l y p r o v i d e s f o r r u l e s f o r l i g h t d u t y w o r k . T h e C i t y n o t e s t h a t n o g r i e v a n c e s w e r e fi le d ‘b y t h e U n i o n a f t e r t h i s p o l i c y w a s e n a c t e d . T h e C i t y a r g u e s t h a t it h a s n o t m u - t u a l l y a g r e e d t o a n y p r o v i s i o n s i n t h e c o n t r a c t c o n c e r n i n g l i g h t d u t y w o r k f o r n o n - w o r k r e l a t e d p a r t i a l d i s a b i l i t y a n d t h a t n o c l e a r , u n e q u i v o c a l e v i - d e n c e h a s b e e n p r e s e n t e d t o i n d i c a t e a n i m p l i e d t e r m of t h e a g r e e m e n t . F u r t h e r , t h e C i t y s u b m i t s t h a t it is n o t r e q u i r e d t o c r e a t e a j o b f o r a n e r n - p l o y e e . T h e C i t y m a i n t a i n s t h a t s i n c e t h e e m p l o y e e w a s p h y s i c a l l y i n c a p a b l e o f p e r f o r m i n g h i s n o r m a l d u t i e s , t h e d e p a r t m e n t h a d p r o p e r l y d e c i d e d t h a t f o r s a f e t y r e a s o n s t h e r e w a s n o o t h e r w o r k a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e G r i e v a n t . T h e C i t y c l a i m s it h a d n o d u t y to c r e a t e l i g h t d u t y w o r k f o r t h e G r i e v a n t a n d t h a t it s d e c i s i o n w a s r e a s o n a b l e a n d m a d e i n g o o d fa it h. A s t o t h e G r i e v a n t ’ s r e q u e s t f o r M e - m o r i a l D a y p a y , t h e C i t y c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e G r i e v a n t d i d n o t fu lf il l t h e t e r m s o f t h e c o n t r a c t a n d w a s t h e r e - f o r e n o t e n t i t l e d t o v a c a t i o n p a y f o r M e m o r i a l D a y . T h e C i t y in si st s t h a t s i n c e t h e G r i e v a n t d i d n o t h a v e a n e x c u s e d a b s e n c e f o r M a y 3 1 a n d a s h e d i d n o t w o r k o n M a y 3 1 , t h e n t h e G r i e v a n t is n o t c o n t r a c t u a l l y e n t i t l e d t o M e m o r i a l D a y p a y . I n c o n c l u s i o n , t h e C i t y r e q u e s t s t h a t t h e g r i e v a n c e s b e d e n i e d a s t h e G r i e v - ~ a n t w a s n o t e n t i t l e d t o l i g h t d u t y d u r - i n g t h e p e r i o d o f M a y 26 , 1 9 9 4 t o J u n e 5, 1 9 9 4 a n d t h e G r i e v a n t d i d n o t m e e t t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r h o l i d a y p a y f o r M e m o r i a l D a y , 1 9 9 4 . 1 0 5 L A 4 8 V . D e c i s i o n a n d A n a l y s i s T h e fi rs t i s s u e to b e r e s o l v e d i n t h i s d i s p u t e is w h e t h e r t h e C i t y v i o l a t e d t h e a g r e e m e n t , o r a r e l a t e d p a s t p r a c - ti ce , w h e n it d e n i e d t h e G r i e v a n t l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t s i n l a t e M a y a n d e a r - ly J u n e . T h i s is t h e p a r t y ’ s fi rs t c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t . A s A r b i t r a t o r M i l l e r s t a t e d i n a 1 9 8 6 l i g h t d u t y c a s e : T h e d u t y of t h e a r b i t r a t o r i n c o n s t r u i n g t h e r e l e v a n t p r o v i s i o n s of t h e C o l l e c t i v e B a r g a i n i n g A g r e e m e n t is t o g i v e e f f e c t to t h e i n t e n t o f t h e P a r t i e s a s it c a n b e a s c e r - t a i n e d f r o m t h e i r n e g o t i a t e d l a n g u a g e , t h e n a t u r e o f t h e i r c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g r e l a - t i o n s h i p a n d p e r m i s s i b l e e x t r i n s i c a i d t o i n - t e r p r e t a t i o n . I n t h e i r d a i l y i n t e r a c t i o n s , t h e P a r t i e s m u s t a c t t h e n r e a c t o r r e a c h a g r e e - m e n t o n m a n y m a t t e r s , al l o f w h i c h c a n n o t b e a n t i c i p a t e d o r i n c l u d e d i n t h e C o n t r a c t . I m p l i e d c o n d i t i o n s a n d c o v e n a n t s , t h e r e - s e r v e d r i g h t s o f m a n a g e m e n t , t h e i n h e r e n t r i g h t s a n d o b l i g a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t i e s b y r e a - s o n of t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p , u n w r i t t e n p r a c - ti ce s a n d c u s t o m s m u t u a l l y a g r e e d t o b y t h e P a r t i e s , al l m a y b e a s m u c h a p a r t o f t h e C o l l e c t i v e B a r g a i n i n g A g r e e m e n t a s t h e w r i t t e n w o r d . A s A r b i t r a t o r A r t h u r T . J a - c o b s o b s e r v e d i n C o c a C o l a B o t t l i n g C o m - p a n y , 9 L A 1 9 7 (1 94 7) : 4& u n i o n - m a n a g e m e n t c o n t r a c t is f a r m o r e t h a n t h e w o r d s o n p a p e r . It is a l s o al l o f t h e o r a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g s , i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a n d m u t u a l l y a c c e p t a b l e h a b i t s o f a c t i o n w h i c h h a v e g r o w n u p a r o u n d it o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f t i m e . C l a r k C o u n t y , 8 7 L A 1 0 8 5 , 1 0 8 7 ( M i l l e r 19 86 ). T h i s p r o n o u n c e m e n t is r e l e v a n t h e r e b e c a u s e b o t h p a r t i e s a c k n o w l - e d g e d t h a t t h e a g r e e m e n t d o e s n o t d i s - c u s s l i g h t d u t y . T h u s , t h e r e w a s n o e x p r e s s c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n . r e q u i r - i n g t h e C i t y t o c r e a t e a l i g h t d u t y a s - s i g n m e n t t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e G r i e v - a n t . O d e n A l l i e d P l a n t M a i n t e n a n c e C o m p a n y o f O k l a h o m a , 1 0 1 L A 4 6 7 , 4 7 0 ( H a r r 19 93 ). H o w e v e r , t h e U n i o n a s - s e r t s t h a t a p a s t p r a c t i c e e x i s t e d f o r l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t s w h i c h A r t i c l e X X X V I i n c o r p o r a t e d a s p a r t o f t h e p a r - ti es ’ a g r e e m e n t . A s e x p e c t e d , t h e C i t y d e n i e s t h a t p a s t p r a c t i c e e x i s t e d f o r l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t s a n d a r g u e s t h a t t h e a g r e e m e n t ’ s m a n a g e m e n t ’ s r i g h t s c l a u s e e m p o w e r s t h e C i t y t o d i - r e c t t h e w o r k i n g f o r c e a n d t o e s t a b l i s h a n d a s s i g n w o r k s c h e d u l e s . T h e C i t y c o r r e c t l y p o i n t s o u t t h a t t h e U n i o n b e a r s t h e b u r d e n o f p r o v i n g t h a t a b i n d i n g p a s t . p r a c t i c e e x i s t e d c o n c e r n i n g t h e a s s i g n m e n t o f l i g h t d u t y . D e l a w a r e P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t , 1 0 2 L A 62 7, 6 3 0 ( H e e k i n 19 94 ); P e p s i C o l a B o t t l e r s o f A k r o n , I n c . , 8 2 L A 1 0 2 6 , 1 0 2 9 ( F e l d m a n 1 9 8 4 ) . I t is a w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d a r b i t r a l p r i n c i p l e t h a t to e s t a b l i s h t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a p a s t p r a c t i c e , t h e p r o p o - n e n t o f s u c h p r a c t i c e m u s t s h o w t h a t t h e p r a c t i c e w a s u n e q u i v o c a l , c l e a r l y e n u n c i a t e d a n d a c t e d u p o n , a n d r e a d - C I T Y O F M A T T O O N il y a s c e r t a i n a b l e o v e r a r e a s o n a b l e t i m e a s a f i x e d a n d e s t a b l i s h e d p r a c - t i c e a c c e p t e d b y b o t h p a r t i e s . C u r v e d . G l a s s D i s t r i b u t o r s , 1 0 2 L A 33 , 3 6 - 7 (H is - c h e n 1 9 9 3 ) ; C i t y o f S t . C l a i r S h o r e s , 1 0 3 L A . 63 0, 6 3 3 ( D a n i e l 19 94 ). T h e e v i d e n c e a n d t e s t i m o n y i n t h i s c a s e d o n o t e s t a b l i s h t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a b i n d i n g p a s t p r a c t i c e o n t h e a s s i g n - m e n t of l i g h t d u t y . T h e U n i o n c i t e d s e v e n i n s t a n c e s o f l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n - m e n t s f o r a n o n - d u t y r e l a t e d i n j u r y d u r i n g t h e p a s t t e n y e a r s . T h e ev i- d e n c e i n d i c a t e d o n e s u c h i n s t a n c e i n 1 9 8 5 , 1 9 8 8 a n d 1 9 9 0 a n d t w o s u c h i n - s t a n c e s i n 1 9 8 7 . F u r t h e r , t h e e v i d e n c e e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e G r i e v a n t r e c e i v e d l i g h t d u t y i n 1 9 9 3 a n d 1 9 9 4 f o r a s h o u l - d e r i n j u r y . T h e s e s e v e n i n s t a n c e s o f l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t d u r i n g t h e p a s t t e n y e a r s , w i t h o n l y t w o s u c h o c c u r - r e n c e s i n t h e p a s t f i v e y e a r s , d o n o t m e e t t h e te st f o r a c l e a r l y e n u n c i a t e d a n d r e a d i l y a s c e r t a i n a b l e p r a c t i c e . T h e i n f r e q u e n c y of t h e s e i n c i d e n t s d o e s n o t c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h a r e a d i l y a s - c e r t a i n a b l e p r a c t i c e . T h i s is e s p e c i a l l y s o a s t h e c r e d i b l e C i t y t e s t i m o n y w a s t h a t t h e C i t y h a d n o t a c c e p t e d t h e p r a c t i c e of a s s i g n i n g l i g h t d u t y w o r k f o r a n o n - d u t y i n j u r y . F u r t h e r , t h e e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e d t h a t f o r t h e G r i e v - a n t ’ s i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t s i n t h e r e - c e n t p a s t , t h e r e h a d b e e n H i g h t d u t y w o r k a v a i l a b l e , w h i l e i n t h i s d i s p u t e t h e C i t y c r e d i b l y m a i n t a i n e d t h a t t h e r e w a s n o l i g h t d u t y w o r k a v a i l a b l e . M o r e o v e r , b e c a u s e t h e e l e c t e d C i t y C o u n c i l m e m b e r s a c t a s t h e d e p a r t - m e n t h e a d s f o r t h e v a r i o u s C i t y d e - p a r t m e n t s , e s t a b l i s h i n g t h a t t h e l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t s w e r e a f i x e d a n d e s - t a b l i s h e d p r a c t i c e a c c e p t e d b y t h e d e - p a r t m e n t h e a d s p r o v e d t o b e 4 si gn if i- c a n t b u r d e n w h i c h t h e U n i o n f a i l e d t o m e e t . T h e r e d i d n o t e x i s t a b i n d i n g p a s t p r a c t i c e of a s s i g n i n g l i g h t d u t y w o r k f o r a n e m p l o y e e w h o h a d s u f f e r e d a n o n - w o r k r e l a t e d i n j u r y . T h e e v i d e n c e d i d n o t d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t t h e r e w a s a r e g u l a r c o u r s e o f c o n d u c t b y t h e C i t y e s t a b l i s h i n g s u c h a b i n d i n g p a s t p r a c - t i c e a n d a c c o r d i n g l y , t h e g r i e v a n c e r e - l a t i n g to l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t s m u s t b e d e n i e d . T h e s e c o n d i s s u e r a i s e d i n t h i s a r b i - t r a t i o n is w h e t h e r t h e C i t y v i o l a t e d t h e a g r e e m e n t b y f a i l i n g t o p a y t h e G r i e v a n t f o r t h e M e m o r i a l D a y h o t i - d a y i n 1 9 9 4 . A r t i c l e I X o f t h e a g r e e - m e n t d e l i n e a t e s t h e d a y s c o n s t i t u t i n g h o l i d a y s a n d M e m o r i a l D a y is o n e s u c h d e s i g n a t e d d a y w h e r e a n e m p l o y - e e “ s h a l l h a v e t i m e of f w i t h fu ll s a l a r y p a y m e n t . ” I n S e c t i o n 6 o f A r t i c l e I X , t h e p a r t i e s ’ d e s c r i b e t h e el ig ib il it y re - q u i r e m e n t s t o r e c e i v e h o l i d a y p a y . C I T Y O F K E N T W O O D 1 0 5 L A 4 9 “ A s A r b i t r a t o r E i s c h e n d i s c u s s e d i n C u r v e d G l a s s D i s t r i b u t o r s , t h e fi rs t re - v i e w o f a h o l i d a y p a y p r o v i s i o n s h o u l d t e a s to w h e t h e r t h e e l i g i b i l i t y r e q u i r e - s a e n t i s o n e d e s i g n e d t o “ r e q u i r e a n e m p l o y e e t o w o r k ‘h is ’ la st a n d fi rs t s c h e d u l e d w o r k d a y s a r o u n d t h e ho li - c a y a s o p p o s e d t h o s e w h i c h r e q u i r e a n e m p l o y e e to w o r k ‘t he ’ la st a n d fi rs t s e h e d u l e d w o r k d a y s . T h e f o r m e r l a n - g u a g e r e f e r s to t h e la st a n d fi rs t w o r k c a y s o f t h e e m p l o y e e w h e r e a s th e l a t - t e r r e f e r s to t h e la st a n d fi rs t w o r k c a y s of t h e p l a n t . ” 1 0 2 L A 33 , 3 5 (H is - e h e n 19 93 ). . . T h e l a n g u a g e i n t h e p a r t i e s ’ a g r e e - m e n t c l e a r l y ca ll s f o r t h e la st a n d fi rs t w o r k d a y s o f t h e e m p l o y e e . T h e G r i e v - a n t w o r k e d t h e la st d a y b e f o r e t h e M e - . m o r i a l D a y h o l i d a y i n 1 9 9 4 a n d c a l l e d i n to w o r k t h e fi rs t d a y a f t e r t h e h o l i - d a y , b u t t h e C i t y t o l d t h e G r i e v a n t n o t t o r e p o r t t o w o r k o n M a y 3 1 , t h e d a y a f t e r t h e M e m o r i a l D a y h o l i d a y , a s t h e C i t y d i d n o t h a v e a n y l i g h t d u t y a s - S i g n m e n t f o r h i m . T h e r e f o r e , t h e G r i e v a n t w a s a b s e n t f r o m w o r k o n t h e d a y a f t e r t h e M e m o r i a l D a y h o l i d a y . H o w e v e r , t h e p a r t i e s ’ a g r e e m e n t i n a r t i c l e I X , S e c t i o n 6, s t i p u l a t e s t h a t e n e m p l o y e e s h a l l b e el ig ib le f o r h o l i - d a y p a y if t h e a b s e n c e o n “ e i t h e r o r b o t h of t h e s e w o r k d a y s is a p p r o v e d b y i z e e m p l o y e r . ” S o t h e g r a v a m e n o f t h i s i n q u i r y is t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e w o r d “ a p p r o v e d ” i n t h e el ig ib il it y s e c - vi on , T h e p a r t i e s d i d n o t p r o v i d e a de fi ~ n i t i o n f o r t h e w o r d “ a p p r o v e d . ” T h e C i t y a r g u e s t h a t t h e a b s e n c e w a s n o t a p p r o v e d b e c a u s e t h e a b s e n c e w a s n o t e x c u s e d . T h e C i t y in si st s t h a t s i n c e t h e G r i e v a n t d i d n o t a p p l y f o r a l e a v e of a b s e n c e s u b s e q u e n t to t h e e x p i r a - t i o n o f h i s m e d i c a l l e a v e , t h e n t h e a b - s e n c e w a s u n e x c u s e d . T h e U n i o n , o n c h e o t h e r h a n d , c o n t e n d s t h a t s i n c e i n e C i t y i n s t r u c t e d t h e G r i e v a n t n o t so c o m e i n f o r w o r k , t h e n t h e C i t y z p p r o v e d h i s a b s e n c e a n d t h e G r i e v - a n t r e m a i n e d el ig ib le f o r h o l i d a y p a y . M e r i a m W e b s t e r ’ s C o l l e g i a t e D i c - o n a r y d e f i n e s “ a p p r o v e d ” a s “ t o a c - c e p t a s s a t i s f a c t o r y ” o r ‘‘ to g i v e f o r m a l o r o f f i c i a l s a n c t i o n t o . ” P g . 5 9 ( 1 0 t h e d . 12 33 ), U n q u e s t i o n a b l y , t h e C i t y of fi - ci al ly s a n c t i o n e d t h e G r i e v a n t ’ s a b - s e n c e f r o m w o r k i n t h a t S u p e r v i s o r S o l s e n t o l d t h e G r i e v a n t n o t to c o m e i n f o r w o r k a s t h e C i t y h a d n o l i g h t u t y a s s i g n m e n t f o r h i m . T h e G r i e v - a m t w a s r e a d y a n d w i l l i n g to w o r k , b u t & é w a s n o t a b l e to w o r k b e c a u s e o f h i s ~ e h t d u t y s t a t u s a n d t h e u n a v a i l a - a c y of a l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t . T h e G r i e v a n t ' s a b s e n c e f r o m w o r k w a s a p - E r o v e d o r s a n c t i o n e d b y t h e C i t y a s t h e |, “ d e c i s i o n to a l t e r [ t h e G r i e v a n t ’ s ] a s - s = n e d w o r k s c h e d u l e e m a n a t e d ” f r o m t h e C i t y . H o s p i t a l L i n e n S e r v i c e F a c i l - it y, 9 2 L A 22 8, 2 3 0 ( S t o l t e n b e r g 19 89 ). _ F u r t h e r , a r e a s o n f o r a ho li da y e l i g i - bi li ty s e c t i o n is to d i s c o u r a g e e m p l o y - e e s f r o m u s i n g t h e h o l i d a y t o c r e a t e a n e x t e n d e d v a c a t i o n . T h e G r i e v a n t w a s n o t t r y i n g t o c r e a t e a n e x t e n d e d v a c a - ti on . I n d e e d , h e d e s i r e d to w o r k o n t h e d a y f o l l o w i n g t h e M e m o r i a l D a y h o l i - d a y . T h e G r i e v a n t w a s n o t m a l i n g e r - i n g o r t r y i n g t o e x t e n d h i s h o l i d a y i n t o @ v a c a t i o n . S i n c e t h e C i t y “ a p p r o v e d ’ t h e G r i e v a n t ' s a b s e n c e f r o m w o r k o n M a y 31 , 1 9 9 4 , t h e G r i e v a n t s h o u l d h a v e r e - c e i v e d h i s M e m o r i a l D a y h o l i d a y p a y . V I . A W A R D T h e g r i e v a n c e r e l a t i n g to l i g h t d u t y a s s i g n m e n t is d e n i e d . T h e g r i e v a n c e f o r h o l i d a y p a y f o r t h e M e m o r i a l D a y h o l i d a y , 1 9 9 4 is s u s t a i n e d . T h e C i t y is o r d e r e d t o p a y t h e G r i e v a n t o n e d a y o f h o l i d a y p a y . C I T Y O F K E N T W O O D — D e c i s i o n o f A r b i t r a t o r I n r e C I T Y O F K E N T W O O D , M I C H I G A N a n d K E N T W O O D G E N - E R A L E M P L O Y E E S A S S O C I A T I O N , S e p t e m b e r 5 , 1 9 9 5 A r b i t r a t o r : N a t h a n L i p s o n P R O M O T I O N S — I n t e r n a l a p p l i c a n t s » 1 0 0 . 7 0 C i t y ’ s b y p a s s i n g o f t h r e e i n t e r n a l a p p l i - c a n t s a n d fi ll in g o f p o l i c e r e c o r d s c l e r k / r e - c e p t i o n i s t p o s i t i o n w i t h t e r m i n a t e d of fi ce r, w h o h a d fi le d w o r k e r s ’ c o m p e n s a t i o n a n d h a n d i c a p d i s c r i m i n a t i o n c l a i m s , v i o l a t e d c o l l e c t i v e - b a r g a i n i n g c o n t r a c t , w h e r e al l a p p l i c a n t s h a d d e s i r e d p r e r e q u i s i t e s f o r jo b, t w o h a d p o l i c e e x p e r i e n c e , w h i c h w a s n o t r e q u i r e d , a n d o n e h a d b e e n i n j o b f o r s u b - s t a n t i a l p e r i o d o f t i m e , a p p l i c a n t s w e r e n e v - e r i n t e r v i e w e d n o r a d v i s e d o f t h e i r s t a t u s b e f o r e v a c a n c y w a s fi ll ed , a n d f o r m e r o f f i - c e r d i d n o t a p p l y f o r jo b, b u t w a s a p - p r o a c h e d b y c i t y a b o u t f i l l i n g it . — I n t e r n a l a p p l i c a n t s » 1 0 0 . 7 0 C i t y , w h i c h v i o l a t e d c o l l e c t i v e - b a r g a i n i n g c o n t r a c t b y fi ll in g p o l i c e r e c o r d s c l e r k / r e - c e p t i o n i s t p o s i t i o n w i t h t e r m i n a t e d of fi ce r w h o m it a p p r o a c h e d t o t a k e jo b, is o r d e r e d to c o n s i d e r i n t e r n a l a p p l i c a n t s a n d if o n e o r m o r e o f t h e m is q u a l i f i e d , t o fi ll p o s i t i o n w i t h m o s t a c c e p t a b l e a p p l i c a n t , w h e r e c o n - t r a c t r e q u i r e s c i t y to g i v e b a r g a i n i n g u n i t e m p l o y e e s ‘‘ an o p p o r t u n i t y to a p p l y f o r t h e v a c a n c y , ” a n d t h e n to c o n s i d e r t h o s e f r o m 7 6 L A 9 2 0 t i o n s ; g i v e n t h e u n d i s p u t a b l y u n s k i l l e d n a t u r e o f w o r k p e r f o r m e d b y t h e g e n e r - al l a b o r cl as s. O n t h a t t h e C o m p a n y ’ s b r i e f a r g u e s : N o t on ly is pi ck in g o n a pi ec e- ra te ba si s r a t h e r t h a n a n h o u r l y b a s i s , a s is t h e c a s e w i t h g e n e r a l l a b o r , b u t t h e c o n t r a c t sp ec if i- c a l l y s e p a r a t e s t h e t w o c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o f p i c k e r a n d g e n e r a l l a b o r . ‘ M u s h r o o m p i c k e r ’ ” Is d e s c r i b e d o n p a g e 2 3 o f t h e c o n t r a c t a n d ‘ G e n e r a l L a b o r ’ r e a d s as fo ll ow s: ‘S pe ci fi c o p e r a t i o n s t h a t p e r t a i n to t h e G e n e r a l L a b o r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n a r e d e s c r i b e d b e l o w . ’ M u s h r o o m p i c k i n g is n o t d e s c r i b e d i n t h e li st ed o p e r a t i o n s . It is t r u e t h a t m u s h r o o m p i c k i n g is n o t i n c l u d e d i n t h e o p e r a t i o n s li st ed u n d e r “ G e n e r a l L a b o r ” , B u t t h e r e is n o r e a s o n w h y i t s h o u l d b e s o i n c l u d e d . F o r t h e j o b d e s c r i p t i o n f o r g e n e r a l la bo r i t ~ se lf p r o v i d e s in p e r t i n e n t p a r t : T h e [ g e n e r a l l a b o r ] c l a s s i f i c a t i o n i n c l u d e s _ . p i c k i n g . . . a n d o t h e r r e l a t e d u n s k i l l e d jo bs . [ E m p h a s i s a d d e d . j It s e e m s q u i t e e v i d e n t t h a t p i c k i n g w a s n o t i n c l u d e d in t h e j o b d e s c r i p t i o n s u n d e r g e n e r a l l a b o r f o r t h e s i m p l e r e a - s o n t h a t a d e s c r i p t i o n o f p i c k e r du ti es i s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e c o n t r a c t u n d e r t h e j o b d e s c r i p t i o n f o r ‘ ‘ M u s h r o o m P i c k e r . ” T h e p a r t i e s a v o i d e d s u p e r f l u o u s l a n - g u a g e i n t h e i r a g r e e m e n t b y n o t r e p e a t - i n g t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f p i c k e r d u t i e s u n d e r g e n e r a l l a b o r o p e r a t i o n s , a f t e r d e s c r i b i n g “ p i c k i n g ’ ' as p a r t of t h e g e n - er al l a b o r cl as si fi ca ti on . T h a t p i c k e r s a r e p a i d o n a p i e c e - r a t e b a s i s a n d g e n e r a l l a b o r w o r k e r s o n a n h o u r l y b a s i s , is n o t r e l e v a n t . T h e q u e s - t i o n f o r d e c i s i o n is n o t w h e t h e r p i c k e r s ’ w o r k r e q u i r e s m o r e sk il l t h a n t h a t o f g e n e r a l l a b o r w o r k e r s , b u t w h e t h e r p i c k e r s ’ w o r k r e q u i r e s s k i l l a n d e x p e r i - e n c e . R e a d i n g t o g e t h e r t h e j o b d e s c r i p - t i o n f o r g e n e r a l l a b o r , A r t i c l e 3 ~ E ( w i t h t h e e n l i g h t e n m e n t p r o v i d e d b y t h e p r a c t i c e o f h i r i n g i n e x p e r i e n c e d pi ck er s) , it m u s t b e c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e a g r e e m e n t d o e s n o t p e r m i t t h e C o m - p a n y t o r e j e c t i n e x p e r i e n c e d p i c k e r s w h o a r e d i s p a t c h e d f r o m t h e U n i o n ' s h i r i n g ha ll . Il l T h e U n i o n ’ s b r i e f s u g g e s t s a n a p p r o - p r i a t e r e m e d y . W i t h o u t n e c e s s a r i l y a g r e e i n g w i t h al l o f t h e d e t a i l s o u t l i n e d in t h e U n i o n ' s p r o p o s e d r e m e d y , I d o a g r e e t h a t a m a k e - w h o l e b a c k p a y r e m - e d y is a p p r o p r i a t e . E l i g i b l e f o r b a c k p a y a r e t h o s e p i c k e r s w h o w e r e l a t e r h i r e d as p i c k e r s o r f o r o t h e r w o r k , f o l l o w i n g t h e i r r e j e c t i o n as i n e x p e r i e n c e d p i c k e r s . A l s o el ig ib le f o r b a c k p a y a r e t h o s e g r i e v a n t s w h o w e r e r e j e c t e d f o r l a c k of e x p e r i e n c e as p i c k e r s a n d n o t s u b s e q u e n t l y h i r e d b y t h e C o m p a n y f o r a n y w o r k . I n t e r i m e a r n i n g s m a y b e d e - W E S T F O O D S , IN C. d u c t e d . C o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e p r e v a i l i n g p r a c t i c e i n a r b i t r a t i o n p r o c e e d i n g s , i n - t e r e s t wi ll n o t b e a w a r d e d . A l s o r e j e c t e d is t h e U n i o n ’ s r e q u e s t t h a t t h e “ A r b i - t r a t o r a d v i s e t h e C o m p a n y t o f o l l o w t h e c o n t r a c t u a l p r o c e d u r e s o f n o t i f i c a - ti on a n d ne go ti at io n pr io r to im pl e- m e n t i n g a n y u n i l a t e r a l c h a n g e s . ” S o m e u n i l a t e r a l c h a n g e s m a y n o t v i o l a t e t h e a g r e e m e n t , f o r a n y n u m b e r o f r e a s o n s , S o m e u n i l a t e r a l c h a n g e s b y t h e C o m - p a n y m i g h t , f o r e x a m p l e , b e p e r m i t t e d b e c a u s e t h e U n i o n h a s w a i v e d it s r i g h t t o o b j e c t t o t h e m . N o h i r i n g o f f e r h a s b e e n r e q u e s t e d b y t h e U n i o n . P r e s u m a b l y , t h e U n i o n is a w a r e t h a t w i t h t h i s d e c i s i o n , t h e C o m - p a n y , u n d e r c u r r e n t t e r m s o f ‘ t h e a g r e e - m e n t , m a y n o t r e j e c t p i c k e r s di s- p a t c h e d f r o m t h e U n i o n ' s h i r i n g h a l l b e c a u s e t h e y l a c k e x p e r i e n c e a s p i c k e r s . G r i e v a n t s wi ll b e c o m e el ig ib le f o r e m - p l o y m e n t o n b e i n g d i s p a t c h e d f r o m t h e U n i o n ’ s h i r i n g h a l l in d u e c o u r s e a n d c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e a g r e e m e n t ' s h i r i n g h a l l p r o v i s i o n s . A W A R D (1 ) W e s t F o o d s , I n c . , v i o l a t e d t h e c o n - t r a c t b y r e f u s i n g t o h i r e i n e x p e r i e n c e d p i c k e r s . (2 ) G r i e v a n t s s h a l l b e m a d e w h o l e w i t h c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r lo st e a r n i n g s , if a n y , a n d w i t h n o l o s s o f s e n i o r i t y o r o t h e r b e n e f i t s t h e y w o u l d h a v e r e c e i v e d b u t f o r t h e v i o l a t i o n d e s c r i b e d i n p a r a - g r a p h (1 ) o f t h i s a w a r d . I n t e r i m e a r n - i n g s , if a n y , s h a l l b e d e d u c t e d . K I L S B Y T U B E S U P P L Y C o . K I L S B Y T U B E S U P P L Y C O . — D e c i s i o n o f A r b i t r a t o r I n r e K I L S B Y T U B E S U P P L Y C O M - P A N Y , a D i v i s i o n o f F L U O R C O R P O - R A T I O N a n d W A R E H O U S E , P R O - C E S S I N G & D I S T R I B U T I O N W O R - K E R S U N I O N , L O C A L 26 , L L . W . U . , F M C S N o . 8 0 K / 0 2 8 6 1 M a y 28 , 1 9 8 1 A r b i t r a t o r : L e o W e i s s , d e s i g n a t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h p r o c e d u r e s o f F e d e r a l M e d i a t i o n & C o n c i l i a t i o n S e r v i c e D I S C I P L I N E — I n s u b o r d i n a t i o n — R e f u s a l t o s i g n a l t e r e d t i m e c a r d » 1 1 8 . 6 5 2 1 1 1 8 . 6 5 6 5 E m p l o y e r d i d n o t h a v e p r o p e r c a u s e f o r s u s p e n s i o n o f e m p l o y e e w h o r e f u s e d t o s i g n t i m e c a r d t h a t h a d b e e n a l t e r e d b y s u p e r - v i s o r t o e x c l u d e t w o h o u r s s p e n t b y e m p l o y - e e i n g r i e v a n c e m e e t i n g , u n d e r n e w l y - p o s t e d p l a n t r u l e r e q u i r i n g e m p l o y e e s to s i g n c a r d s a n d s t a t i n g t h a t “ s i g n a t u r e is u n d e r s t o o d to b e h i s a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t t h a t t h e t i m e c l o c k h o u r s a r e c o r r e c t . ” S u p e r v i s o r ’ s i n s i s t e n c e u p o n o b t a i n i n g gr ie va nt ’s si gn at ur e, in fa ce o f g r i e v a n t ’ s f e a r of s i g n i n g a w a y h i s c l a i m f o r t w o h o u r s ’ p a y , s e r v e d n o l e g i t i m a t e p u r - p o s e a n d d i d n o t c o n s t i t u t e v a l i d w o r k o r d e r ; t h e r e f o r e , g r i e v a n t ' s r e f u s a l to o b e y o r d e r di d n o t co ns ti tu te in su bo rd in at io n. A p p e a r a n c e s : F o r t h e e m p l o y e r — A n - t h o n y J. O l i v e r , Jr ., c o u n s e l . F o r t h e - u n i o n — B i l l y H u d g g i n s , b u s i n e s s r e p r e - s e n t a t i v e . S I G N I N G T I M E C A R D W E I S S , A r b i t r a t o r : — T h i s a r b i t r a - t i o n a r i s e s u n d e r a c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s n a m e d a b o v e a n d c o v e r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f M a r c h 14 , 1 9 8 0 to M a r c h 13 , 1 9 8 3 . T h e e v i d e n c e s h o w s a n d t h e A r b i t r a - t o r f i n d s t h e f o l l o w i n g fa ct s: T h e C o m p a n y o p e r a t e s a w a r e h o u s e a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n c e n t e r in th e. C i t y o f I n d u s t r y , C a l i f o r n i a . F o r p u r p o s e s o f c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g , t h e U n i o n r e p r e - s e n t s . t h e G r i e v a n t a n d o t h e r s in t h e G r i e v a n t ' s j o b cl as si fi ca ti on . T h e G r i e - v a n t is a s a w o p e r a t o r . O n J u n e 2 6 , 1 9 8 0 , t h e C o m p a n y p r o m u l g a t e d a s e r i e s o f n e w w o r k r u l e s d e s i g n e d to d e t e r e m p l o y e e s f r o m p u n c h i n g o t h e r e m p l o y e e s ’ t i m e c a r d s a n d t o c u r b s i c k p a y a b u s e s . T h e f i r s t s u c h r u l e p r o v i d e d : 1, A l l t i m e c a r d s m u s t b e s i g n e d b y t h e e m - p l o y e e . A s i g n a t u r e is u n d e r s t o o d t o b e h i s a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t t h a t t h e t i m e c l o c k h o u r s a r e c o r r e c t . . . W i t h i n a d a y o r t w o , t h e r u l e s w e r e . p o s t e d o n t h e C o m p a n y b u l l e t i n b o a r d a d j a c e n t t o t h e w a r e h o u s e t i m e c l o c k , t h e o n e n o r m a l l y u s e d f o r p o s t i n g n o - T 6 L A 9 2 1 ti ce s, O n e m e e t i n g o f d a y s h i f t e m p l o y - e e s w a s h e l d s p e c i f i c a l l y t o c o v e r t h e J u n e 2 6 t h m e m o . T h e r e a f t e r , s e v e r a l o t h e r m e e t i n g s w e r e h e l d , d u r i n g w h i c h t h e r u l e s w e r e d i s c u s s e d . S o m e e m p l o y - ee s, i n c l u d i n g t h e G r i e v a n t , e x p r e s s e d v o c a l o p p o s i t i o n to t h e n e w ru le s. F o r a p e r i o d o f s e v e r a l w e e k s , t h e G r i e v a n t a n d a n u m b e r o f o t h e r s d e c l i n e d to s i g n t h e i r t i m e c a r d s - a t w e e k ’ s e n d , n e c e s - s i t a t i n g t h e s u p e r v i s o r t o s e e k t h e m o u t t h e f o l l o w i n g M o n d a y t o s e c u r e t h e i r s i g n a t u r e s . T h e r e c a l c i t r a n t e m p l o y e e s w o u l d t h e n s i g n t h e i r c a r d s . O n W e d n e s d a y , J u l y 23 , 1 9 8 0 , t h e G r i e v a n t , a d a y s h i f t s t e w a r d w h o s e s h i f t e n d s a t 2: 30 p . m . , a t t e n d e d a gr ie v- a n c e m e e t i n g f r o m 2 : 0 0 t o 4 : 0 0 p . m , a l o n g w i t h t h e n i g h t s h i f t s t e w a r d , t h e U n i o n B u s i n e s s R e p r e s e n t a t i v e a n d t w o C o m p a n y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . A f t e r t h e m e e t i n g , t h e G r i e v a n t c l o c k e d o u t a t 4 : 0 3 p . m . S u b s e q u e n t l y , t h e s u p e r v i s o r , u p o n i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m t h e W a r e h o u s e M a n a g e r , s c r a t c h e d o u t t h e ‘ 4 : 0 3 " e n t r y o n t h e t i m e c a r d a n d w r o t e in 9 : 0 0 . " T h i s w o u l d r e s u l t i n t h e G r i e - v a n t b e i n g p a i d f o r 7 % h o u r s , r a t h e r t h a n e i g h t h o u r s , f o r t h a t d a y . T h e G r i e v a n t , a s h a d b e c o m e h i s c u s t o m , d i d n o t s i g n t h e c a r d t h a t F r i d a y af te r- n o o n . O n M o n d a y , J u l y 2 8 t h , t h e s u p e r - v i s o r t o o k t h e G r i e v a n t ’ s t i m e c a r d to h i m , b u t t h i s t i m e t h e G r i e v a n t r e f u s e d t o s i g n it , c l a i m i n g t h a t t h e c a r d h a d b e e n t a m p e r e d w i t h . A t t h i s p o i n t t h e W a r e h o u s e M a n a g e r i n t e r v e n e d . H e a s k e d t h e G r i e v a n t a t l e a s t t h r e e t i m e s t o s i g n t h e t i m e c a r d . W h e n t h e G r i e - v a n t s t e a d f a s t l y r e f u s e d , t h e W a r e - h o u s e M a n a g e r s u s p e n d e d h i m f o r t h e r e s t o f t h a t d a y a n d f o r t h e b a l a n c e o f t h e w e e k ( f o u r d a y s ) . T h e f o l l o w i n g d a y t h e U n i o n fi le d a g r i e v a n c e o n b e h a l f of t h e s u s p e n d e d e m p l o y e e . I s s u e s A t t h e h e a r i n g , b o t h p a r t i e s s t i p u - l a t e d t h a t t h e i s s u e h e r e i n i s a s f o l l o w s : 1. D i d t h e C o m p a n y v i o l a t e t h e c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t . w h e n i t s u s p e n d e d t h e G r i e v a n t o n J u l y 28 , 1 9 8 0 ? 2. If so , w h a t r e m e d y is a p p r o p r i a t e u n d e r t h e c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t ? U n i o n ’ s P o s i t i o n A s q u o t e d i n fu ll f r o m it s p o s t - h e a r - i n g br ie f: T h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e U n i o n is t h a t ( t h e G r i e v a n t ) s h o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n s u s p e n d e d f o r r e f u s i n g to s i g n t h e t i m e c a r d . It h a d n o t b e e n m a d e m a n d a t o r y a s t o w h e n o r w h e r e h e w a s s u p p o s e d t o s i g n t h e t i m e c a r d . H o w - e v e r , ( t h e G r i e v a n t ) h a s n e v e r a c t u a l l y r e - f u s e d t o s i g n a t i m e c a r d . H e d i d d i s a g r e e w i t h t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e t i m e c a r d o f J u l y 23 , Y O L A - : Y2 Za . C o m p a n y ’ s P o s i t i o n T h e C o m p a n y m a i n t a i n s t h a t ‘‘ th e G r i e v a n t w a s g u i l t y o f i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n in t h a t h e r e f u s e d t h e d i r e c t o r d e r o f t h e W a r e h o u s e M a n a g e r to s i g n h i s t i m e c a r d , n o t o n e , b u t a t l e a s t t h r e e t i m e s . ” T h e C o m p a n y ci te s t h e f o l l o w - i n g s e c t i o n o f t h e c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t ; A r t i c l e V M a n a g e m e n t Se ct io n 1. ‘ . . . t h e m a n a g e m e n t of t h e C o m p a n y ’ s p l a n t a n d t h e d i r e c t i o n o f it s w o r k i n g f o r c e s , i n c l u d i n g . . . t h e r i g h t to . , , s u s p e n d , d e m o t e , d i s c i p l i n e o r d i s c h a r g e fo r p r o p e r c a u s e , . . . sh al l b e re st ed ex cl u- si ve ly w i t h t h e C o m p a n y . ” ; A c c o r d i n g t o t h e C o m p a n y , t h e G r i e - v a n t ’ s p r o p e r r e c o u r s e , g i v e n h i s u n - wi ll in en es s to si gn t h e al te re d t i m e c a r d , w o u l d b e t o s i g n it , t h e n fi le a g r i e v a n c e . B y h i s r e f u s a l to si gn , t h e G r i e v a n t ’ s b e h a v i o r , in t h e C o m p a n y ' s v i e w , c o n s t i t u t e d c l e a r - c u t i n s u b o r d i n a - t i o n w h i c h w o u l d h a v e j u s t i f i e d n o t o n l y t h e s u s p e n s i o n t h a t r e s u l t e d bu t, - h a d t h e C o m p a n y s o c h o s e n , i m m e d i a t e d i s c h a r g e o f t h e G r i e v a n t . D i s c u s s i o n T h e C o m p a n y is c o r r e c t i n a r g u i n g t h a t a n e m p l o y e e w h o o b j e c t s to a n or de r of hi s su pe rv is or n o r m a l l y c a n n o t e n g a g e i n s e l f - h e l p . I n s t e a d , h e is r e - q u i r e d t o o b e y t h e o r d e r , t h e n fi le a g r i e v a n c e . T h a t is t h e c u s t o m a r y f o r m w h i c h a n e m p l o y e e c o m p l a i n t m u s t t a k e . S i m p l e r e f u s a l to f o l l o w i n s t r u c - t i o n s vi ti at es t h e s t r e n g t h of t h e gr ie v- a n c e p r o c e d u r e a n d r u n s a g a i n s t t h e b a s i c c o n c e p t s of t h e c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n - i n g p r o c e s s . N e e d l e s s t o s a y , t h e r e a r e e x c e p t i o n s . E m p l o y e e s n e e d n o t fi rs t o b e y o r d e r s w h i c h p l a c e t h e i r h e a l t h o r s a f e t y i n j e o p a r d y . T h e y n e e d n o t e n g a g e i n cr im in al ac ts . T h e s e ar e th e of t- ci te d e x a m p l e s o f s i t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h a n e m - p l o y e e is n o t r e q u i r e d t o “ O b e y n o w , g r i e v e la te r. ” N o t h i n g li ke t h i s is in - vo lv ed in o u r ca se , h o w e v e r , a n d w e m u s t g e t i n t o t h e g r a y a r e a i n o r d e r t o r e s o l v e t h e d i s p u t e . - W h a t w e h a v e h e r e is a n a c c u s a t i o n o f i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n , b a s e d o n t h e G r i e - v a n t ' s r e f u s a l t o s i g n h i s t i m e c a r d . W e a l s o h a v e a w o r k r u l e — w h i c h t h e G r i e - v a n t is a l l e g e d t o h a v e v i o l a t e d — r e q u i r i n g e v e r y e m p l o y e e t o s i g n h i s t i m e c a r d a n d s t a t i n g t h a t “ A s i g n a t u r e is u n d e r s t o o d t o b e h i s a c k n o w l e d g e - m e n t t h a t t h e t i m e c l o c k h o u r s a r e co r- re ct .” T h u s , t h e i n c i d e n t o f J u l y 2 8 t h , f o r w h i c h t h e G r i e v a n t w a s d i s c i p l i n e d , t u r n s o u t t o b e a d i s p u t e o v e r w h e t h e r t h e t i m e c a r d w a s c o r r e c t . T h e C o m - p a n y s a i d it w a s — a s a m e n d e d b y t h e s u p e r v i s o r . T h e G r i e v a n t s a i d it w a s n o t A e e — t h a t it h a d b e e n c o r r e c t b e f o r e t h e s u p e r v i s o r c h a n g e d it , b u t it w a s n o w w r o n g . U n d e r th es e ci rc um st an ce s, t h e Gr ie - v a n t c o u l d r e a s o n a b l y b e a p p r e h e n s i v e t h a t s i g n i n g t h e t i m e c a r d w o u l d b e n o t o n l y a n “ a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t t h a t t h e t i m e c l o c k h o u r s a r e c o r r e c t , ” b u t t h a t h e w a s a l s o s i g n i n g a w a y h i s c l a i m f o r p a y t o a t t e n d t h e g r i e v a n c e m e e t i n g . C a n i t t h e n b e s a i d t h a t t h e G r i e - v a n t ’ s c o n d u c t w a s a n u n j u s t i f i e d r e f u s - al t o o b e y a v a l i d w o r k o r d e r — w h i c h i s w h a t “ i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n ” is ? I t h i n k n o t . T h e or de r it se lf , a l t h o u g h it w a s s o m e w h a t r e l a t e d t o w o r k — d i d n o t in - v o l v e t h e C o m p a n y ’ s p r o d u c t i o n o r t h e G r i e v a n t ’ s j o b p e r f o r m a n c e . It h a d n o e f f e c t o n c u s t o m e r s o r o t h e r e m p l o y e e s . I t d i d n o t a f f e c t m a n a g e m e n t f u n c t i o n s — o n e w a y o r t h e o t h e r . T h e C o m p a n y w a s f r e e t o c a l c u l a t e t h e G r i e v a n t ' s p a y as it t h o u g h t p r o p e r , w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e G r i e v a n t s i g n e d . T h e c a r d i t s e l f , a s a m e n d e d b y t h e s u p e r v i s o r , a l r e a d y re - f l e c t e d t h e C o m p a n y ’ s v i e w o f it s o b l i g a t i o n u n d e r t h e c o n t r a c t . T h e G r i e v a n t ' s s i g n a t u r e w a s n o t r e q u i r e d t o c o m p l e t e t h e t r a n s a c t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , t h e s u p e r v i s o r ' s i n s i s t a n c e u p o n o b t a i n - i n g t h e G r i e v a n t ’ s s i g n a t u r e , i n t h e f a c e of h i s f e a r of s i g n i n g a w a y h i s c l a i m , s e r v e d n o l e g i t i m a t e b u s i n e s s p u r p o s e a n d d i d n o t c o n s t i t u t e a v a l i d w o r k o r d e r . “ O b e y n o w , g r i e v e l a t e r ” c a n n o t b e u s e d t o d e p r i v e a n e m p l o y e e of f u n d a - - m e n t a l r i g h t s t o w h i c h he i s o t h e r w i s e en ti tl ed . It is d e s i g n e d t o t a k e la bo r d i s - p u t e s o f f t h e w o r k f l o o r a n d p u t t h e m w h e r e t h e y b e l o n g — i n t o t h e g r i e v a n c e p r o c e d u r e , H e r e , t h e C o m p a n y s o u g h t t o r e s o l v e t h e d i s p u t e o n t h e w o r k f l o o r b y o b t a i n i n g t h e G r i e v a n t ’ s s i g n a t u r e . T h i s it c o u l d n o t do . . I n M G M G r a n d H o t e l , 6 8 L A 1 2 8 4 (1 97 7) , L r e f u s e d t o u p h o l d d i s c i p l i n e o f a f o o d s e r v e r in a n i g h t c l u b w h o h a d r e f u s e d t o s i g n a n a u t h o r i z a t i o n t o d e - d u c t $ 6 8 . 0 0 f r o m h e r p a y . T h e C o m - p a n y c l a i m e d s h e o w e d t h e m o n e y _b e- c a u s e s o m e o f h e r c u s t o m e r s h a d w a l k e d o u t w i t h o u t p a y i n g t h e i r c h e c k . T h e G r i e v a n t d e n i e d s h e w a s li ab le . I q u e s t i o n e d t h e r e w h e t h e r r e f u s a l to a d m i t l i a b i l i t y f o r a d i s p u t e d d e b t c o n - s t i t u t e s i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n . T h e s a m e q u e s t i o n ex is ts h e r e . _ I n t h a t ca se , al so , I f o u n d t h e r e w a s n o j u s t c a u s e f o r di sc ip li ne . I s t a t e d t h a t “ j u s t c a u s e r e q u i r e s e a c h c a s e t o b e e v a l u a t e d f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f t h e ° s e r i o u s n e s s of t h e G r i e v a n t ’ s c o n d u c t . ” T h e l d a s f o l l o w s : T h e G r i e v a n t ' s c o n d u c t i n th is c a s e — e v e n if it is ca ll ed i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n ” a n d e v e n if it vi ol at ed H o u s e R u l e s — s i m p l y w a s no ts e r i - o u s e n o u g h t o w a r r a n t t e r m i n a t i o n . N o r w a s h e r r e f u s a l t o s i g n a n a u t h o r i z a t i o n f o r p a y - ro ll d e d u c t i o n — w h i c h . i s t h e r e a l r e a s o n w h y s h e w a s d i s c h a r g e d — s u f f i c i e n t g r o u n d s f o r i m p o s i n g a l e s s e r p e n a l t y , s u c h ‘ a s a s u s - p e n s i o n o r w a r n i n g n o t i c e . I n e v a l u a t i n g t h e in st an t ca se , I fi nd t h a t t h e c o n t r a c t u a l r e q u i r e m e n t o f “ p r o p e r c a u s e ” f o r s u s p e n s i o n o f a n e m - p l o y e e h a s n o t b e e n m e t , N o h a r m h a s b e e n s h o w n t o h a v e b e f a l l e n t h e C o m - p a n y a s a r e s u l t o f t h e G r i e v a n t ’ s c o n - d u c t . T h e i n c i d e n t w a s e s s e n t i a l l y tr iv i- al . S u c h c o n d u c t — n o m a t e r w h a t l a b e l is p l a c e d u p o n it — c a n n o t b e t h e “ p r o - p e r c a u s e ” of s e r i o u s di sc ip li ne . A r b i t r a t o r L e e M o d j e s k a in D e f e n s e L a n g u a g e I n s t i t u t e , 6 4 L A 49 8, ( 1 9 7 5 ) , o v e r t u r n e d a 2 8 - d a y s u s p e n s i o n o f a n e m p l o y e e a c c u s e d o f i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n . H e r a l l e g e d m i s c o n d u c t w a s a n in si st - e n c e o n a n s w e r i n g h e r s u p e r v i s o r ' s q u e s t i o n s a b o u t a n a r g u m e n t w i t h a n - o t h e r e m p l o y e e in w r i t i n g , r a t h e r t h a n o r a l l y . T h e A r b i t r a t o r t h e r e s t a t e d : A g a i n , a s s t a t e d ea rl ie r, t h i s c a s e d o e s n o t i n v o l v e ( t h e G r i e v a n t ' s ) w o r k p e r f o r m a n c e o r a n y f l a g r a n t a n d u n j u s t i f i e d r e f u s a l o n h e r p a r t t o c o m p l y w i t h a v a l i d w o r k o r d e r . F u r t h e r , t h e e n t i r e m a t t e r i n v o l v e d a tr iv ia l i n c i d e n t o v e r t h e n e w s p a p e r , i n w h i c h ( t h e G r i e v a n t ) h a d d o n e n o t h i n g i m p r o p e r . It is u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t t h e m a t t e r w a s n o t re - s o l v e d o r o t h e r w i s e d i s p o s e d o f a t e a r l i e r s t a g e s w h i c h c o u l d h a v e p r e c l u d e d p r e c i p i t a - t i o n of t h e i n c i d e n t i n t o s o m e t h i n g t o t a l l y o u t o f p r o p o r t i o n . I n o t h e r ‘ w o r d s , a tr iv ia l i n c i d e n t o u g h t n o t r e s u l t in s e r i o u s c o n s e - q u e n c e s f o r t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s . . T h e r e h a v i n g b e e n n o p r o p e r c a u s e f o r t h e s u s p e n s i o n o f t h e ‘ G r i e v a n t ; I f i n d t h a t t h e C o m p a n y v i o l a t e d t h e co l- l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t w h e n i t s u s p e n d e d h i m . T h e g r i e v a n c e w i l l b e s u s t a i n e d . T h e C o m p a n y w i l l b e d i r e c t e d t o m a k e t h e G r i e v a n t w h o l e f o r a n y l o s s e s ‘i n p a y a n d b e n e f i t s h e m a y h a v e su f- f e r e d a s a r e s u l t o f t h e s u s p e n s i o n . W i t h t h e c o n s e n t o f t h e pa rt ie s, I wi ll re ta in ju ri sd ic ti on of th is m a t t e r f o r a p e r i o d o f 6 0 d a y s f r o m t h e d a t e of ’ i s - s u a n c e o f t h i s O p i n i o n a n d A w a r d , i n t h e e v e n t t h e y a r e u n a b l e to a g r e e o n it s p r o p e r i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . A W A R D t o T h e C o m p a n y h a v i n g v i o l a t e d t h e - c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t w h e n it s u s p e n d e d t h e G r i e v a n t o n J u l y 28 , ‘ 1 9 8 0 , t h e g r i e v a n c e is h e r e b y s u s t a i n e d . T h e C o m p a n y i s d i r e c t e d t o m a k e t h e G r i e v a n t w h o l e f o r a n y l o s s e s in p a y a n d b e n e f i t s s u f f e r e d a s a r e s u l t ‘ o f h i s s u s p e n s i o n . a W i t h t h e c o n s e n t o f t h e pa rt ie s, I h e r e b y r e t a i n j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h i s m a t - te r f o r a p e r i o d o f 6 0 d a y s f r o m t h e d a t e of i s s u a n c e o f t h i s O p i n i o n a n d A w a r d , in t h e e v e n t t h e p a r t i e s a r e u n a b l e t o a g r e e u p o n it s p r o p e r i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . N R o y L i c e u a e A L L I E D C H E M I C A L C O R P . — . D e c i s i o n o f A r b i t r a t o r I n r e A L L I E D C H E M I C A L C O R P O - R A T I O N , B A L T I M O R E W O R K S a n d P E T R O L E U M , C O N S T R U C T I O N , T A N K L I N E . D R I V E R S A N D A L L I E D “ E M P L O Y E E S , L O C A L 31 1, I B T , F M C S C a s e N o . 8 0 K - 2 4 1 2 7 , M a y 1, 1 9 8 1 A r b i t r a t o r : J a m e s M . H a r k l e s s , se le ct - e d in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h p r o c e d u r e s of F e d e r a l M e d i a t i o n & C o n c i l i a t i o n S e r - v i c e : D I S C H A R G E ~ - F a c i a l h a i r r u l e — C l a i m o f i l l n e s s — D o c t o r ' s v e r i f i c a t i o n b> 1 1 8 . 6 5 6 4 > 1 1 8 . 6 5 5 > 1 1 8 . 3 0 3 - ‘ E m p l o y e r d i d . n o t h a v e j u s t c a u s e fo r d i s - c h a r g e of e m p l o y e e w h o h a d . b e e n s u s p e n d e d fo r re fu sa l to s h a v e fa ci al h a i r in c o m p l i a n c e w i t h n e w p l a n t ru le a n d w h o w a s di re ct ed to f u r n i s h m e d i c a l ’ p r o o f o f i n a b i l i t y t o w o r k w h e n h e l a t e r c a m e to p l a n t to g e t s i c k n e s s b e n e f i t s f o r m s . (1 ) A l t h o u g h g r i e v a n t ‘ h a d n o t s h a v e d b e a r d w h e n h e a p p e a r e d a t p l a n t t o p i c k u p f o r m s , h e w a s n o t r e p o r t i n g f o r w o r k a t t h a t t i m e ; (2 ) g r i e v a n t h a d a l m o s t 1 4 y e a r s o f p r i o r s a t i s f a c t o r y s e r v i c e ; (3 ) r e q u e s t f o r v e r i f i c a t i o n o f il ln es s w a s u n u s u a l in t h a t e m p l o y e e n o r m a l l y is r e q u i r e d to p r o d u c e p r o o f o f i n a b i l i t y t o w o r k d u e to s i c k n e s s w h e n he i s c l e a r e d t o r e t u r n to w o r k ; (4 ) e m - p l o y e r ' s f a i l u r e to : e x p l a i n to g r i e v a n t w h y d o c t o r ’ s sl ip h e p r e s e n t e d s u b s e q u e n t l y w a s i n a d e q u a t e a n d to g i v e h i m o p p o r t u n i t y to s u p p l e m e n t i t w i t h f u r t h e r ev id en ce m a k e s d i s c h a r g e a c t i o n a r b i t r a r y a n d p r e c i p i t o u s . ’ P R O O F O F I L L N E S S H A R E K L E S S , A r b i t r a t o r : — I n t h i s g r i e v a n c e , t h e U n i o n p r o t e s t s t h e di s- c h a r g e o f S c r u b . A t t e n d a n t R . _ o n M a y 23 , 19 80 ; T h e is su e to b e de te rm in ed i s : “ W a s t h e g r i e v a n t , R . _ , d i s c h a r g e d f o r j u s t c a u s e , a n d , if n o t , w h a t s h a l l b e t h e r e m e - v7 : ’ T h e g r i e v a n t b e g a n h i s e m p l o y m e n t w i t h t h e C o m p a n y i n 1 9 6 6 , a n d p r i o r t o M a y 1 9 8 0 it a p p e a r s h i s w o r k w a s s a t i s - f a c t o r y . B e c a u s e t h e e m p l o y é e s a t t h i s p l a n t ar e e x p o s e d to va ri ou s to xi c su b- s t a n c e s i n t h e i r w o r k , al l. of t h e m in - c l u d i n g t h e g r i e v a n t , a l w a y s h a v e b e e n r e q u i r e d t o w e a r r e s p i r a t o r s a n d su it s in t h e p l a n t t o p r o t e c t t h e i r h e a l t h . I n A p r i l 1 9 8 0 , h o w e v e r , M a n a g e m e n t , be - c a m e c o n c e r n e d b e c a u s e m a n y m o r e e m p l o y e e s . w e r e w e a r i n g ’ b e a r d s a n d g o a t e e s w h i c h c o u l d i n t e r f é r e w i t h t h e fi t o f t h e i r r e s p i r a t o r s a n d t h e r e b y in - c r e a s e t h e i r r i s k o f e x p o s u r e . T h e r e - fo re , o n A p r i l 2 9 t h , H . T . K i n g , t h e lo ca l M a n a g e r o f E m p l o y e e R e l a t i o n s - a n d ‘ a n o t h e r C o m p a n y of fi ci al m e t w i t h U n i o n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , t o l d t h e m o f t h e s e c o n c e r n s a n d a n n o u n c e d th at r e - 3 4 L A 6 8 8 K R O G E R C O . a s t o t a l p a y f o r t h e w o r k is c o n c e r n e d , t h e g r i e v a n t a c t u a l l y l o s t n o t h i n g b y t h e C o m p a n y ’ s m i s t a k e . O n t h i s ba si s, I m u s t a g r e e w i t h t h e C o m p a n y . If M r . C o o k h a d t a k e n t h e r u n of M r . D a r b y , h e w o u l d n o t h a v e le ft l a t e r i n t h e e v e n i n g o n t h e r u n w h i c h h e a c t u a l l y r e c e i v e d . C o n s e q u e n t l y , if t h e C o m p a n y h a d p r o p e r l y a s s i g n e d h i m a c c o r d i n g t o h i s e x t r a b o a r d s e n i o r i t y , h e w o u l d h a v e r e c e i v e d n o m o r e m o n e y f o r h i s w e e k ’ s w o r k t h a n h e a c t u a l l y r e c e i v e d , a s a m a t t e r o f fa ct , h e w o u l d h a v e r e c e i v e d a li tt le le ss . C o n s e q u e n t l y , w h a t w e h a v e is t h a t t h e C o m p a n y t e c h n i c a l l y b r e a c h e d a r i g h t o f M r . C o o k , a s f a r a s t h e c o n - t r a c t is c o n c e r n e d , b u t a s f a r a s h i s m o n e t a r y i n c o m e f o r t h e w e e k , h e a c t u a l l y l o s t n o t h i n g . T h i s is n o t t o s a y t h a t s i n c e h e r e c e i v e s n o m o n e y , it f o l l o w s i n e f f e c t t h a t h e h a s n o r i g h t s . A s a m a t t e r o f p r i n c i p l e , it m a y w e l l b e t h a t u n d e r a n o t h e r s e t of fa ct s a n d o t h e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s a r e a s s i g n m e n t o r a m i s - a s s i g n m e n t w o u l d r e s u l t i n a lo ss o f p a y . A l l t h a t I a m s a y i n g i n t h i s c a s e is t h a t a s a r e s u l t of w h a t t h e C o m p a n y di d, M r . C o o k i n t h i s c a s e , s u f f e r e d n o a c t u a l lo ss i n w a g e s . B u t t h e r e is a n o t h e r a s p e c t to t h i s c a s e w h i c h d e s e r v e s s e r i o u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n . M r , C o o k te st i- fi ed t h a t a t t h e t i m e t h e u n d e r s t a n d - i n g w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o w o r k a s s i g n ~ m e n t s o f e x t r a b o a r d e m p l o y e e s w a s a g r e e d u p o n b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s , t h e C o m p a n y i n d i c a t e d t h a t e v e r y ef fo rt w o u l d b e m a d e to a s s i g n e m p l o y e e s b y t h e i r s e n i o r i t y i n o r d e r t h a t t h e y m a y n o t h a v e t o w o r k o n S u n d a y o r a t l e a s t c o u l d f i n i s h a s e a r l y a s p o s s i b l e o n S a t u r d a y . I n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r ca se , h a d M r . C o o k t a k e n t h e r u n r e c e i v e d b y M r . D a r b y , h e w o u l d h a v e h a d h i s w e e k e n d f r e e ; h o w e v e r , as a_ r e s u l t of l e a v i n g a t n i g h t o n F r i d a y , h e a c - t u a l l y d i d h a v e to w o r k o n S a t u r d a y . S o w h a t t h e g r i e v a n t a c t u a l l y lo st h e r e w a s n o t m o n e y , b u t t h e i n c o n - v e n i e n c e a n d i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h h i s w e e k e n d t i m e , a p o s s i b i l i t y w h i c h t h e C o m p a n y i n d i c a t e d t h e y w o u l d s e e k to av oi d if at al l p o s s i b l e . S o M r . Co ok ’s g r i e v a n c e bo il s d o w n to t h i s — if t h e C o m p a n y h a d n o t v i o l a t e d t h e c o n t r a c t h e w o u l d h a v e h a d a f r e e w e e k e n d i n w h i c h h e c o u l d h a v e e n - jo ye cl m o r e l e i s u r e t i m e t h a n h e r e - c e i v e d a s a r e s u l t of t h e C o m p a n y ’ s b r e a c h . N o w I f u l l y re al iz e t h a t i n c o u r t s o f l a w a n d i n j u r y c a s e s , a j u r y is a u t h o r i z e d t o a w a r d d a m a g e s f o r p a i n a n d s u f f e r i n g , b u t a s a r b i t r a - to r, I b e l i e v e t h a t IT a m l i m i t e d i n a w a r d i n g d a m a g e s t o c o m p e n s a t i o n w h i c h is m e a s u r a b l e i n t e r m s o f t h e c o n t r a c t , I n o t h e r w o r d s , if a co m- ~- p a n y b r e a c h e s a c o n t r a c t a n d fa il s . t o a w a r d a n e m p l o y e e h o l i d a y p a y , t h e n it is m y r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o a w a r d t h a t e m p l o y e e t h e h o l i d a y p a y w h i c h h e d i d n o t r e c e i v e . B y t h e s a m e t o k e n , if a n e m p l o y e e is n o t p r o p e r l y as - s i g n e d o v e r t i m e , h e s h o u l d g e t t h e o v e r t i m e t h r o u g h t h e a r b i t r a t o r ’ s a w a r d . If t h e e m p l o y e e is d i s c h a r g e d i m p r o p e r l y or la id of f, t h e n al l lo st w a g e s a r e d u e h i m . B u t w h e r e a s h e r e t h e e m p l o y e e a c t u a l l y e n d e d u p w i t h a s m u c h m o n e y as h e w o u l d ha ve r e - c e i v e d h a d t h e C o m p a n y p r o p e r l y a s - s i g n e d h i m b u t h i s lo ss a s h e r e w a s t h e t a k i n g a w a y of f r e e t i m e o n 2 w e e k e n d , it is m y o p i n i o n t h a t f o r m e t o a t t e m p t t o a s s e s s i n m o n e y w h a t t h e lo ss a m o u n t s t o o n b e h a l f o f t h e ‘ g r i e v a n t w o u l d b e t o e x t e n d t h e a r b i - t r a t i o n p r o c e s s b e y o n d t h a t w h i c h is n o r m a l l y a n d c u s t o m a r i l y c o n t e m - p l a t e d b y t h e p a r t i e s . I n o t h e r w o r d s . t h e r e a r e t w o t a s k s w h i c h t h e a r b i - t r a t o r h a s i n a t y p i c a l g r i e v a n c e , I n t h e fi rs t p l a c e , h e m u s t l o o k to s e e if a p a r t i c u l a r p r o v i s i o n of t h e c o n t r a c t h a s b e e n , v i o l a t e d , A f t e r h a v i n g f o u n d a vi ol at io n if o n e ex is ts , h e m u s t t h e n r e i m b u r s e t h e e m p l o y e e i n q u e s t i o f o r l o s t e a r n i n g s , I n br ie f, it is t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t h e a r b i t r a t o r tc m a k e t h e e m p l o y e e w h o l e f o r a n y b r e a c h . B u t u n l i k e a j u r y , it is m y c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e a r b i t r a t o r is l i m i t e d to t h o s e s t a n d a r d s . of c o m - p e n s a t i o n w h i c h a r e e x p r e s s l y o r i m - p l i e d l y f o u n d i n t h e c o n t r a c t n e g o - t i a t e d b y t h e p a r t i e s . B y t h i s s t a n d - a r d , I b e l i e v e it is b e y o n d m y a u t h o r - it y t o a t t e m p t i n t h i s c a s e t o a s s e s s d a m a g e s f o r t h e lo ss o f a p o r t i o n o: t h e o m p l o y e e ’ s f r e e t i m e . A W A R D A l t h o u g h t h e C o m p a n y v i o l a t e d t h e s e n i o r i t y r i g h t s o f G e o r g e D , C o o k o n S e p t e m b e r 4, 19 59 , w h e n t h e y i m - p r o p e r l y a s s i g n e d a n o t h e r e m p l o y e e tc t a k e a n e x t r a b o a r d r u n w h i c h u n d e r t h e f a c t s w o u l d h a v e b e e n a s s i g n e c to M r . Co ok , b a s e d o n t h e fo re go in z r e a s o n i n g a n d a n a l y s i s , it is m y c o n c l u s i o n t h a t M r , C o o k . i s n o t e n t i t l e c to t h e e x t r a d a y ’ s p a y s i n c e h i s t o t e e a r n i n g s f o r t h e w e e k a m o u n t e d tc a t l e a s t w h a t h e w o u l d , h a v e r e c e i v e c h a d n o t t h e C o m p a n y i m p r o p e r i r a s s i g n e d h i m . ~ - 3 4 L a b o r A r b i t r a t i o n R e p o r t s S Z E L L E R M F G . C O R P . S H E L L E R M F G , C O R P . — D e c i s i o n o f A r b i t r a t o r > 2 re S H E L L E R M A N U F A C T U R I N G " A R P O R A T I O N , D R Y D E N R U B B E R I T T I S I O N [ K e o k u k , I o w a ] a n d U N I T - = > R U B B E R , C O R K , L I N O L E U M A N D a I T T A L U N I O N N o . 44 4, G r i e v a n c e N o s . =7 .4 3, Ju ly 2, 19 60 . i v b i t r a t e r : W h i t l e y P. M c C o y . D I S C I P L I N E — t T n s u b o r d i n a t i o n — R e f u s a l to o b e y u m e c a r d 1 1 8 . 6 5 2 = - a p l o y e r w a s n o t j u s t i f i e d i n d i s c i p l i n - z f o r i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n e m p l o y e e s w h o r e - z e d t o o b e y f o r e m a n ’ s o r d e r t o c h a n g e zi > t i m e c a r d s to in di ca te t h a t w o r k se x: 7 h a d p u t d o w n a s p i e c e w o r k w a s d o n e d a y - w o r k b a s i s , E x c e p t i o n t o g e n e r a l z c s i p l e t h a t e m p l o y e r ’ s o r d e r m u s t b e o s y e d a n d c h a l l e n g e d t h r o u g h g r i e v a n c e “ d u r e is a p p l i c a b l e h e r e , s i n c e t i m e . - 2 r e p r e s e n t s c l a i m t o p r o p e r p a y a n d , c h , c o n s t i t u t e s d e f i n i t e r i g h t o r i n - 4 4 szt o f e m p l o y e e t o b e p r o t e c t e d ; m o r e - si tu at io n i n v o l v e d n o u n s e e m l y ar - g i c e n t , n o i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h p r o d u c t i o n , o c h a l l e n g e t o p r o p e r a u t h o r i t y a n d i t y o f s u p e r v i s o r s . ( W . M c C o y ) — hi tl er M i g , Co rp ., , 3 4 L A 68 9. t o p e a r a n c e s : F o r t h e c o m p a n y — —= z2 n F a i r w e a t h e r , a t t o r n e y : J o h n L. E r i d l e y , d i r e c t o r of i n d u s t r i a l r e l a - ‘ e v s . F o r t h e u n i o n — D o n a l d R . J o h n - s e x , p r e s i d e n t , L o c a l 4 4 4 ; J. C. L o n g , *c -s rn at io na l re pr es en ta ti ve . S S T B O R D I N A T I O N “ C O Y , A r b i t r a t o r : — A t a h e a r i n g i n K e o k u k , I o w a , o n M a y 27 , 1 9 6 0 , 2 o r i e v a n c e s w e r e s u b m i t t e d to a r - o n w h i c h : c a n b e s t b e t r e a t e d “ n e r i n o n e d e c i s i o n b e c a u s e t h e y : o u t o f a s i n g l e i n c i d e n t . T h e i n - w e = n t r e s u l t e d i n t h e d i s c h a r g e s o f t 2 - S o p e r a n d O r i n W o r k m a n f o r al - e c 2 4 i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n , a n d a w r i t t e n s e c r i m a n d t o D o n a l d J o h n s o n , t h e w e c c s i d e n t o f t h e L o c a l U n i o n , f o r a d - r t h a t a l l e g e d i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n . C o m p a n y l a t e r m o d i f i e d t h e di s- = z g e s t o s u s p e n s i o n s o f 10 w o r k i n g i T h e i s s u e t h e r e f o r e is w h e t h e r s u s p e n s i o n s a n d t h e r e p r i m a n d d s t a n d . T h e U n i o n fi le d b r i e f s e h e a r i n g , a n d t h e C o m p a n y h a s a p o s t - h e a r i n g br ie f. c e e s u r e r , L o c a l 4 4 4 ; E r n e s t H. P a y n e , . 3 4 L A 68 9 B e f o r e s t a t i n g t h e f a c t s it m a y b e w e l l to r e s t a t e c e r t a i n f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h a r e s o w e l l e s t a b - l i s h e d , b y t h e d e c i s i o n s of t h e w r i t e r a s w e l l a s of m a n y o t h e r a r b i t r a t o r s , a s t o b e n o w b e y o n d q u e s t i o n i n m y m i n d . T h e g r i e v a n c e p r o c e d u r e , e n d - i n g w h e n n e c e s s a r y i n a r b i t r a t i o n , is s e t u p f o r t h e e x p r e s s p u r p o s e of p r o - v i d i n g m e a n s , t i m e s , a n d p l a c e s f o r p r o p e r a r g u m e n t a n d d i s p o s i t i o n of di sp ut es , t h u s el im in at in g t h e ne ce s- s i t y f o r s u c h f o r m s o f “ s e l f - h e l p ” a s st ri ke s, s l o w d o w n s , r e f u s a l to o b e y o r d e r s , a n d e v e n u n s e e m l y a r g u m e n t o n t h e p l a n t f l o o r . W h e n a n e m p l o y e e is t o l d b y a s u p e r v i s o r t o d o s o m e ~ t h i n g , h i s d u t y , p e r h a p s a f t e r . p r e - s e r v i n g h i s r i g h t s b y a p r o t e s t , is to _ d o it . H e t h e n h a s t h e r i g h t t o fi le a g r i e v a n c e a n d h a v e t h e p r o p r i e t y o f t h e o r d e r te st ed . N o p l a n t c o u l d o p e r - a t e if t h e e m p l o y e e s w e r e f r e e t o o b e y o r d i s o b e y o r d e r s a c c o r d i n g to t h e i r o w n n o t i o n s of t h e i r c o n t r a c t ri gh ts . E x c e p t i o n s t o P r i n c i p l e C e r t a i n e x c e p t i o n s to t h i s p r i n c i p l e a r e e q u a l l y w e l l r e c o g n i z e d . N o e m ~ p l o y e e is b o u n d t o o b e y a n o r d e r . w h i c h w o u l d i n v o l v e a n u n r e a s o n a b l e h a z a r d t o l i f e o r l i m b ; n o e m p l o y e e is b o u n d t o o b e y a n o r d e r w h i c h w o u l d h u m i l i - at e h i m o r w h i c h h a s n o r e a s o n a b l e r e l a t i o n t o h i s j o b d u t i e s — s u c h a s t o s h i n e a f o r e m a n ’ s s h o e s o r t o w i t h - d r a w a p r i e v a n c e . A r b i t r a t i o n d e c i s i o n s h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d t h e s e a n d o t h e r e x - c e p t i o n s . T h i s c a s e p r e s e n t s t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h e f a c t s h e r e i n v o l v e d b r i n g it w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f t h e g e n e r a l p r i n - c i p l e o r t h e s c o p e o f t h e e x c e p t i o n s . I n c o n s i d e r i n g t h i s q u e s t i o n it is i m - p o r t a n t t o b e a r i n m i n d t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e : t h e n e c e s - si ty f o r t h e ef fi ci en t, o r d e r l y , u n i n - t e r r u p t e d o p e r a t i o n o f p r o d u c t i o n ; e l i m i n a t i o n of u n s e e m l y a r g u m e n t o n t h e p l a n t fl oo r; a n d t h e p r a c t i c a l n e c e s s i t y , f o r r e a s o n s of ef fi ci en t o p - e r a t i o n s , o f m a i n t a i n i n g t h e p r o p e r a u t h o r i t y a n d d i g n i t y of t h o s e e n - t r u s t e d w i t h s u p e r v i s o r y du ti es . S i n c e t h e s e a r e t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e , a b s e n c e o f s u c h r e a s o n i n a p a r t i c u l a r c a s e ( s u c h a s t h e s h o e - s h i n e c a s e ) , o r t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a n o v e r r i d i n g r i g h t o r i n t e r e s t i n t h e e m - p l o y e e ( s u c h a s t o li fe o r h e a l t h ) , m a y f o r m t h e b a s i s f o r a l e g i t i m a t e e x - c e p t i o n , A w e i g h i n g o f t h e c o n f l i c t i n g i n t e r e s t s m a y b e n e c e s s a r y o n a g i v e n s t a t e o f fa ct s. B u t c e r t a i n l y c a u t i o n S y m b o l » i n d i c a t e s n u m b e r u n d e r I n d e x - D i g e s t D e c i s i o n s a n d R e c o m m e n d a t i o n s 34 L A 6 9 2 d o w n 7 9 1 0 - 0 1 - 2 1 3 , t h e o p e r a t i o n n u m - b e r f o r o v e n n o . 7 , , t h e r e w o u l d b e a d u t y t o c o r r e c t . S u c h c o r r e c t i o n s a r e a p a r t o f t h e i r j o b a s m u c h a s w o u l d p e t h e r e w o r k i n g o f b a d w o r k . | B u t in so fa r as t h e t i m e sh ee t is a cl ai m, or a “b il l’ , as it w a s re fe rr ed to b y a U n i o n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e d u r i n g t h e g r i e v a n c e m e e t i n g s , a n d n o t a m e r e re co rd , it s e e m s to m e t h a t a di ff er en t p r i n c i p l e a p p l i e s . If a m a n h a s - m a d e 5 0 0 p i e c e s , a n d a f o r e m a n s h o u l d a r - bi tr ar il y o r d e r h i m to c h a n g e h i s c l a i m f o r p i e c e w o r k p a y t o 3 0 0 p i e c e s , I s e e n o d u t y t o o b e y . If t h e r e is a v a l i d r e a s o n f o r m a k i n g t h e c h a n g e , i n t h e f o r e m a n ’ s o p i n i o n , h e c a n d i s a p p r o v e t h e t i m e s h e e t . B u t h e h a s n o r i g h t to e x p e c t t h e e m p l o y e e t o r e l i n q u i s h w h a t t h e e m p l o y e e t h i n k s is a v a l i d c l a i m . O r if a n e m p l o y e e h a s h a d d o w n t i m e , a p p r o v e d b y t h e f o r e m a n at t h e t i m e , a n d a t t h e e n d o f t h e sh if t t h e f o r e m a n or de rs it s t r u c k f r o m t h e t i m e s h e e t , I s e e n o v a l i d r e a s o n f o r c o m p l i a n c e . T h e k e e p i n g of a t r u e a n d a c c u r a t e r e c o r d , a n d co rr ec ti on of er ro rs of fa ct in it , ar e d u t i e s o w e d to t h e C o m p a n y . B u t t h e m a k i n g o f c l a i m s . f o r p a y a r e n o d u - ti es o w e d t h e C o m p a n y ; t h e y a r e r i g h t s o f t h e e m p l o y e e s . It is t h e e m p l o y e e ’ s r i g h t t o m a k e t h e c l a i m ; it is t h e f o r e m a n ’ s r i g h t t o d i s a p p r o v e a n d r e f u s e p a y m e n t . T h a t t h i s is c o m m o n pr ac ti ce is s h o w n b y t h e t e s t i m o n y of t h e f o r e m e n . T h e y te st i- fi ed t h a t w h e n t h e y f i n d a n e r r o r i n a t i m e s h e e t a f f e c t i n g t h e p a y , t h e y t u r n i n a sl ip c a l l i n g f o r p a y m e n t a t d a y w o r k u n t i l t h e y g e t it s t r a i g h t e n e d o u t w i t h t h e e m p l o y e e . . ; T h e C o m p a n y l o s e s n o t h i n g b y t h i s p r o c e d u r e , e x c e p t p e r h a p s t h a t a li tt le e x t r a w o r k is m a d e f o r t h e f o r e m a n a n d t h e P a y r o l l D e p a r t m e n t . T h e C o m p a n y a r g u e s t h a t t h e e m - p l o y e e s s h o u l d h a v e c h a n g e d t h e i r c l a i m o n t h e t i m e s h e e t , a s o r d e r e d , a n d t h e n fi le d a g r i e v a n c e . If t h e y h a d , t h e y m i g h t h a v e f o u n d t h a t t h e y h a d p r e j u d i c e d t h e g r i e v a n c e . It w a s s u g g e s t e d a t t h e h e a r i n g t h a t t h e e m - p l o y e e s m i g h t a v o i d s u c h p r e j u d i c e b y w r i t i n g o n t h e t i m e s h e e t “ C h a n g e d u n d e r pr ot es t” .. T h a t is tr ue , b u t it is a t h o u g h t m o r e l i k e l y to o c c u r to a l a w y e r t h a n t o t h e a v e r a g e w o r k e r i n a p l a n t . W i t h d r a w a l of C l a i m I s e e n o t h i n g m o r e of i n s t i b o r d i n a - t i o n i n r e f u s i n g to w i t h d r a w a c l a i m f r o m a t i m e s h e e t t h a n in re fu si ng to w i t h d r a w a g r i e v a n c e , T h e o r d e r m u s t b e o n e r e l a t i n g t o j o b d u t i e s b e f o r e 3 4 L a b o r A r b i t r a t i o n R e p o r t s S H E L L E R M F G . C O R P . t h e r e c a n b e i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n . R e f e r - r i n g b a c k to t h e r e a s o n s s t a t e d ea rl ie r f o r t h e g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e , t h e r e w a s n o u n s e e m l y a r g u m e n t , t h e r e w a s n o i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h p r o d u c t i o n , a n d t h e p r o p e r a u t h o r i t y a n d d i g n i t y o f t h e s u p e r v i s o r s w e r e n o t j e o p a r d i z e d . T h e m e n t u r n e d i n t i m e s h e e t s m a k i n g t h e c l a i m f o r p i e c e w o r k p a y , t h e f o r e - m e n r e j e c t e d t h e c l a i m a n d s e n t i n a sl ip fo r d a y w o r k p a y . T h a t w a s al l t h e r e w a s f o it . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , l o o k i n g a t t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e e x c e p - t i o n s t o t h e g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e , t h e r e w a s h e r e q u i t e d e f i n i t e l y a r i g h t o r i n t e r e s t i n t h e e m p l o y e e s t o b e p r o - t e c t e d — t h e r i g h t t o p r o p e r p a y . O b i t e r d i c t a i n a r b i t r a t i o n d e c i s i o n s a r e h o t i n f a v o r , b u t i n o r d e r t o m a k e c l e a r t h e li mi ts - of w h a t is b e i n g de -~ c i d e d h e r e , I fe el it n e c e s s a r y t o s t a t e t h a t if t h e f a c t s h a d b e e n j u s t a li tt le d i f f e r e n t , t h e o u t c o m e w o u l d b e ‘q ui te d i f f e r e n t . If t h e f o r e m e n h a d d i r e c t e d t h e m e n to e n t e r o n t h e t i m e s h e e t s t h e n u m b e r of t h e b u n c u t s a n d s l a b c u t s s e p a r a t e l y , s u c h o r d e r s h o u l d h a v e b e e n o b e y e d . It is f o r s u p e r v i s i o n to ‘ d e c i d e i n w h a t f o r m t h e f a c t s s h o u l d b e r e c o r d e d . T h e e m p l o y e e s c o u l d h a v e o b e y e d t h a t o r d e r w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e , f o r t h e y c o u l d st il l h a v e c l a i m e d t h e b u n p r i c e f o r t h e sl ab s, ( T h o u g h t h e w o r k h a d b e e n f i n i s h e d t h e y c o u l d h a v e s e g r e g a t e d t h e s l a b c u t s f r o m t h e b u n c u t s b y r e f e r r i n g t o t h e t r u c k l i s t o f s l a b c u t s l o a d e d . W h e t h e r t h e y c o u l d h a v e s e g r e g a t e d t h e t i m e in - v o l v e d w a s n o t b r o u g h t ou t. ) I n it s b r i e f t h e C o m p a n y i n t e r p r e t s t h e ev i- d e n c e a s i n d i c a t i n g t h a t a n o r d e r to s e g r e g a t e t h e s l a b c o u n t f r o m t h e b u n c o u n t w a s g i v e n . I f i n d n o e v i d e n c e to j u s t i f y s u c h c o n c l u s i o n . A s I u n d e r - s t a n d t h e t e s t i m o n y , e v e n of t h e f o r e - m e n , n o s u c h o r d e r w a s g i v e n , T h i s t e s t i m o n y is ve ri fi ed b y t h e wr it te n r e p o r t s o f t h e f o r e m e n ( C o m p a n y E x - h i b i t 14 ). T h e o n l y o r d e r g i v e n w a s to t u r n i n t h e t i m e c o n s u m e d o n s a w i n g s l a b a s w o r k e d o n “0 2” , d a y w o r k . T h i s w a s a n o r d e r t o c h a n g e a c l a i m , n o t to a m e n d t h e r e c o r d o f f a c t s . T h e C o m p a n y f u r t h e r a p p e a r s to a r g u e t h a t t h e c o m m i n g l i n g o f t h e s l a b s a n d b u n s i n o n e c o u n t o c c u r r e d o n l y a f t e r t h e e m p l o y e e s h a d b e e n t o l d t h a t t h e s l a b s w e r e to b e p a i d f o r a t d a y ra te , a n d t h a t s u c h c o m - m i n g l i n g t h e r e f o r e w a s i n s u b o r d i n a i t e . T h i s p o i n t w a s n o t m a d e a t t h e h e a r - ji ng , w h e r e t h e so le c o n t e n t i o n f o r i n - s u b o r d i n a t i o n w a s b a s e d u p o n a fa il - u r e t o c h a n g e a c l a i m a l r e a d y m a d e . T d o n o t f i n d t h e n e w p o i n t r a i s e d i n R O C K W E L L - S T A N D A R D C O R P . t h e C o m p a n y ’ s b r i e f s u s t a i n e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e . A d m i t t e d l y t h e e v i d e n c e a s zo t h e j o b s p e r f o r m e d b y t h e s e m e n T h r o u g h o u t t h e sh if t w a s qu it e v a g u e , s u t t h e i m p r e s s i o n w a s c e r t a i n l y c r e - s t e d i n m y m i n d t h a t t h e y s a w e d b u n s i n t e r m i t t e n t l y t h r o u g h o u t t h e sh if t, n o t j u s t a f t e r f i n i s h i n g t h e s l a b jo b, a n d s o t h e i n t e r m i n g l i n g of t h e c o u n t 3? sl ab s a n d b u n s h a d st ar te d b e f o r e “h e m e n w e r e o r d e r e d to c h a n g e th ei r cl ai m, S o I fi nd t h a t t h e y w e r e n o t co ld , e i t h e r d i r e c t l y o r b y n e c e s s a r y 1 n ~ Z e y e n c e , t o k e e p a s e p a r a t e c o u n t of S u n cu ts a n d sl ab cu ts , (S ee R e c o r d , p p . 5 6 a n d 5 7 ) F o r t h e r e a s o n s s t a t e d I c a n n o t f i n d * h e a c t i o n of S o p e r a n d W o r k m a n i n - s u b o r d i n a t e . T h e r e w a s n o t e v e n a c o n - - e n t i o n t h a t t h e i r a c t i o n w a s . t a k e n i n i n i n s u b o r d i n a t e m a n n e r . T h e r e w a s = o l o u d ta lk , n o a b u s i v e l a n g u a g e , n o s f e n s i v e t o n e of v o i c e , n o e x c i t e d z a s t u r e s , T h e r e w a s m e r e l y a f i r m b u t s u i e t p e r s i s t e n c e i n n o t w i t h d r a w i n g = c l a i m fo r p a y . ; I t f o l l o w s f r o m t h e a b o v e f i n d i n g s “ n a t J o h n s o n c o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n zu il ty o f a d v i s i n g i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n . A l l r a r e e g r i e v a n c e s m u s t t h e r e f o r e b e s u s t a i n e d , A W A R D G r i e v a n c e s N o s . 31 , 3 2 a n d 3 3 a r e s u s t a i n e d . T h e r e p r i m a n d i s s u e d t o S o n a l d J o h n s o n is se b a s i d e a n d c a n - se ll ed ; t h e s u s p e n s i o n s i m p o s e d o n S r i n W o r k m a n a n d C a r l S o p e r a r e Z t a s i d e a n d c a n c e l l e d , w i t h b a c k p a y zo r t i m e lo st . r c E E E R O C K W E L L - S T A N D A R D C O R P . — D e c i s i o n o f A r b i t r a t o r I n r e R O C K W E L L - S T A N D A R D C O R P O R A T I O N , T R A N S M I S S I O N I N D A X L E D I V I S I O N [ N e w C a s t l e , 3 a . ) a n d U N I T E D S T E E L W O R K E R S O F A M E R I C A , L O C A L U N I O N N o . «1 94 , J u n e 24 , 19 60 . 2 7 A r b i t r a t o r : M i l t o n H . S c h m i d t . V A C A T I O N S — V a c a t i o n s h u t d o w n — E m p l o y e r ' s r i c h t t o s p e c i f y v a c a t i o n p e r i e d > 11 6. 15 3 Un d e r c o n t r a c t st at in g t h a t e m p l o y e e s < i l b e g i v e n p r e f e r e n c e a s t o v a c a t i o n = e r i o d s i n o r d e r o f s e n i o r i t y b u t r e s e r v i n g “a e m p l o y e r “ f i n a l r i g h t t o s p e c i f y w h e n 8 4 L A 6 9 3 a v a c a t i o n is to b e t a k e n in o r d e r to in - s u r e t h e o r d e r l y o p e r a t i o n o f t h e p l a n t a n d t o n o t a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t p r o d u c t i o n in a n y d e p a r t m e n t , ” e m p l o y e r h a d ri gh t t o s p e c i f y t w o - w e e k s h u t d o w n a s v a c a t i o n p e r i o d f o r al l e l i g i b l e e m p l o y e e s a f t e r d e - t e r m i n i n g i n g o o d f a i t h a n d u p o n co n- ~ v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e t h a t p r o d u c t i o n ef fi ci en cy w o u l d b e a d v e r s e l y af fe ct ed b y p e r m i t t i n g s t a g g e r e d v a c a t i o n s c h e d u l e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h e m p l o y e e s ’ st at ed pr ef er en ce s. E m - pl oy er ’s “f in al ri gh t to sp ec if y” is a ri gh t t o fi x o r d e s i g n a t e v a c a t i o n s i n a n a f f i r m - a t i v e m a n n e r a n d n o t m e r e l y a v e t o p o w e r o v e r v a c a t i o n ch oi ce s of in di vi du al e m - p l o y e e s ; p a r t i e s ’ e l i m i n a t i o n f r o m e a r l i e r c o n t r a c t o f p r o v i s i o n a u t h o r i z i n g v a c a - t i o n s h u t d o w n s w i t h o u t a n y l i m i t a t i o n s d o e s n o t n e g a t e r i g h t t o s p e c i f y s h u t - d o w n if c o n d i t i o n s se t f o r t h in p r e s e n t c o n t r a c t a r e m e t . ( M . S c h m i d t ) — R o c k - w e l l - S t a n d a r d C o r p . , 3 4 L A 69 3. A p p e a r a n c e s : F o r t h e c o m p a n y — - H a r r y E. J o n e s , Jr ., a s s i s t a n t v i c e p r e s - i d e n t i n d u s t r i a l v e l a t i o n s ; E v e r e t t Va ll ie r, p l a n t s u p e r i n t e n d e n t ; D . R o b e r t B a s t i a n , p e r s o n n e l m a n a g e r . F o r t h e u n i o n — D a n i e l W . S k e l l y , st af f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ; V i r g i l L i v e r m o r e , p r e s - i d e n t , l o c a l u n i o n ; E a r l “M il ls , g r i e v - a n c e c o m m i t t e e c h a i r m a n . V A C A T I O N S H U T D O W N T h e G r i e v a n c e S C H M I D T , A r b i t r a t o r : — T h i s g r i e y - a n c e , fi le d o n A p r i l 1, 19 60 , o n b e h a l f of al l e m p l o y e e s in t h e un it c h a l l e n g e s t h e r i g h t of t h e c o m p a n y t o c o m p e l t h e e m p l o y e e s t o t a k e t h e v a c a t i o n p e r i o d s t o w h i c h t h e y a r e e n t i t l e d u n d e r t h e A g r e e m e n t d u r i n g t h e p e r i - o d f r o m J u l y 2 5 t h r o u g h A u g u s t 7, 19 60 , d u r i n g w h i c h t w o ‘ w e e k p e r i o d t h e c o m p a n y p r o p o s e s t o s h u t d o w n t h e p l a n t . T h e u n i o n c l a i m s t h a t t h e p r o p o s e d a c t i o n of t h e c o m p a n y v i o - l a t e s A r t i c l e X V I , S e c t i o n s 5 ( a ) a n d _ 5 ( b ) o f t h e L o c a l S u p p l e m e n t A g r e e - m e n t , O p i n i o n T h e i s s u e r a i s e d i n t h i s c a s e is o n e o f c o n t r a c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . T h e e s - s e n t i a l f a c t s a r e n o t i n d i s p u t e . T h e N e w C a s t l e p l a n t m a n u f a c - t u r e s f r o n t a x l e s f o r l a r g e a u t o m o t i v e v e h i c l e s . I t h a s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 1 1 p r o - d u c t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e e m p l o y e e s . __ it h a s h a d b a r g a i n i n g r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e u n i o n si nc e 19 49 a n d th e pa rt ie s h a v e e n t e r e d i n t o v a r i o u s a g r e e m e n t s S y m b o l & i n d i c a t e s n u m b e r u n d e r I n d e x - D i g e s t D e c i s i o n s a n d R e c o m m e n d a t i o n s 8 4 L A 1 9 0 r a d i c b u t c o n t i n u i n g b a s i s a n d b e i n g r e a c t - e d t o b y t h e p a r t i e s i n a c o n s i s t e n t f a s h i o n o v e r a c o n t i n u i n g p e r i o d o f t i m e c a n t h e n b e c o n s i d e r e d a p r a c t i c e . T h u s , w h i l e t h e in it ia l s t a t u s o f t h e 1 9 5 4 r e s u l t w a s t h a t o f a ru le , it a p p e a r s t h a t b o t h p a r t i e s a c q u i e s c e d to t h a t r u l e a n d it s u s e f o r a p e r i o d o f y e a r s s o a s to c a u s e t h a t r u l e t o b e c o m e a p r a c t i c e a t t h e fa c i l it y w i t h t h e s a m e m e a n i n g a n d i n t e n t a s a n y w r i t t e n t e r m o f t h e c o n t r a c t . T h a t b e i n g t h e c a s e , it a p p e a r s t o m e , t h a t t h e p r a c t i c e c a n b e n e g o t i a t e d a w a y t h e s a m e a s a n y o t h e r c o n t r a c t t e r m . F u t h e r - m o r e , it a p p e a r s t h a t if t h e C o m p a n y o r t h e U n i o n , d u r i n g t h e h i a t u s p e r i o d b e t w e e n c o n t r a c t a n d t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s t a k i n g p l a c e f o r t h e n e w c o n t r a c t , s h o u l d i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e y n o l o n g e r d e s i r e t o f o l l o w t h e p r a c t i c e , t h e n i n t h a t e v e n t t h e u n w r i t t e n c o n d i t i o n o f e r m p l o y m e n t h e r e t o f o r e i n d i c a t e d b e - t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s m u s t c o m e t o a n e n d s i n c e t h e p r a c t i c e h a s n o g r e a t e r li fe t h a n t h e c o n t r a c t u n d e r w h i c h it w a s l a s t u s e d . F r o m al l of t h i s it c a n b e s e e n t h a t a p r a c t i c e d o e s n o t h a v e a n y s u p e r t e n u r e o v e r a n d a b o v e a n y c o n t r a c t u a l t e r m . A t i m e l y d e n i a l b y o n e p a r t y o r t h e ot he r a t c o n t r a c t a n n i v e r - s a r y t i m e b e f o r e t h e n e w c o n t r a c t is e n t e r e d i n t o is t h e p r o p e r t i m e t o r e p u d i a t e a n y p r i o r e m p l o y m e n t c o n d i t i o n o r p r a c t i c e t h a t m a y h a v e a r i s e n d u r i n g a n y p r i o r p e r i - o d a n d c o n t i n u e d u n t i l t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e p r i o r c o n t r a c t . ” T h u s , f r o m al l of t h i s it c a n b e s e e n t h a t a p r a c t i c e w a s i n u s e a t t h e f a c i l - it y; t h a t it s u s e w a s c o n t i n u e d i n t h e 1 9 8 1 c o n t r a c t ; t h a t t h e t e r m s o f t h e 1 9 8 1 c o n t r a c t d i d n o t o u t l a w t h e p r a c - ti ce ; t h a t a p r a c t i c e c a n n o t b e r e p u d i - a t e d d u r i n g t h e t e r m o f t h e c o n t r a c t i n w h i c h it is u s e d u n l e s s b y m u t u a l c o n - s e n t o r b y s o m e s p e c i a l c o n t r a c t u a l i n d i c a t i o n a n d t h a t t h e d i s c i p l i n e i n t h i s c a s e m u s t t h e r e f o r e fa ll s i n c e t h e p r a c t i c e w a s a p a r t o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f t h e p a r t i e s n o t o n l y p r i o r t o t h e 1 9 8 1 _ c o n t r a c t b u t a l s o d u r i n g t h e 1 9 8 1 c o n - t r a c t . T h e m e t h o d o f r e t i r i n g a p r a c - ti ce is b e s t i n d i c a t e d i n 7 9 L A 1 3 3 3 , a n d t h e c o m p a n y p r a c t i c e i n t h i s m a t t e r d o e s n o t f o l l o w t h o s e i n d i c a t i o n s . If t h e m e t h o d o f t h e c o m p a n y w e r e u s e d , t h e n a n y p r a c t i c e b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s c o u l d b e b r o u g h t t o a n e n d b y a s i m p l e l e t t e r o r p o s t i n g a t a n y t i m e . S u c h c a n - n o t b e t h e c a s e i n t h i s m a t t e r a t t h i s t i m e a n d I s o h o l d . ¥ r o m a l l o f t h i s t h e r e f o r e , t h e g r i e v - a n c e m u s t b e g r a n t e d . A W A R D T h e g r i e v a n c e is g r a n t e d . E e T R A N S A M E R I C A D E L A V A L , I N C , — D e c i s i o n o f A r b i t r a t o r I n r e T R A N S A M E R I C A D E L A V A L , I N C . , W I G G I N C O N N E C T O R S D I V I - T R A N S A M E R I C A D E L A V A L , I N C . S I O N a n d U N I T E D A U T O M O B I L E , A E R O S P A C E A N D A G R I C U L T U R - A L I M P L E M E N T W O R K E R S O F A M E R I C A , L O C A L 5 0 9 , F M C S C a s e N o . 8 4 K / 2 4 2 5 3 , J a n u a r y 1 8 , 1 9 8 5 A r b i t r a t o r : C. C h e s t e r B r i s c o , se le ct - e d b y p a r t i e s t h r o u g h p r o c e d u r e s o f F e d e r a l M e d i a t i o n & C o n c i l i a t i o n S e r v i c e O V E R T I M E — P a s t p r a c t i c e — I n t e r m i t t e n t u s e — M a n d a t o r y o v e r t i m e o n S a t u r d a y s » 2 4 . 3 5 6 > 1 1 5 . 3 0 5 E m p l o y e r h a d r i g h t t o s c h e d u l e e m p l o y e e f o r e i g h t h o u r s m a n d a t o r y o v e r t i m e o n S a t - u r d a y u n d e r p a s t p r a c t i c e o f s c h e d u l i n g m a n d a t o r y S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e t h a t it h a d b e g u n s e v e n y e a r s ea rl ie r, b u t h a d n o t u s e d o n w i d e s p r e a d b a s i s u n t i l fi li ng of g r i e v - a n c e , P r a c t i c e h a s n o t b e e n d e s t r o y e d b y i n t e r m i t t e n t u s e o r b y c h a n g e s i n c o n t r a c t l a n g u a g e . W h i l e e x t e n d e d w o r k w e e k s m a y r e s u l t i n e m p l o y e e i n e f f i c i e n c y a n d wi ll c u t i n t o r e c r e a t i o n a l ac ti vi ti es , it is n o t f o r a r b i - t r a t o r t o c o r r e c t w o r k s c h e d u l e w h i c h m a y b e i l l - a d v i s e d . A p p e a r a n c e s : F o r t h e c o m p a n y — R o d H o o v e r , F o r t h e u n i o n — T o n y R o d r i g u e z , i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e p r e s e n t - at iv e. M A N D A T O R Y O V E R T I M E B a c k g r o u n d B R I S C O , A r b i t r a t o r : — T h e C o m - p a n y p r o d u c e s a s p e c i a l l i n e of p r o - d u c t s f o r t h e m i l i t a r y a n d v a r i o u s ai r- c r a f t c o m p a n i e s . T h e y a r e s p e c i a l t y p r o d u c t s m a n u f a c t u r e d o n o r d e r a n d t h e r a t e o f p r o d u c t i o n is d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e o r d e r s r e c e i v e d . F o r m a n y y e a r s e m p l o y e e s h a v e , o n a m o r e - o r - l e s s r e g - u l a r b a s i s , w o r k e d s u b s t a n t i a l a m o u n t s o f o v e r t i m e . W o r k i n g h o u r s h a v e b e e n s c h e d u l e d d u r i n g t h e la st t h r e e y e a r s f o r 1 0 h o u r s M o n d a y t h r o u g h T h u r s d a y , 8 h o u r s F r i d a y a n d 6 h o u r s S a t u r d a y ( 1 0 , 8 a n d 6) . B u t t h e e m p l o y e e s h a v e a l s o w o r k e d fi ve 1 0 h o u r s d a y s a n d 6 h o u r s o n S a t u r d a y , a n d , s o m e y e a r s p a s t , f i v e 9 d a y s a n d 8 h o u r s o n S a t u r d a y . T h e r e h a s b e e n o c c a s i o n a l S u n d a y w o r k . i n 1 9 8 4 , t h e C o m p a n y s c h e d u l e d w o r k S a t u r d a y , A p r i l 2 8 t h f o r 8 h o u r s i n t h e A s s e m b l y a n d A s s e m b l y a n d T e s t c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s a n d r e q u i r e d t h a t t h e e m p l o y e e s w o r k t h e f u l l 8 h o u r s o r t h e y w o u l d n o t b e a l l o w e d to w o r k a t a l l t h a t d a y . A g r i e v a n c e w a s t i m e l y f i l e d c l a i m i n g t h a t t h e C o m p a n y h a d c a l l e d f o r m a n d a t o r y 8 h o u r s o f o v e r - t i m e o n S a t u r d a y i n v i o l a t i o n of t h e c o n t r a c t a n d p a s t p r a c t i c e a n d t h a t t h e C o m p a n y c o u l d o n l y r e q u i r e a T R A N S A M E R I C A D E L A V A L , I N C . 8 4 L A 1 9 1 m a x i m u m of 6 h o u r s o v e r t i m e o n S a t - u r d a y . T h e r e m e d y s o u g h t w a s t h a t t h e C o m p a n y s h o u l d b e r e q u i r e d t o a b i d e b y t h e 6 h o u r m a x i m u m a n d “ t h a t a n y e a r l y d e p a r t u r e sl ip s a f t e r 6 n o u r s b e p u l l e d f r o m t h e e m p l o y e e ’ s ‘ a l e s a n d t h a t t h e y b e m a d e w h o l e . ” W h e n t h e m a t t e r c o u l d n o t b e r e s o l v e d in t h e g r i e v a n c e s t e p s it w a s r e f e r r e d to a r b i t r a t i o n . i s s u e s _ T h e p a r t i e s s t i p u l a t e d t o t h e f o l l o w ~ i n g s t a t e m e n t of t h e is su es : _ 1. D i d t h e C o m p a n y v i o l a t e t h e c o l l e c t i v e c a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t s c h e d u l i n g 8 n o u r s m a n d a t o r y o v e r t i m e o n S a t u r d a y ? 2. If so , w h a t s h a l l b e t h e r e m e d y ? P e r t i n e n t C o n t r a c t P r o v i s i o n s A R T I C L E V — M A N A G E M E N T | S e c t i o n 2. It is r e c o g n i z e d a n d a g r e e d t h a t t h e . . , s c h e d u l e s o f p r o d u c t i o n ,. . a r e s o l e l y C a m p a n y p r e r o g a t i v e s . A R T I C L E X I — O V E R T I M E S e c t i o n 6. T h e C o m p a n y a g r e e s t o g i v e a s m u c h a d v a n c e n o t i c e a s p o s s i b l e to e m p l o y - e e s i n v o l v e d w h e n o v e r t i m e w o r k is r e - g i i r e d . . . . F a i l u r e o f t h e C o m p a n y t o g i v e n o t i f i c a t i o n o f o v e r t i m e a s r e q u i r e d h e r e t o - i g r e s h a l l m a k e s u c h o v e r t i m e v o l u n t a r y . _ O v e r t i m e is v o l u n t a r y a f t e r t e n (1 0) h o u r s , M o n d a y s t h r o u g h T h u r s d a y , a n d a c t e r e i g h t (8 ) h o u r s o n F r i d a y s . F o r e m - p i o r e e s w o r k i n g i n t h e j o b c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o f 4 s s e m b l e r , D e b u r r e r , S t o c k C l e r k a n d S h i p - p i n g / R e c e i v i n g C l e r k , S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e i l l b e v o l u n t a r y . If s u f f i c i e n t e m p l o y e e s d o m o t v o l u n t e e r f o r S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e , ‘ t h e C o m p a n y wi ll d r a f t e m p l o y e e s f o r s u c h o v e r t i m e i n t h e r e v e r s e o r d e r o f s e n i o r i t y m o m a r n o n g t h o s e e m p l o y e e s i n t h e j o b c l a s - s i S c a t i o n i n v o l v e d w h o a r e q u a l i f i e d t o p e r - i o m m t h e w o r k r e q u i r e d . T h e d r a f t e d e m - a i c y e e s m u s t a c c e p t t h e o v e r t i m e . F o r al l a m p l o y e e s o t h e r t h a n t h o s e d e s i g n a t e d So av e, S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e w i l l b e v o l u n t a r y o r 5 of 1 3 s c h e d u l e d b y t h e C o m p a n y . T h e C a m p a n y wi ll d e s g i n a t e w h i c h S a t u r d a y s = r e q u i r e d i n o r d e r t o m e e t p r o d u c t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s , ed Ld ob p Po s i t i o n s o f t h e P a r t i e s P o s i t i o n o f t h e U n i o n : T h e U n i o n t h e a r b i t r a t o r to f i n d t h a t t h e C a m p a n y v i o l a t e d p a s t p r a c t i c e w h e n 2. r e q u i r e d 8 h o u r s m a n a d a t o r y o v e r - u m e o n S a t u r d a y , A p r i l 28 , 1 9 8 4 . T h e r e m e d y s o u g h t is f o r t h e e m p l o y e e s w i e w e r e n o t a l l o w e d t o w o r k 6 h o u r s , c n s t e a d of t h e 8 h o u r s d e m a n d e d t o b e “ m a d e w h o l e . ” T h e U n i o n a l l e g e s t h a t w i e n . e m p l o y e e s o f f e r e d t o w o r k 6 ai rs i n s t e a d o f 8 h o u r s , t h e y w e r e s e m i d a t e d b y t h e C o m p a n y b y n o t S e i n e a l l o w e d t o w o r k a t al l. A t n o S o s u e , s a y s t h e U n i o n , d i d t h e C o m p a n y p o s t a n y n o t i c e t h a t S a t u r d a y o v e r - t i m e w a s to b e m a n d a t o r y . T h e ev i- d e n c e o f p a s t p r a c t i c e is t h a t f o r t h e p a s t 1 1 y e a r s t h e C o m p a n y h a s r e - q u i r e d n o m o r e t h a n 6 h o u r s o v e r t i m e o n S a t u r d a y . P o s i t i o n o f t h e C o m p a n y : T h e C o m - p a n y c o n t e n d s t h a t it a c t e d w i t h i n it s r i g h t s w h e n it i m p o s e d a m a n d a t o r y s c h e d u l e o f 8 h o u r s o v e r t i m e o n S a t u r - d a y . T h e c o n t r a c t i n A r t i c l e X I d o e s n o t l i m i t t h e n u m b e r o f h o u r s o f m a n - d a t o r y o v e r t i m e w h i c h c a n b e s c h e d - u l e d o n a S a t u r d a y . T h e C o m p a n y c l a i m s t h a t it f o l l o w e d p a s t p r a c t i c e u n d e r t h e c u r r e n t a n d p r e v i o u s co ll ec - t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t s w h e n it s c h e d u l e d t h e m a n d a t o r y o v e r t i m e . I t is t h e C o m p a n y ‘ ‘ t h a t is r e s p o n s i b l e f o r m a k i n g s o u n d , e f f i c i e n t c o s t c o n s c i o u s d e c i s i o n s .. . [ a n d ] t h e C o m p a n y o n l y r e q u i r e s o v e r t i m e w h e n b u s i n e s s n e - c e s s i t y d i c t a t e s a n d t h e n t r i e s t o o b - t a i n v o l u n t e e r s , O n l y a s a l a s t r e s o r t d o e s it m a k e o v e r t i m e m a n d a t o r y i n o r d e r t o m e e t p r o d u c t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s . T h e C o m i p a n y c o n c l u d e s t h a t t h e U n i o n h a s n o t p r o v e d t h a t t h e C o m - p a n y v i o l a t e d t h e l a b o r a g r e e m e n t o r p a s t p r a c t i c e a n d , t h e r e f o r e , t h e g r i e v - a n c e s h o u l d b e d e n i e d . ve O p i n i o n T h e a r b i t r a l p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h g o v e r n r e s o l u t i o n of t h e c a s e m a y b e s t a t e d g e n e r a l l y a s f o l l o w s . M a n a g e m e n t h a s t h e r i g h t t o r e q u i r e r e a s o n a b l e a m o u n t s o f o v e r t i m e i n t h e a b s e n c e of a n y p r o h i b i t i o n i n t h e c o l l e c t i v e b a r - g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t . T h e o b l i g a t i o n to w o r k o v e r t i m e , u n l e s s t h e a g r e e m e n t p r o v i d e s o t h e r w i s e , m a y b e m a d e m a n - d a t o r y w h e n t h e r e a r e i n s u f f i c i e n t v o l - u n t e e r s to m e e t p r o d u c t i o n r e q u i r e - m e n t s . ’ W h e r e , a s h e r e , t h e p a r t i e s h a v e n e g o t i a t e d l a n g u a g e i n t o t h e c o l - l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t r e l a t i n g t o o v e r t i m e , t h e C o m p a n y , of c o u r s e , m u s t a b i d e b y t h o s e p r o v i s i o n s . T h e t a s k of t h e a r b i t r a t o r i n t h i s c a s e is to d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e co l- l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t r e s t r i c t s t h e C o m p a n y ’ s r i g h t t o r e q u i r e 8 h o u r s o v e r t i m e o n S a t u r d a y o r , c o n - v e r s e l y , w h e t h e r t h e e m p l o y e e s h a v e t h e T i g h t t o i n s i s t t h a t S a t u d a y o v e r - t i m e i n e x c e s s o f 6 h o u r s is v o l u n t a r y a n d , w h e n a s k e d t o w o r k 8 h o u r s o v e r - t i m e , t h e y m a y a s a m a t t e r o f r i g h t w o r k o n l y 6 h o u r s a s t h e U n i o n c l a i m s . B o t h p a r t i e s r e l y o n p a s t p r a c t i c e t o s u p p o r t t h e i r p o s i t i o n . P a s t p r a c t i c e is o n e o f t h e m o s t u s e - f u l a n d f r e q u e n t l y r e s o r t e d t o g u i d e s ? B l k o u r i a n d E l k o u r i , H o w A r b i t r a t i o n W o r k s , 4 9 4 - 4 9 7 ( 3 r d e d . 1 9 7 3 ) . 8 4 L A 1 9 2 i n r e s o l v i n g c o n t r a c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n g r i e v a n c e d i s p u t e s . H o w e v e r , n o t al l e v i d e n c e of p a s t c o n d u c t ri se s t o t h e l e v e l o f a b i n d i n g p a s t p r a c t i c e . F u r - t h e r m o r e , p a s t p r a c t i c e is n o t a d m i s s i - bl e, a c c o r d i n g to m o s t a r b i t r a t o r s , w h e n t h e o b l i g a t i o n s of t h e p a r t i e s a r e g o v e r n e d b y u n a m b i g u o u s c o n t r a c t l a n g u a g e . A p r a c t i c e , to b e b i n d i n g o n t h e p a r - ti es m u s t b e s u f f i c i e n t l y d e f i n i t e b y r e a s o n of it s l o n g e v i t y , r e p e t i t i o n a n d a c c e p t a b i l i t y s o t h a t i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e u n d e r l y i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s it m a y b e s a i d t o h a v e b e c o m e t h e e s t a b l i s h e d w a y of d o i n g t h i n g s . A p a s t p r a c t i c e , f o u n d to b e s u f f i c i e n t l y d e f i n i t e m a y b e u s e d a s a g u i d e t o i n t e r p r e t i n g a m - b i g u o u s c o n t r a c t l a n g u a g e a n d , a c - c o r d i n g to s o m e a r b i t r a t o r s , i n e x - t r e m e l y s t r o n g c a s e s it m a y b e u s e d t o m o d i f y o r a m e n d a p p a r e n t l y u n a m b i - g u o u s l a n g u a g e . I n a d d i t i o n , w h e n t h e c o n t r a c t is s i l e n t , p a s t p r a c t i c e m a y e s t a b i s h a d i s t i n c t a n d b i n d i n g c o n d i - t i o n o f e m p l o y m e n t w h i c h c a n n o t b e c h a n g e d w i t h o u t m u t u a l c o n s e n t o f t h e p a r t i e s , ; I n a l l o f t h e s e a p p l i c a t i o n s o f p a s t p r a c t i c e , t h e a r b i t r a t o r is e n d e a v o r i n g to d e t e r m i n e t h e i n t e n t o f t h e p a r t i e s b y l o o k i n g b e y o n d t h e w o r d s t h e y u s e d i n t h e c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t to t h e i r c o n d u c t a s a m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f t h e i r i n c o m e . I f t h e c o n t r a c t l a n g u a g e is cl ea r, t h e i n t e n t o f t h e p a r t i e s is m a n i f e s t a n d p a s t p r a c t i c e g e n e r a l l y c a n n o t b e u s e d t o a l t e r o r a m e n d c l e a r c o n t r a c t l a n g u a g e . I t is t h e i n t e n t o f t h e p a r t i e s w h i c h g o v e r n s r e s o l u t i o n o f c o n t r a c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n d i s p u t e s , n o t t h e p r e d i l e c t i o n o f t h e a r b i t r a t o r w h o , i n t h i s c a s e , i s s u b j e c t t o t h e u s u - a] a d m o n i t i o n t h a t h e m a y n o t “ a d d to n o r s u b t r a c t f r o m n o r m o d i f y a n y o f t h e t e r m s o f t h i s a g r e e m e n t , a n d a l l d e c i s i o n s m u s t b e w i t h i n t h e s c o p e a n d t e r m a s of t h i s c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t . ” ‘ W e n o w e x a m i n e t h e c o n t r a c t l a n - g u a g e i n A r t i c l e 4 1 , S e c t i o n 6, t o d e t e r - m i n e if it r e s t r i c t s t h e C o m p a n y ’ s r i g h t t o m a n d a t e 8 h o u r s S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e . T h e f i r s t p a r a g r a p h p e r t a i n s t o n o t i c e r e q u i r e m e n t s w h e n ‘ ‘ o v e r - t i m e w o r k is r e q u i r e d . ” T h e p e n a l t y f o r f a i l u r e t o g i v e n o t i f i c a t i o n is t h a t t h e o v e r t i m e s h a l l b e v o l u n t a r y . ‘ T h e e v i d e n c e i n t h i s c a s e is t h a t t h e C o m - p a n y g a v e p r o p e r n o t i c e a n d t h i s i s s u e n e e d n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d f u r t h e r . T h e s e c o n d p a r a g r a p h o f S e c t i o n 6 r a i s e s di ff ic ul t q u e s t i o n s w h i c h p e n e - t r a t e t o t h e h e a r t of t h i s d i s p u t e . T h e ? M i t t e n t h a l , “ P a s t P r a c t i c e i n t h e A d m i n i s t r a - t i o n o f C o l l e c t i v e B a r g a i n i n g A g r e e m e n t s " P a l - l a r d , ed ., A r b i t r a t i o n a n d P u b l i c P o l i c y , 3 0 - 6 3 ( B N A 1 9 6 4 ) . T R A N S A M E R I C A D E L A V A L , I N C . s e c o n d s e n t e n c e d e c l a r e s t h a t “ S a t u r - d a y o v e r t i m e w i l l b e v o l u n t a r y ” f o r t h e li st ed cl as si fi ca ti on s. T h i s is c l e a r e n o u g h . If t h i s l a n g u a g e s t o o d b y it - se lf , t h e r e q u i r e d c o n c l u s i o n w o u l d b e t h a t t h e C o m p a n y h a d n o r i g h t t o r e - q u i r e m a n d a t o r y S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e o f w h a t e v e r l e n g t h o n S a t u r d a y f o r t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of A s s e m b l e r , D e b u r r e r , S t o c k C l e r k a n d S h i p p i n g / R e c e i v i n g C l e r k . B u t t h e s e n t e n c e d o e s n o t s t a n d b y it se lf b e c a u s e t h e v e r y n e x t s e n - t e n c e a p p e a r s t o i m p o s e a c o n d i t i o n t h a t “I f s u f f i c i e n t e m p l o y e e s d o n o t v o l u n t e e r f o r S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e , t h e C o m p a n y wi ll d r a f t e m p l o y e e s f o r s u c h o v e r t i m e i n r e v e r s e o r d e r of se - n i o r i t y f r o m a m o n g t h o s e e m p l o y e e s q u a l i f i e d t o p e r f o r m t h e w o r k r e - q u i r e d . ” “ T h e d r a f t e d e m p l o y e e s m u s t a e c e p t t h e o v e r t i m e . ” R e a d i n g t h e s e t w o s e n t e n c e s r a i s e s t h e a m b i g u i t y o f w h e t h e r t h e w o r d “ e m p l o y e e s ” i n t h e s e c o n d s e n t e n c e is i n t e n d e d t o i n c l u d e e m p l o y e e s i n t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s l i s t e d i n t h e p r e v i o u s s e n t e n c e . U n d e r o r d i n a r y p r i n c i p l e s o f c o n t r a c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , s p e c i f i c l a n - g u a g e c o n t r o l s o v e r g e n e r a l l a n g u a g e a n d t h e a n s w e r to t h i s q u e s t i o n w o u l d b e “ N o . ” B u t t h e w o r d s ‘ w o r k re - q u i r e d ” c o u l d c e r t a i n l y i n c l u d e w o r k r e q u i r i n g t h e a s s e m b l e r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n . D i d t h e d r a f t s m e n i n t e n d t h a t e m - p l o y e e s i n t h e n a m e d c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s f o r w h o m S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e is v o l u n - t a r y , b e s u b j e c t t o m a n d a t o r y o v e r t i m e if t h e r e w e r e i n s u f f i c i e n t v o l u n t e e r s b e c a u s e o f t h e C o m p a n y ’ s p a r t i c u l a r di ff ic ul ty i n p l a n n i n g p r o d u c t i o n s c h e d u l e s ? F u r t h e r , is t h i s a m b i g u i t y r e s o l v e d b y t h e n e x t s e n t e r i c e w h i c h p r o v i d e s t h a t “ F o r al l e m p l o y e e s o t h e r t h a n t h o s e d e s i g n a t e d a b o v e , S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e w i l l b e v o l u n t a r y f o r 5 o f t h e 1 3 [ S a t u r d a y s ] s c h e d u l e d b y t h e C o r n - p a n y ? ” T h e w o r d s “a ll e m p l o y e e s o t h e r t h a n t h o s e d e s i g n a t e d a b o v e ” w o u l d a p p e a r t o r e f e r t o e m p l o y e e s n o t i n t h e e n u m e r a t e d cl as si fi ca ti on s. B u t d o t h e s e w o r d s a l s o r e f e r t o e m p l o y e e s n e c e s s a r y t o p e r f o r m t h e “ w o r k r e - q u i r e d ? ’ O t h e r w i s e , it w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n n e c e s s a r y t o p r o v i d e f o r v o l u n - t a r y o v e r t i m e f o r 5 of 1 3 S a t u r d a y s o f w h i c h o v e r t i m e w a s s c h e d u l e d b y t h e C o m p a n y b e c a u s e t h e l i s t e d c l a s s i f i c a - t i o n s a r e a l r e a d y a c c o r d e d v o l u n t a r y S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e — u n l e s s o f c o u r s e , th e. l i s t e d c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s a r e i n d e e d s u b j e c t t o d r a f t if t h e r e a r e i n s u f f i - c i e n t v o l u n t e e r s . P e r h a p s t h i s t o r t u r e d l a n g u a g e r e - fl ec ts t h e p r e s s s u r e o f n e g o t i a t i o n s - o v e r t h e y e a r s a s t h e p a r t i e s a t t e m p t e d t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e n e e d of t h e C o m - p a n y t o m e e t p r o d u c t i o n s c h e d u l e s a n d t h e d e s i r e o f t h e e m p l o y e e s t o T R A N S A M E R I C A D E L A V A L , I N C . a v o i d e x t e n d e d w o r k w e e k s . W h a t e v e r t h e r e a s o n , t h e s e c o n d p a r a g r a p h o f S e c t i o n 6 is a m a r v e l of a m b i g u i t y . I t is p r o p e r , t h e r e f o r e , t o r e f e r t o p a s t p r a c - ti ce i n a n ef fo rt t o d e v i n e t h e i n t e n t o f t h e p a r t i e s . Fi rs tl y, w e o b s e r v e t h a t t h e l a n - s u a g e i n S e c t i o n 6, m u s t b e r e a d i n t h e l i g h t of t h e U n i o n ’ s a r g u m e n t t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e o f p a s t p r a c t i c e is t h a t t h e C o m p a n y h a s f o r m a n y y e a r s m a n d a t - e d n o m o r e t h a n 6 h o u r s o v e r t i m e o n S a t u r d a y a n d t h a t t h e o b j e c t i o n r a i s e d b y t h i s g r i e v a n c e is t h a t t h e C o m p a n y c a n n o t r e q u i r e 2 a d d i t i o n a l h o u r s o f S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e f o r a t o t a l o f 8 j o u r s . I n r a i s i n g t h i s g r i e v a n c e t h e U n i o n a d m i t s t h a t t h e C o m p a n y h a s t h e r i g h t t o r e q u i r e 6 h o u r s S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e i m t h e li st ed cl as si fi ca ti on s. “ T h e r e a s o n f o r F r a n k P e n u n u r i fi li ng g r i e v a n c e # 4 3 6 9 0 w a s b e c a u s e t h e c o m p a n y ’ s p a s t p r a c t i c e h a s b e e n s i x <6 ) h o u r s f o r S a t u r d a y w o r k , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e A s s e m b l e r , D e b u r r e r , S t o c k C l e r k a n d S h i p p i n g / R e c e i v i n g d e p a r t - m e n t s , a n d i n m o s t c a s e s v o l u n t a r y . ” T h e c e n t r a l d i s p u t e i n t h i s ca se , t h e r e - f o r e , is w h a t v e r s i o n o f p a s t p r a c t i c e — s h e U n i o n ' s o r t h e C o m p a n y ’ s . — s h o u l d b e a c c e p t e d t o i n t e r p r e t t h e a m b i g u o u s l a n g u a g e o f S e c t i o n 6. T h e U n i o n c a l l e d f o u r w i t n e s s e s t o e s t a b l i s h it s c o n t e n t i o n t h a t t h e p r a c - ti ce f o r a n u m b e r o f y e a r s w a s t o n o t r e q u i r e m a n d a t o r y o v e r t i m e i n e x c e s s of 6 h o u r s o n S a t u r d a y s a n d t h a t it w a s s o l e l y v o l u n t a r y f o r e m p l o y e e s t o w o r k 8 h o u r s o n S a t u r d a y s . T h e f i r s t to te st if y w a s F r a n k P e n u n u r i , a n A s - s e m b l y a n d T e s t I n s p e c t o r w i t h 1 1 y e a r s s e n i o r i t y , w h o f i l e d t h e g r i e v - e n c e a n d w a s , a t t h a t t i m e , C h a i r m a n oi t h e B a r g a i n i n g C o m m i t t e e . M r . P e n u n u r i s t a t e d t h a t f o r t h e fi rs t' 2 o r 3 y e a r s o f h i s e m p l o y m e n t t h e r e w a s m a n d a t o r y o v e r t i m e o f 8 h o u r s o n S a t - u r d a y i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h a s c h e d u l e w h i c h a l s o r e q u i r e d 1 0 h o u r s M o n d a y t h r o u g h F r i d a y . T h e C o m p a n y t h e n c h a n g e d t o 8 h o u r s o n F r i d a y a n d 6 o n S a t u r d a y b e c a u s e e m p l o y e e s w e r e g e t - t i n g t i r e d o f w o r k i n g 5 8 h o u r s a w e e k . It w a s n o t u n t i l A p r i l 1 9 8 4 t h a t t h e C o m p a n y t o l d t h e e m p l o y e e s i n h i s de ~- p a r t m e n t t h a t t h e y h a d to w o r k 8 m o u r s o n S a t u r d a y a n d if t h e y c o u l d r o t w o r k t h e f u l l 8 h o u r s , t h e y c o u l d n o t w o r k a t al l. It is t h i s la st r e q u i r e - m e n t t h a t t h e e m p l o y e e s w o r k 8 h o u r s a r n o n e a t al l w h i c h is t h e b a s i s f o r t h e z i z e g a t i o n o f i n t i m i d a t i o n o f e m p l o y e e s . T h e n e x t t o te st if y w a s G l o r i a M e - d i n a , M a c h i n e P a r t s I n s p e c t o r w i t h 7 y e a r s s e n i o r i t y , w h o s t a t e d t h a t s h e n e s n e v e r b e e n f o r c e d t o w o r k 8 h o u r s a n S a t u r d a y u n t i l a f t e r t h e i n s t a n t g r i e v a n c e w a s fi le d. G e o r g e C a n t u , 8 4 L A 1 9 3 C r i - D a n S / U O p e r a t o r , t e s t i f i e d t h a t h e is t h e o n l y o p e r a t o r o n t h a t m a - c h i n e a n d t h a t p r i o r t o ‘ t h e g r i e v a n c e b e i n g f i l e d h e h a s h a d t o w o r k 8 h o u r s o v e r t i m e o n S a t u r d a y ‘“ ‘o r it w o u l d g o o n m y r e c o r d . ” I n t h e a s s e m b l y a r e a , h e d o e s n o t r e m e m b e r a n y 8 h o u r m a n d a t o r y o v e r t i m e . “ S o m e t i m e s it h a s b e e n 6 o r 8, b u t m o s t l y 6 h o u r s ” o v e r t i m e a n d t h a t t h e o n l y d i s c i p l i n e is t h a t “ i f y o u d o n ’ t w o r k 8 h o u r s , y o u a r e n o t a l l o w e d to w o r k 6. ” A n d r e w G o n z a l e z te st if ie d t h a t a s a N u m e r i c a l C o n t r o l S / U O p e r a t o r h e h a s n e v e r b e e n r e q u i r e d t o w o r k 8 h o u r s S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e a n d t h a t n o e m p l o y e e s h a v e b e e n d i s c i p l i n e d f o r n o t w o r k i n g 8 h o u r s m a n d a t o r y o v e r - t i m e o n S a t u r d a y . M r . G o n z a l e z w o r k s o n t h e s e c o n d s h i f t a n d h a s 7 y e a r s s e n i o r i t y . F r o m t h i s e v i d e n c e t h e a r b i t r a t o r c o n c l u d e s t h a t e m p l o y e e s i n t h e a s - s e m b l y d e p a r t m e n t h a v e b e e n fr e- q u i r e d to w o r k m a n d a t o r y S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e o f 8 h o u r s a t s o m e t i m e s d u r - i n g t h e p e r i o d e n d i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y 7 y e a r s a g o a n d t h a t t h e p r a c t i c e , w h i c h a p p a r e n t l y h a d e x t e n d e d o v e r s o m e p e ~ r i o d o f t i m e a n d w a s a c c e p t e d b y t h e e m p l o y e e s , w a s n o t r e s u m e d u n t i l A p r i l 1 9 8 4 , t r i g g e r i n g t h e g r i e v a n c e w h i c h i s t h e b a s i s f o r t h i s a r b i t r a t i o n . T h e C o m p a n y ’ s r e s p o n s e t o t h i s e v i - d e n c e i n c l u d e d s u b m i s s i o n o f a c o p y o f a n o t i c e d a t e d J u l y 16 , 1 9 8 2 , w h i c h a n n o u n c e d , “ D u e to h e a v y w o r k l o a d f r o m c u s t o m e r r e q u i r e m e n t s i t h a s b e - c o m e n e c e s s a r y t o s c h e d u l e t h e A B / A C ’ s a n d T u r r e t s o n m a n d a t o r y o v e r t i m e t h r o u g h t h e f o l l o w i n g d a t e s a n d t i m e s . ” T h e d a t e s w e r e “ J u l y 2 6 , 1 9 8 2 t h r o u g h A u g u s t 2 2 , 1 9 8 2 . ” T h i s m a n d a t o r y o v e r t i m e s c h e d u l e w a s c a n c e l e d o n A u g u s t 13 , 1 9 8 2 . T h e r e w a s o n e i n s t a n c e o f S a t u r d a y m a n d a - t o r y o v e r t i m e , t o w h i c h M a n u f a c t u r - i n g M a n a g e r V i c G i a r r a t a n o t e s t i f i e d , o n D e c e m b e r 1 8 , 1 9 8 2 , i n v o l v i n g a T o o l a n d D i e M a k e r , S r . I n a d d i t i o n , G e o r g e R a m i r e z , S e n i o r F o r e r n a n , w h o h a s w o r k e d f o r t h e C o m p a n y f o r 3 4 y e a r s , t e s t i f i e d t h a t w h i l e h e w a s U n i o n C h a i r m a n f r o m J u n e 1 9 7 8 to J u n e 1 9 8 1 ( p r e c e d i n g t h e p r e s e n t U n i o n C h a i r m a n , F r a n k P e n - u n u r i ) , h e n e v e r p r o c e s s e d a g r i e v a n c e c o m p l a i n i n g a b o u t S a t u r d a y m a n d a - t o r y o v e r t i m e , a n d t h a t s u c h o v e r t i m e w a s w o r k e d o c c a s i o n a l l y . I n a d d i t i o n , b e f o r e h e b e c a m e U n i o n C h a i r m a n h e h a d w o r k e d m a n d a t o r y S a t u r d a y o v e r - t i m e “ o c c a s i o n a l l y . ” T h e r e is o n e o t h e r b i t o f e v i d e n c e , d i s p u t e d , w h i c h d e s e r v e s d i s c u s s i o n . F r a n k P e n u n u r i t e s t i f i e d t h a t d u r i n g t h e O c t o b e r 1 9 8 2 c o n t r a c t n e g o t i a t i o n s h e d i s c u s s e d w i t h C o r p o r a t e D i r e c t o r of I n d u s t r i a l R e l a t i o n s L e s S w a v e l y 84 L A 19 4 t h e is su e of 6 h o u r s v e r s u s 8 h o u r s m a n d a t o r y S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e . W h i l e M r . P e n u n u r i ’ s t e s t i m o n y is . n o t e n - ti re ly cl ea r, a p p a r e n t l y h e d e s i r e d t o i n s e r t l a n g u a g e i n t o t h e c o l l e c t i v e a g r e e m e n t l i m i t i n g m a n d a t o r y o v e r - t i m e o n S a t u r d a y to 6 h o u r s . A c c o r d - i n g t o M r . P e n u n u r i , S w a v e l y r e - s p o n d e d t h a t t h e y s h o u l d n o t ‘ m u d d y u p ” t h e c o n t r a c t w i t h a d d i t i o n a l l a n - g u a g e ‘ b e c a u s e w e d i d n o t h a v e a n y p r o b l e m s w i t h it .” T h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n is d e n i e d b y M r . S w a v e l y . T h e d i s c u s s i o n s d u r i n g c o n t r a c t n e - g o t i a t i o n s ‘ c o m p r i s e a k i n d o f p r a c t i c e t h a t g i v e s m e a n i n g t o l a n g u a g e i n d i s - p u t e . ” > T h e c o n v e r s a t i o n b e t w e e n P e n u n u r i a n d S w a v e l y w a s u n d o u b t - e d l y a b r i e f e x c h a n g e w h i c h l o o m s l a r g e r i n t h e m i n d o f t h e f o r m e r t h a n t h e la tt er , a n d it is p r o b a b l e t h a t M r . S w a v e l y s i m p l y d o e s n o t r e m e m b e r i t . T h e a r b i t r a t o r c o n c l u d e s t h a t M r . P e n u n u r i d i d r a i s e t h e is su e. T h e C o m p a n y ’ s r e s p o n s e w a s , i n e f f e c t , t o re je ct t h e U n i o n ’ s p r o p o s a l . T h e p r o p - e r i n f e r e n c e t o b e d r a w n f r o m t h e s e f a c t s is t h a t t h e U n i o n ’ s a t t e m p t t o i n c o r p o r a t e l a n g u a g e i n t o t h e a g r e e - m e n t l i m i t i n g S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e t o 6 h o u r s e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t it h a d k n o w l - _ e d g e o f t h e m a n d a t o r y 8 h o u r s S a t u r - d a y o v e r t i m e p r a c t i c e a n d t h a t t h e U n i o n is n o w s e e k i n g f r o m t h e a r b i t r a - t o r a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e a g r e e m e n t t h a t it w a s u n a b l e to o b t a i n i n n e g o t i a t i o n s . C o n c l u s i o n T h e t e s t i m o n y o f s o m e o f t h e w i t - n e s s e s i n t h i s c a s e h a s n o t b e e n e n t i r e - l y c o n s i s t e n t a n d t h e b r i e f a r g u m e n t s m a d e b y t h e p a r t i e s h a v e b e e n s o m e - w h a t di ff ic ul t to i n t e r p r e t , l e a v i n g t h e a r b i t r a t o r w i t h a d e c i s i o n m a k i n g t a s k o f m o r e t h a n o r d i n a r y d i f f i c u l t y . T h e a p p a r e n t l y c l e a r d e c l a r a t o r y s e n t e n c e t h a t “ F o r e m p l o y e e s w o r k i n g t h e . j o b c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o f A s s e m b l e r , D e b u r r e r , S t o c k C l e r k a n d S h i p p i n g / R e c e i v i n g C l e r k , S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e w i l l b e v o l - u n t a r y , ” s i m p l y c a n n o t b e t a k e n t o m e a n w h a t it s a y s w h e n r e a d i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e s u c c e e d i n g s e n t e n c e s i n S e c t i o n 6 o f A r t i c l e X I . T h e r e s u l t i n g a m b i g u i t y is r e s o l v e d b y t h e U n i o n ’ s o w n a r g u m e n t t h a t 6 h o u r s S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e m a y b e m a d e m a n d a t o r y , i t s a d m i s s i o n of a p a s t p r a c t i c e of 8 h o u r s m a n d a t o r y S a t u r d a y o v e r t i m e d u r i n g a p e r i o d e n d i n g s o m e 7 y e a r s a g o , a n d t h e U n i o n ’ s r e q u e s t d u r i n g n e g o t i a - t i o n s i n O c t o b e r 1 9 8 2 t h a t t h e p r a c t i c e o f w h i c h it n o w c o m p l a i n s b e e l i m i n a t e d . ’ P r a s o w a n d P e t e r s , A r b i t r a t i o n a n d C o l l e c t i v e B a r g a i n i n g 1 3 3 - 1 6 4 ( 1 9 7 0 ) . E - S Y S T E M S , I N C . T h e a r b i t r a t o r c o n c l u d e s t h a t t h e C o m p a n y ' s f a i l u r e t o e m p l o y , a t l e a s t o n a w i d e s p r e a d ba si s, m a n d a t o r y S a t - u r d a y o v e r t i m e d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d c o m - m e n c i n g s o m e 7 y e a r s a g o u n t i l A p r i l 1 9 8 4 , d o e s n o t i m p l y t h a t m a n a g e - m e n t ’ s d i s c r e t i o n h a s b e e n l i m i t e d b y t h a t h i a t u s . T h e r e w a s a p e r i o d o f t i m e d u r i n g w h i c h 8 h o u r s m a n d a t o r y S a t - u r d a y o v e r t i m e w a s t h e e s t a b l i s h e d w a y o f d o i n g t h i n g s a n d t h a t p r a c t i c e h a s n o t b e e n d e s t r o y e d b y t h e f a c t of i n t e r m i t t e n t u s e o r b y c h a n g e s i n c o n ~ t r a c t l a n g u a g e . E x t e n d e d w o r k w e e k s m a y r e s u l t i n e m p l o y e e i n e f f i c i e n c y a n d t h e y . c e r t a i n l y c u t i n t o r e c r e a t i o n - al ac ti vi ti es d u r i n g w h i c h e m p l o y e e s m a y e n j o y t h e i n c r e a s e d e a r n i n g s , b u t it is n o t u p t o t h e a r b i t r a t o r to c o r r e c t w o r k s c h e d u l e s w h i c h m a y b e i l l - a d - vi se d; h i s t a s k is to d e t e r m i n e , a s b e s t h e c a n , t h e i n t e n t o f t h e p a r t i e s a n d t h a t h a s b e e n t h e a r b i t r a t o r ' s e f f o r t i n t h i s ca se . A W A R D T h e C o m p a n y d i d n o t v i o l a t e t h e co l- j e c t i v e - b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t b y s c h e d u l i n g 8 h o u r s m a n d a t o r y o v e r - t i m e o n S a t u r d a y . L S E - S Y S T E M S , I N C . — D e c i s i o n o f A r b i t r a t o r I n r e E - S Y S T E M S , I N C . , E C I D I v i - S I O N [ S t . P e t e r s b u r g , F l a . ] a n d U N I T - E D A U T O M O B I L E , A B R O S P A C E A N D A G R I C U L T U R A L I M P L E - M E N T W O R K E R S O F A M E R I C A , L O C A L 2 9 8 , F M C S C a s e N o . 8 4 K / 2 1 9 0 1 , G r i e v a n c e N o . A C - 6 - 8 4 , J a n u a r y 7, 1 9 8 5 A r b i t r a t o r : H . E l l s w o r t h S t e e l e , s e - l e c t e d b y p a r t i e s t h r o u g h p r o c e d u r e s o f F e d e r a l M e d i a t i o n & C o n c i l i a t i o n S e r v i c e P R O M O T I O N — S e l e c t i o n o f j u n i o r — . Q u a l i f i c a - t i o n s — C r i t e r i a f o r s e l e c t i o n > 1 1 9 . 1 2 2 1 > 2 4 . 3 6 2 E m p l o y e r p r o p e r l y a w a r d e d p o s i t i o n o f m a i n t e n a n c e g r o u p l e a d e r t o m e c h a n i c w h o it d e t e r m i n e d c o u l d d o m o s t , if n o t al l, s p e - ci fi c t a s k s o f jo b, i n s t e a d o f s e n i o r e m p l o y e e w h o u n i o n c l a i m e d w a s q u a l i f i e d , u n d e r l o n g e s t a b l i s h e d p a s t p r a c t i c e r e s o l v i n g a m - b i g u i t i e s i n u s e o f e r i t e r i a f o r s e l e c t i n g g r o u p l e a d e r b y a l l o w i n g e m p l o y e r t o s e l e c t m a i n t e n a n c e g r o u p l e a d e r s b a s e d o n a b i l i t y E - S Y S T E M S , I N C . 8 4 L A 1 9 5 t o l e a d , g u i d e , a n d i n s t r u c t , r a t h e r t h a n s e n i o r i t y . E v i d e n c e e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t e m p l o y - e r c o n s i d e r e d j u n i o r t o b e m o s t q u a l i f i e d o f si x m e c h a n i c s a n d w a s o n l y o n e w h o s e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s w e r e a c c e p t a b l e , a n d s o l o n g a s e m p l o y e r ’ s s e l e c t i o n p r o c e s s is n o t a r b i - t r a r y o r d i s c r i m i n a t o r y , e m p l o y e r d o e s n o t v i o l a t e a g r e e m e n t b y c o n t i n u i n g u s e o f t h i s p r o c e s s . A p p e a r a n c e s : F o r t h e c o m p a n y — M i k e B a r a n o w s k i , p l a n t e m p l o y e e r e - l a t i o n s m a n a g e r ; T i m o t h y B . H a r r i s , Gi re ct or , e m p l o y e e r e l a t i o n s ; J i m C e r n y , d i r e c t o r , m a n u f a c t u r i n g ; J a c k W a l d r o n , s e c t i o n h e a d , f a c i l i t y m a i n - t e n a n c e ; T o m B u r d e t t , f a c i l i t i e s m a n - a g e r ; J i m W i l l i a m s , m a i n t e n a n c e g r o u p l e a d e r . F o r t h e u n i o n — J o h n C . B a r n e t t e , i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e p r e s e n t a - t i v e ; D e l o r a s K n i g h t , l o c a l p r e s i d e n t ; P a t W h y t e a n d A r t A l l i n g , c o m m i t t e e - p e r s o n s ; J a c k F e r g u s o n . S E N I O R I T Y G r i e v a n c e ( F i l e d A p r i l 2 3 , 1 9 8 4 ) : S T E E L E , A r b i t r a t o r : — [ T h e g r i e v - a n c e is : — ] “ T h e U n i o n c h a r g e s t h e C o m p a n y w i t h v i o l a t i o n o f A r t . V I I I se c. 1 0 b y b y p a s s i n g 5 ‘ m o r e s e n i o r ’ q u a l i f i e d e m p l o y e e s to t h e L G 1 5 M a i n t e n a n c e G r o u p l e a d e r p o s i t i o n . “ T h e U n i o n r e q u e s t ( s ) t h e C o m p a n y fo l- l o w t h e c o n t r a c t u a l p r o v i s i o n o f A r t . V I I I a n d t h e a p p r o p r i a t e p e r s o n b e m a d e w h o l e . ” i s s u e D i d t h e C o m p a n y v i o l a t e t h e c o n t r a c t i n p r o m o t i n g J i m W i l l i a m s f r o m M a i n t e n a n c e M e c h a n i c to M a i n t e n a n c e G r o u p L e a d e r a h e a d o f m o r e s e n i o r M a i n t e n a n c e M e c h a n - ic s? If so , w h a t s h a l l b e t h e r e m e d y ? F a c t s o f t h e C a s e T h e E C I D i v i s i o n o f E - S y s t e m s d e - v e l o p s a n d m a n u f a c t u r e s s o p h i s t i c a t - e d e l e c t r o n i c c o m m u n i c a t i o n s e q u i p - m e n t a n d s y s t e m s f o r m i l i t a r y i n s t a l l a t i o n . T h e w o r k e r s i n t h e b a r - g a i n i n g u n i t a t t h e S t . P e t e r s b u r g , F l o r i d a , p l a n t , w h i c h is 2 7 y e a r s o l d , a r e r e p r e s e n t e d b y U A W L o c a l 2 9 8 . O n A p r i l 16 , 1 9 8 4 , t h e C o m p a n y p r o - t m n o t e d J a m e s W i l l i a m s , w h o is b i a c k , f r o m M e c h a n i c i n L a b o r G r a d e 1 3 to t h e p o s i t i o n o f M a i n t e n a n c e i n L a b o r G r a d e 1 5 a l t h o u g h t h e r e w e r e fi ve o t h - e x M e c h a n i c s , al l w h i t e , i n t h e u n i t w i t h g r e a t e r s e n i o r i t y . T h r e e o f t h e s e w o r k e r s s i g n e d t h e p r e s e n t g r i e v a n c e ‘ h i c h is n o w p r o p e r l y a t a r b i t r a t i o n . Y n i o n P o s i t i o n T h e e m p l o y e e s w h o w e r e b y p a s s e d a r e a s q u a l i f i e d a s J a m e s W i l l i a m s a n d a r e s e n i o r to h i m . M e l S h i n e h a s c o n - s i s t e n t l y r e f u s e d p r o m o t i o n . H e n r y B l o w h a s a l s o d e c l i n e d p r o m o t i o n i n t h e p a s t , b u t n o w w i s h e s to b e c o n s i d - e r e d a l o n g w i t h F r a n k F e r g u s o n , G l e n n A l l a n a n d J a m e s B o w m a n f o r t h e p o s i t i o n o f M a i n t e n a n c e G r o u p L e a d e r . T h e M a i n t e n a n c e G r o u p L e a d e r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n h a s b e e n i n t h e c o n t r a c t s i n c e 1 9 5 8 a n d t h e C o m p a n y h a s al - w a y s p r o m o t e d e m p l o y e e s i n t o t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n a s t h e y w e r e n e e d e d . T h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f W o r k i n g G r o u p L e a d - e r w a s i n s e r t e d i n t o t h e c o n t r a c t i n 1 9 7 1 . T h e l a n g u a g e i n A r t i c l e X , S e c - t i o n 4, o t h e r t h a n t h e l a s t s e n t e n c e d e a l i n g w i t h t h e w a g e d i f f e r e n t i a l , h a s n o a p p l i c a t i o n t o t h e M a i n t e n a n c e G r o u p L e a d e r . T h e C o m p a n y r e l i e s u p o n p a s t p r a c - t i c e a s g i v i n g it t h e r i g h t t o p r o m o t e G r o u p L e a d e r s o u t o f l i n e o f s e n i o r i t y , b u t t h e l a n g u a g e o f A r t i c l e V I I I , S e c - t i o n 1 d e a l i n g w i t h p r o m o t i o n b y s e - n i o r i t y a n d q u a l i f i c a t i o n s is c l e a r a n d u n a m b i g u o u s a n d s h o u l d b e c o n t r o l l i n g . T h e C o m p a n y d i d n o t b r i n g W i l - l i a m s t o t h e s t a n d a n d t h e U n i o n c h a l - l e n g e s h i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n s . W h e n a s k e d w h e t h e r o r n o t W i l l i a m s c o u l d p e r - f o r m w o r k o n v a r i o u s t y p e s o f e q u i p - m e n t , J a c k W a l d r o n , t h e S e c t i o n H e a d w h o w a s l a r g e l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r h i s p r o m o t i o n , “ d i d n o t k n o w w h e t h e r h e w a s q u a l i f i e d to d o t h i s w o r k o r n o t . ” W i l l i a m s h a s w o r k e d a s a M e c h a n i c i n L a b o r G r a d e 1 3 f o r a b o u t t w o y e a r s ; t h e a g g r i e v e d e m p l o y e e s h a v e b e e n i n t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n m u c h l o n g e r . T h e C o m p a n y a r g u e s t h a t t h e w o r k o f t h e G r o u p L e a d e r i s d i v i d e d i n t o t w o c a t e g o r i e s a n d W i l l i a m s is a s s i g n e d t o o n e o f t h e s e . T h e j o b d e s c r i p t i o n , h o w - e v e r , d o e s n o t r e f l e c t s u c h a d i v i s i o n . T h e U n i o n t a k e s t h e p o s i t i o n t h a t t o b e p r o m o t e d t o G r o u p L e a d e r , a w o r k - e r m u s t b e q u a l i f i e d a n d t h a t “ F e r g u - s o n , B o w m a n a n d A l l a n w e r e q u a l i - f i e d . ” T h e C o m p a n y ’ s u s e o f t h e i r r e c o r d s o n d i s c i p l i n e a n d a t t e n d a n c e t o d i s q u a l i f y t h e m is i m p r o p e r . W a l - d r o n ’ s r e m a r k s t h a t r a c e w a s a f a c t o r l e a d i n g t o t h e g r i e v a n c e a r e ‘ ‘ d e s p i c a - b l e a n d n o t w o r t h y o f f u r t h e r c o m m e n t . ” If A r t i c l e V I I I , S e c t i o n s 1 a n d 10 , w h i c h p r o v i d e t h a t t h e s e n i o r , q u a l i - f i e d e m p l o y e e s h a l l b e p r o m o t e d , a r e a t o d d s w i t h A r t i c l e I V M a n a g e m e n t ’ s F u n c t i o n s , t h e g e n e r a l m u s t g i v e w a y t o t h e s p e c i f i c . M a n a g e m e n t m a y n o t u s e i t s p r e r o g a t i v e s t o c i r c u m v e n t t h e e m p l o y e e s ’ s e n i o r i t y r i g h t s . T h e m o s t s e n i o r q u a l i f i e d e m p l o y e e s h o u l d b e a s - s i g n e d t o t h e j o b a n d m a d e w h o l e f o r al l lo ss es . 277 NLRB No.88, 277 NLRB 882, 120 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 1291, 1985-86 NLRB Dec. P 17547, 1985 WL 46102 (N.L.R.B.) NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD(N.L.R.B.) **1 *882 Bechtel Power Corporation And Peter Pitzo Case 4-CA-14361 November27, 1985 DECISION AND ORDER BY CHAIRMAN DOTSON AND MEMBERS DENNIS AND BABSON On 16January 1985 Administrative Law Judge Bernard Ries issued the attached decision. The Respondentfiled exceptions and a supporting brief, the General Counselfiled cross-exceptions and a supporting brief, and the Respondentfiled a brief in response to the cross-exceptions."°™ The National Labor Relations Board hasdelegatedits authority in this proceedingto a three- member panel. The Board has considered the decision and the recordin light of the exceptions, cross- exceptions, and briefs and has decidedto affirm the judge's rulings, findings, and conclusions and to adopt the recommended Order as modified. Peter Pitzo, the Charging Party, an electrician with some 24 years of craft experience, was employed by the Respondentin its construction of a nuclear powerplant, called the Hope Creek Generating Station, in Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey."™”! Pitzo's version ofthecritical events is substantially as follows. On Monday, 12 March 1984,2™"! Pitzo and his partner, Murphy, were working in the south bay crane area ofthe turbine building on a scaffolding above the entry throughwhich cranes and other heavy equipmententered the building. In the afternoon, a piece of heavy equipment began to emit strong fumes. Pitzo and Murphy climbed downthe scaffolding and talked to the employees operating the machine, who said they would be through shortly. The machine operators urged Pitzo and Murphyto stop working until they were through with the machine. Pitzo and Murphythen reportedto their foreman, Bruce Wilson, whotold them not to worry about the problem andthat he would look into it the next morning. Wilson sent Pitzo and Murphy back to the same job on Tuesday, instructing them to take fresh air breaksif the fumes persisted. Both men took such breaks, but in the afternoon Pitzo felt sick from the fumes, and again reported to Wilson, who said he was attempting to correct the problem. Pitzo then wentto the first aid department. On Wednesday, Wilson again sent Pitzo and Murphy to the same work station, saying that he was looking into the fumes problem. He urged them to take fresh air breaks as necessary and to try to get the job finished. Pitzo and Murphydiscussed the fumes with other employeesat their work station. Employee Gould said he knew whoto contact and called Safety Officer Alexander on the intercom. Alexander said he would come around andcheckthesituation out, although the employeesdid not see him do so. Pitzo again felt sick from the fumes,visited the first aid department, and returned to work. Pitzo also unsuccessfully tried to contact his union steward. At the end of the day Wilson urged Pitzo and Murphy to try and get the job finished so they could moveto a new location. On Thursday, Pitzo and Murphy found the fumes unbearable, and Pitzo called Alexander, who said he would be right around. On Friday,Pitzo stayed homefeeling ill. Murphy stayed home as well. **2 On Monday, 19 March,Pitzo was sent to work at a different location and under a different foreman. The fumesdid not cause a real problem until Wednesday of that week, when Pitzo again called Alexander to complain. Alexandersaid he wastrying to correct the problem and asked Pitzo to obtain information about the machine causing the problem, which Pitzodid. The fumes had not abated by Thursday, and Pitzo again called Alexander, whosaid he wasdoing his best to correct the problem. . On Friday morning, 23 March, Pitzo and employee Sanchez discussed the fumes. Sanchez called Alexanderand told him that “there are a lot *883 of employees around here whoare complaining”about the fumes. Alexander replied that he would be around. When Alexander had not shown upbythe afternoon, Pitzo again called Alexander to complain. On Monday, 26 March, the fumeswerestill present. Pitzo attempted to call Alexander, who was not in, and then tried to reach Alexander's superior, Brian Dowdy, who also wasnot in. Later that afternoon, Pitzo reached Alexander, whosaid that he was doingall he could andthat he was going to write a letter to the operating engineers. Pitzo told Alexanderthat he had the authority to shut down the machine or vent the smoke outside, but Alexander replied that he wanted to go through the proper channels. Pitzo then accused Alexanderof wasting time and of waiting until the job was completely finished before doing anything about the fumes.Pitzo also said that he was getting nowhere with Alexander and that he ought to speak to Dowdy. On 27 March, the fumes problem persisted. Pitzo called Dowdy, who was unavailable, and then called Alexander to ask whether Alexanderhadsentthe letter to the operating engineers. Alexandersaid that he had not as yet done so, but would doit at the first opportunity. Pitzo again accused Alexanderof wasting time. On Wednesday, 28 March, Pitzo saw Alexander walking down an aisle and asked Alexanderif he hadsentthe letter to the operating engineers. Alexander had not. Pitzo said Alexander was just wasting time and did not wantto correct the situation. He said, “All you are worrying about our[sic] hard hats, you are worried about our glasses, our eyes, but you are not too concerned aboutthe air that we breathe.” Alexander, instead of respondingto Pitzo's accusation,informed Pitzo that he was violating the safety rules with his hardhat and gave him until 2 p.m.to get a newliner for his hardhat. Pitzo replied, “I could correct my hat and I could wear safety glasses. But can you do something about the fumes?” Alexandersaid, “I am working on that.) Pitzo wentto get a new liner,putit in his hardhat, and started back to his work station about 9:15 a.m. On the way, he passed Alexander and asked if Alexander had corrected the smoke problem. Alexander askedif Pitzo had corrected his hardhat problem.Pitzo, instead of showing Alexander that he had doneso, said, “Why do you keep on asking me about my hardhatall the time? It seemslike you are bribing me. That you are not going to do anything about the fumesunless I fix my hardhat.” Alexanderallegedly replied, “Well, you are doing so much complaining. Why don't you andI go talk to your supervisor.” Pitzo replied that he did not wantto talk to his supervisor, but did wantto talk to his steward and hadbeentrying to call him. The conversation ended. **3 About 10:30 a.m., Wilson, Pitzo's foreman, and the area foreman told Pitzo that he was discharged for not having his hardhat properly adjusted. Pitzo protested that Alexander had gi ven him until 2 p.m.to fix his hardhat and showed them thatthe hat was fixed. The area foreman said he knew nothing except that Electrical Superintendent Nicholson said Pitzo was fired, and he gave Pitzo his written notice of termination. The notice gave two reasons for the discharge: “disregard of safety instructions” and “insubordination to safety officer.” Pitzo made various attempts to obtain reinstatement, including talking to his union steward and to the project foreman. Both said Pitzo wasbeing fired for not properly adjusting his hardhat. Alexander's version of the 28 March incident and the events leading uptoit differed significantl y from Pitzo's version. Alexanderclaimed that fumes had been a problem in the south bay c rane area off and onfor as long as he had been employed there (some 5-1/2 years), but that some time in mid-Marchthe problem grew worse and there were numerous complaints from numerous employees. Alexanderdid notrecall that Pitzo had ever complained to him prior to their meeting on the morning of 28 March. Alexander admitted, however, that he had a bad memory for n ames and dates"! Alexandertestified that when Pitzo complained to him aboutthe fumes on the morning of 28 March, Alexandersaid they were trying to develop proceduresto eliminate the problem. He then told Pitzo his hardhat wasin violation of the safety rules and told him to get a new liner. According to Alexander,Pitzo “said that he would not do it.” As far as Alexander could remember, that was the complete conversation. *884 Alexander reported the incident to Pitzo's foreman, to the area foreman, and to Superintendent Nicholson. Alexander concededthat he saw Pitzo again that morning, but claimed he did nottalk to Pitzo or notice whether Pitzo had fixed his hat, since he felt he had taken all the action necessary and “left the superintendent to perform his duties.” Foreman Wilson and Superintendent Nicholson alsotestified, both claiming that Alexandersaid Pitzo had told him to “get screwed” whentold to fix his hat."N°l The judge concludedthat Nicholson's testimony was untrustworthy for a numberof reasons.In this regard, the judge noted that Nicholson did some “pronouncedposition-shifting” on the number of times he claim ed to have instructed Wilsonto tell Pitzo to fix his hardhat. Additionally, Nicholson testifie d that he knew Wilson had relayed his instructions to Pitzo because Wilson told him so. Wilson, however, firmly denied that he ever reported back to Nicholson. In addition, Nicholsontestified that he — fired Pitzo becausealtering safety equipment was an “automatic termination.” Whenit was pointed out to him that on the prior occasions when he claimed to have noticed the violatio n he did not fire Pitzo, Nicholson said he was notin the habit of going around firing peop le. He also stated that a written warning instead of discharge would have been inappropriate fo r Pitzo's violation, but testified later he had once prepared a written warningfor Pitzo for the same offense. No such written warning was produced and the judge concluded that no ne existed. Moreover, Nicholsontestified inconsistently regarding the principal reason for Pitzo' s discharge. He claimedfirst that Pitzo was discharged for violation of the safety rules, but then a greedthatit was “really” the “insubordination” which prompted the discharge." The judge also discredited Wilson, who gave inconsistent testimony, and whom the judge found to be nerv ous and under considerable “internal pressure”at the hearing. **4 Faced with the conflicting accounts and poorcredibility of the various witnesse s, the judge credited Pitzo in finding that Pitzo initiated the conversation with Alexander on the mor ning of 28 March and wasreiterating his complaints about the fumes when Alexander attempted t o divert the conversation to Pitzo's hardhat. The judge foundthat Pitzo refused to be put off , and said, “All you are worrying about our [sic] hardhats... but you are not too concern ed aboutthe air we breathe.” Nevertheless, the judge foundthat, despite Pitzo's testimony to th e contrary,it was“likely”that Pitzo, whentold to fix his hardhat, refused to do so. Basedon these findings, the judge concluded, under NLRB v. City Disposal System s, 465 U.S. 822 (1984), that Pitzo was engaged in concerted protected activity when he complained aboutthe fumes to Alexander,and that Pitzo continued to engage in protected activity wh en Alexander attempted to divert the conversation to Pitzo's hardhat. Hefurther foundthat although Pitzo's “likely” refusal to fix his hardhat “smacked of insubordination,” Pitzo did not engage in activity which forfeited his right to claim the protection of the Act since Pitzo did not enga ge in a real act of disobedience, but promptly fixed his hat. The judge, relying on Thor Power To ol Co., 351 F.2d 584 (7th Cir. 1965), enfg. 148 NLRB 1379 (1964), found Pitzo's statement of refusal to be the sort of impulsive behavior for which some leeway may be permitted when an e mployeeis _ engaged in concerted protected activity. Weagree with the judge that Pitzo, in pressing his complaints about the fumes to Alexand er, was engaged in concerted protected activity under City Disposal for the following reasons. A s an initial matter, the Board's Interboro doctrine establishes that when an employee makes complaints concerning safety matters which are embodiedin a contract, he is acting not only in his owninterest, but is attempting to enforce the contract provisions in the interest of al l the employees coveredby that contract. The Board has found that such activity is concerted and protected underthe Act, and the discharge of an individual for engaging in suchactivity violates Section 8(a)(1) of the Act. City Disposal Systems, 256 NLRB 451, 454 (1981); Roadway Express, 217 NLRB 278, 279 (1975); Interboro Contractors, 157 NLRB 1295 (1966). We note further that an employee engaged in making safety complaints need not make an explicit reference to the relevant contract for his actions to be protected by the Act. Roadway Expr ess, supra. The Board requires, however, that the employee's belief that the working conditions are unsafe be honestly held. United Parcel Service, 241 NLRB 1074(1979). **5 Significantly, the Supreme Court in City Disposal concludedthat the Board's Interboro doctrine was a reasonable interpretation of the Act. The Courtstated: As long as the nature of the employee's complaint is reasonably clear to the person to *885 whom it is communicated, and the complaint does, in fact, refer to a reasonably perceived violation of the collective-bargaining agreement, the complaining employee is engagedin the process of enforcing that agreement. In the context of a workplace dispute, where the participants are likely to be unsophisticated in collective-bargaining matters, a requirementthat the employee explicitly refer to the collective-bargaining agreement is likely to serve as nothing more than a trap for the unwary. [465 U.S.at 840.] And wenote in this regard that in City Disposal, there was no direct evidence concerning whetheror not the employee there actually knew that he wasasserting rights under a specific provision of the contract. In this case the nature of Pitzo's complaint, that the fumes were so heavy as to make breathing uncomfortable and unsafe, was indisputably clear to Alexander. This is borne out by Alexander's testimony that he had received numerous complaints from numerous employees, that he had shut down the machinery at times when the fumes were very heavy, and that he was working on a long-range solution to eliminate the problem-causing fumes. Further, we find that while Pitzo did not actually mention the contract, his complaints did concern a reasonably perceived violation of the collective-bargaining apreement.UN*l Asnoted previously, Pitzo was a longtime union member. His attempts to complain to his union steward “bout the fumes andhis remark to Alexanderthat he wantedto speak to his union steward!"™”! makeit clear that Pitzo perceived his complaints about the fumes to be a union as well as a company matter. Moreover, Pitzo's statementto Alexander, “All you are worried about [our] hardhats... our glasses, our eyes, but you are not too worried about the air that we breathe,” makesit abundantly clear that Pitzo viewed the fumes as involving the safety of working conditions, which plainly brings his complaint within the scope of the applicable provisions of the collective-bargaining agreement. Further, there is ample evidence in the record supporting the judge's finding that Pitzo's belief that the working conditions were unsafe was honestly held. “Wethus conclude that Pitzo wa s engagedin protected concerte d activity when he complained about the fumes to Alexander.*""°! Having found that Pitzo engaged in protected concerted activity under City Disposal, we must determine whetherthatactivity lost its protection because of Pitzo's conduct. As noted previously, the judge, in determining the facts of the critical conversation between Pitzo and Alexander on 28 March,credited Pitzo over Alexander. Nevertheless, despite Pitzo's testimony to the contrary, the judge found thatit was “likely” that Pitzo said he would notfix his hardhat when ordered to do so by Alexander.In so finding, the judge apparently did notrely on Alexander, whosetestimony the judge virtually discredited completely. Instead,the judge appears to have relied on Wilson's hearsay testimony that Alexander told him Pitzo had refused to get his hardhatfixed. **6 Contrary to the judge, we credit Pitzo's account of the conversationin its entirety for the following reasons.First, only Pitzo and Alexander wereparties to the conversation, and Alexander's abbreviated account of the conversation was properly discredited. Pitzo's version is thus the only direct evidenceof the conversation. Second, wefind no logical basis for concluding that Pitzo threatened to disobey Alexander based on Wilson's testimony, which was also largely discredited. Wilson wasnot a party to the conversation and his knowledge of the incident is hearsay derived solely from Alexander, whoseunreliability has been established.Finally, Pitzo testified plausibly about the conversation. We find no reasonto discredit his account, and accordingly find no probative evidence that any refusal to obey an orderorotheract of insubordination occurred. Thus,Pitzo's conduct remainedprotected as well as concerted. Weconclude, based onall the evidence, that Pitzo's repeated demands that Alexander take action to resolve the fumes problem, which were coupled with Pitzo's attempts to complain to his union steward and to Dowdy, Alexander's superior, prompted Alexanderto seize on Pitzo's violation of safety rules to rid himself of Pitzo's persistent complaints. Moreover, as found by the judge, Superintendent Nicholson, who made the decision to discharge Pitzo, was aware that Pitzo's conduct which wasthe basis for Alexander's report to Nicholson arose in the contextof a safety complaint." Wetherefore conclude that the Respondent,*886 by discharging Pitzo, violated Section Stal) of the Act. Accordingly, we shall adopt the judge's recommended Orderas modified." c i t y of So ut hf ie ld D e c i s i o n o f A r b i t r a t o r I n z e C I T Y O F sl U T H F I E L D (M ic h] ‘a nd , TE CH NI CA L, , P R O F E S S I O N A L A N D . OE -. W O R K E R S , A S S O C I A T I O N; O F FI CE , M I C H I G A N ‘ C a “N o, 07 - 4 0 9 . ~ Fe br ua ry ’3 , 20 09 Ax bi tr at or : P at ri ck A. M c D o n a l d : E M P L O Y E E B E N E F I T S — [1 ] R e t i r e e he al th , i s a n — ‘ P r e m i u m s ‘C it y: ‘i ol at ed «c o l l e c t i v e - b a r g a i n i n gag ré e- m e n t wh en . i e m p l o y e e ‘p ay .2 5° pe rc en t: of ‘h ea lt h: in su ra nc e p r é m i u m fo r ‘c ov er ag e of jh er se lf an d hé rh u s . b a n d p l u s ' $ 2 0 th on th ly ; ev en . t h o u g h fw o- si mi - la rs :e m p l o y e e s ‘ « w h o ‘r éc en tl y ‘r et ir ed ‘p ay ‘t hi s’ a m o u n t ‘a nd : ac ti ve :“ pa rt ~ t i m e e m p l o y e e s ’ pa y: 2 5 pe rc en t’ of . p r e m i u m , ‘w he re a g r e e m e n t ‘ u n - am bi gu ou sl y: st at es ’t ha t ‘“ ‘r et ir ee po rt io n’ ”’ o f re ti re me én t- h e a l t h “i ns ur an ce pa ym en t’ : ‘s ha ll : be ’* $2 0: pe r mo ni th fo rm ar ri ed re ti ré e, ‘t io on e. ra is ed is su e 6 f ‘ p r e m i u m s fo r- ‘r et ir in g‘ pa rt -t im e- e m p l o y e e s ” in ‘n ég ot ia ti on s, “c it y un il at er al ly ” im po se d mo nt hl y- ch ar ge w h e n fi ts t- tw o pa rt -: ti me *e mp lo ye es re ti re d, an d th es e‘ ca se s we re : no t’ kn ow n: to u n i o n ort gr ie va nt ‘a nd ’ ar e: no t pa st Pr ac ti ce , * “ A p p e a r a n c e s : Fo r: th e: e m p l o y e r — E l i z a b e t h Ra e- O” ’D on ne ll ,- ci ty at to rn ey ’s of fi ce .’ Fo r' th e: v n i o n — W a y n é B e e r b o w e r ,‘ bu si ne ss ’‘ ag en t. : “T hi s ‘p ar ti cu la rd is pu te ar os e,se , W he n, i th e: au tu mn of 20 07 , th e gr ie va nt , a ca re er . pa rt - ti me em pl oy ee . of th e Ci ty lo f So ut hf ie ld : “fl ed: a gr ie va nc e ch al le ng in g th e ‘C it y’ s: in it er pr et a- ti on of -A rt ic le 34 .1 B of th e Co ll ec ti ve Ba r- ga in in g A g r e e m e n t co nc er ni ng ’ re ti re e he al th eq ui re d th at ’ re ti ré d- -‘ pa rt -t im e’ Ci ty of :S ou th fi el d in su ra nc e, Th e: g r i e v a n c e w a s d e n i e d :a nd :w a s ; no t ab le to b e se tt le d, th ro ug ht he . in it ia l st ep s, of ‘t he gr ie va nc e: ‘p ro ce du re , et fo rt h in ;t he . Co ll ec ti ve ’ Ba rg ai ni ng Co nt ra ct Ul ti ma te ly ,: th e m a t t e r w a s su bm it te d fo r fi na l a n d bi nd in g ar bi tr at io n, ” . F a c t s In A u g u s t ‘o f 2 0 0 7 th e’ er ie va nt , pa rt -t im e ca re er e m p l o y e e wi th th e Ci ty ., of : So ut hf ie ld , m a d e ap pl ic at io n, to re ti re f r o m ‘t he .’ Ci ty ’ of So ut hf ie ld . Sh e’ is a me in be r ©: ba rg ai ni ng , ni t, .I n; S e p t e m b e r . of ;2 00 7, :. .M s. Ma nn in g: .w as :a dv is ed th at ‘s he . wo ul d: be re - qu ir ed :t o p ay .t we nt y- fi ve . p er ce nt :( 25 %) of -t he hé al th in su ra nc p r e m i u m s ‘i a re ti re me nt ,“ as lot h: g. su p t a g th e Ci ty 's : c l a i m f o r he r' ié b e re sp on si bl e ‘f or . tw en ty -f iv e pe rc en t 2 5 % ) o f ‘t he ; c he al th ca re co st s. it ne ss fo r, th e. U n i o n . w a s ; M s ; ; 1, an e m p l o y e e o ft hi rt ee n. ye ar s, ; e- Pr es id en M o r th e, Un io n an d a m e m b e r ; o f th e, He go ti at io n t e a m fo r et h: co nt ra ct s; M s : K u s c h sa id t h a t _ Se ct io n 34 , iM s. . Ku sc h: ef er re d: to th fa ct ’ “t ha t du ri gi th ri ev an e : B r o g e d e, i athi l l y U l S U U L L U E L U O n cr os s ex am in at io n, M s . K u s c h sa id th at du ri ng ne go ti at io ns , sh e di d no t re ca ll an y di s- cu ss io ns re ga rd in g pa rt -t im e re ti re e be ne fi ts . Sh e in di ca te d th at th e va st ma jo ri ty of T P O A M em pl oy ee s ar e fu ll -t im e. ” Sh e be - li ev es on ly a f e w e m p l o y e e s w o r k i n g f o r th e Ci ty ar e pa rt -t im e em pl oy ee s. As .a re su lt , ne i- th er pa rt y p r o p o s e d l a n g u a g e re ga rd in g pa rt - ti me te gu la r c a r e e r e m p l o y e e s . A c c o r d i n g to Ms . Ku sc h, th e’ pa rt ie s di d no t di ff er en ti at e be - tw ee n pa rt -t im e an d: fu ll -t im ee mp lo ye es ,f or re ti re me nt pu rp os es , C o T h e Ci ty pr es en te d fo ur : wi tn es se s. ‘T he fi rs t w a s Ms .: Va le ri e C r u m p , Di re ct or o f H u m a n Re so ur ce s: an d’ St af f Se rv ic es . Sh e in di ca te d th at th e C i t y h a s 6 5 0 fu ll -t im e e m p l o y e e s , 3 0 0 t e m p o r a r y e m p l o y e e s , “a nd : on ly 6 pa rt -t im e e m p l o y e e s . T h e Ci ty ne go ti at es w i t h ni ne di f- fe re nt u n i o n s , - 5 In th is ca se , ac co rd in g. t o ’ Ms .. C r u m p , th e gr ie va nt , M s . M a n n i n g , re ti re d e f f e c t i v e N o - v e m b e r 14 , 20 07 . T h e gr ie va nt , w a s on . fa mi ly me di ca ll ea ve ef fe ct iv e Ju ly 28 , 20 07 pr io r to he r re ti re me nt . T h e gr ie va nt pa ys .; tw en ty -f iv e pe rc en t of he al th iin st ir an ce r a t e s ar id ‘h as do ne so si nc e. 1 9 9 5 w h e n sh e) ac hi ev ed . ‘c ar ee r e m - pl oy ee , st at us . Ms .. . C r u m p sa id sh e w a s in - vo lv ed . a p p r o x i m a t e l y on e- ha lf w a y t h r o u g h th e co nt ra ct ne go ti at io ns .f or th e - 2 0 0 5 - 2 0 0 9 co nt ra ct : A c c o r d i n g to he r, th ea lt h be ne fi ts w e r e no t di sc us se d c o n c e r n i n g pa rt -t im e ‘e m- pl oy ee s. ’ Pr es en tl y, in ad di ti on to ” M s . M a n - ni ng , th er e ar e tw o pa rt -t im e em pl oy ee s w h o ar e re ti re d. M s . ‘N ik ki . B l a c k , w h o re ti re d in Ja nu ar y 20 06 , is pa yi ng tw en ty -f iv e pe rc en t of th e co st s’ pl us ' t w e n t y do ll ar s, a n d M r . L e o n a r d Yo ur is t, w h o re ti re d in Oc to be r 20 08 ,i is s pa y- in g a li ke a m o u n t . ‘O n cr os s ex am in at io n; M s . C r u m p in di - ca te d ‘t ha t h e r d e p a r t m e n t ad mi ni st er s’ be ne fi ts un de r th e co nt ra ct .’ Sh e ac kn ow le dg ed ’ th at th er ei s no th in gi in th e co nt ra ct re ga rd in g pa rt - ti me e m p l o y e e re ti re me nt be ne fi ts . T h e r e w e r e n o wr it te n c o m m u n i c a t i o n s t o th e U n i o no r to em pl oy ee s co nc er ni ng pa rt -t im e st at us as a re - ti re e. Li ke wi se , th er e w e r e n o ve rb al c o m m u - ni ca ti on s ‘t o e m p l o y e e s ge ne ra ll y o n th is su b- je ct . —¢ T h e s e c o n d wi tn es s: fo r th e C i t y .w a s : 5 M s . A n n . Ho wl et t, w h o re ti re d in : Ju ly -o f- 20 06 af - te r- tw en ty -e ig ht y e a r s as ’ a h e m p l o y e e . Sh e i s th e fo rm er H R Di re ct or fo r a lo ng n u m b e r of ye ar s. S h e ha nd le d. st af f- be ne fi ts .- Ms . H o w l e t t sa id sh e w a s on -t he ne go ti at io n t e a m . fo r :t he 20 05 -2 00 9. -c on tr ac t: '. ’ : 2 4 0 L A L I S h e re ca ll s- th e D e c e m b e r . 2 0 0 5 co nf er en ce re ga rd in g em pl oy ee be ne fi ts : S h e in tr od uc ed t w o sp ea ke rs , o n e o f w h i c h w a s , M s . . La ur i Si sk in d. Sh e, re ca ll s th er e b e i n g a q u e s t i o n a n d an sw er se ss io n. A s of th at ti me , n o pa rt -t im e ca re er ,e m p l o y e e s h a d r e t i r e d . .N i k k i B l a c k wa s. go in g. to .x et ir e in Ja nu ar y 20 06 .: Sh e ul ti - ma te ly pa id tw en ty -f iv e pe rc en t pl us t w e n t y do ll ar s pe r mo nt h: fo r he r. re ti re me nt . he al th be ne fi ts . Ac co rd in g- to Ms .. Ho wl et t, ‘t he re , w e r e n o l a n g u a g e - c h a n g e s ; in S e c t i o n 3 4 ; 1 B du ri ng th e s e c o n d se t o f ne go ti at io ns . « ., -. T h e t h i r d ‘w it ne ss : fo r’ th e C i t y w a s : M s ! L a u r i ‘S is ki nd ;, .a tw en ty -n in e: -y ea r: e m p l o y e e . an d As si st an t H R Di re ct or . Sh e ha nd le s re ti re - m e n t pl an ad mi ni st ra ti on a n d be ne fi ts . S h e re - ca ll s m e e t i n g w i t h th e. gr ie va nt pr io r: to :h er 'r e- ti re me nt a n d w e n t o v e r po ss ib le be ne fi ts in Se pt em be r of 20 07 . At 't ha t ti me , sh e in fo rm ed M s , M a n n i n g t h a t ‘ s h e w o u l d h a v e to p a y tw en ty -f iv e pe rc en t of ‘t he hé al th ‘b en ef it co st pl us . tw en ty ,: .d ol la rs .a s :s et ~f o r t h .i n Se ct io n 34 . B i o f th e: co nt ra ct . v e e c e m b e r ‘m ee ti ng ,i n. 2 0 0 5 . T h e , se ss io n, “T as te d ap pr ox im at ee ly on e. .a nd ne -h al f ho ur s :a nd th er e. wa s. a Q & A se ss io n fo ll ow in g, it ; Sh e. di d re vi ew :t he t a p e o f t h e m e e t i n g , bu t: d i d n o t te - ca ll ’ an y qu es ti on s -p os ed :‘ by : th e’ gr ie va nt ‘a t th at ti me : ‘M s. Si sk in d di d ac kn ow le dg e th at th e ta pe on ly co ve rs w h a t th e’ Ca me ra , he ar s a n d ‘s ee s, ‘ T h e “g ri éV an t. ”‘ co ul d h a v e a ed so me on ee l s e a qu es ti on oi t ‘ Ms .. Si sk in d al so ad mi tt ed th at sh e di dn ot no - ti fy th e U n i o n ,o f th e Ci ty . pr or at io no f , be n- ef it s. S i s k i n d sa id sh e di d. e n c o u r a g e e m p l o y ~ ee s to ’c on ta ct -h er .o n. sp éc if ic qu es ti on s: .r e- ga rd in g be ne fi ts at t h e - D e c e m b e r : 2 0 0 5 : m e e t - in g. W h e n a s k é d h o w ‘t hé p o l i c y w a s ‘d ev el - op ed , sh e’ in di ca te d th at th e ‘b en ef it ad mi ni s- tr at or s ‘d is cu ss ed th e’ si tu at io n a n d de ve l »p ed th e po li cy i n la te 2 0 0 5 . o t e Th ef i n a l wi tn es s- fo r th e. Ci ty ’w as : M n T h o - m a s Ma rs h, ‘t he Di re ct or of :‘ La bo r Re la ti on s f o r t h e la st ’ t w e n t y - t w o “ ye ar s. pr es en t inv l a b o r ne go ti at io ns ‘f or al l co nt ra ct s. H e w a ‘p re se nt f o r t h e ne go ti at io ns l e a d i n g to bo th co nt ra ct s wi th th is He in di at ed th at th e U n i o n W a s re pr es B e e r b o w e r in ‘b ot h, n e g te st if ie d th at bo th pa rt ie s ub mi tt ed pr op os al s du ri ng ne go ti at io ns : an d‘ ha d, th e: fu ll : op po rt u- ni ty of rd oi ng . so . A c c o r d i n g ‘t o. Ma rs h, th e A d - mi ni st ra ti ve . C i v i l S e r v i c e ( A C S ) : ‘p ro ce du re s B a p e a 2 a T U in th e fi rs t. co nt ra ct : - : r n ‘ -I n- re vi ew in g M s : Ma nn in g’ s* re co rd , Mr : Ma rs h’ st at ed ‘t ha t’ th e gr ie va nt wa s a ‘c ar ee r pa rt -t im e e m p l o y e e . A s . a n ac ti ve -p ar t- ti me c a - re er em pl oy ee , sh ep a i d ‘w en ty -f iv e pé rc en t' of he r he al th ca te . pr em it im s| be ca us e: sh ié wa s' 'a se ve nt y- fi ve pe rc en t. fu ll -t im ie ’ em pl oy ee : ' “ M r . Ma rs h’ r e c a l l e d Ar ti cl e- 34 b e i n g ‘p ro - po se d by ’t he U n i o n in Fe br ua ry o f 20 05 . ‘B at si ca ll y, th at pr op os al w a in te nd ed 't o it eo rp o" ra te th e st at us :q uo o f th er pa rt ie s at th at ti me : H e di d- no t re ca ll . a n y pr op os al s- or di sc us si on s re ga rd in g. pa rt -t im e; ca re er e m p l o y e e s b y : ci s th er -p ar ty .. . ~: w o a l k e l e a Re le va nt . Co nt ra ct ua l |L a n g u a g e bs ie . a AR TI CL E' S . 4 { M A N A G E M E N T « oa RI GH TS . A N D , . R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S 8. Ex ce pt a s ex pi es sl y: mo di fi ed :o r- re st ri ct ed by : a sp ec if ic pr ov is io n o f th is Ag re em en t, ‘a ll js ta ti v. , _ fo ry .a nd in he re nt . m a n a g e r i a l ri gh ts , pr er og at i eS , an d fu nc ti on s, ine d'a nd ves ted ex cl us me an s, ’ an d‘ fa ci li ti es “b y | w h i c h “o pe ra ti on s- ar e- co nd uc te d; to s e t th e st ar ti ng ‘a nd :q ui tt in g. :t im e: a n d t h e r i u m b e r o f ; h o u r s - a n d sh if ts to .b é w o r k e d , eq ui pm en t, -a nd :. ot he r; pr op - ne w, or im pr ov ed , ate na ch in er y, an d é t h e n u m b e r , lo ca ti on , s, di vi si on s, ‘a ri d al l’ is su e, am en d; an d re -' N e a l y U L O U M U I U C L Y _ gu ag e is -t he sa me .i n 20 04 -2 00 5: Ag re em en t, 'a nd 2 0 0 5 - 2 0 0 A g r e e m e n t ) , : AR TI CL E 3 4 2 0 0 4 , em pl oy ee s w h o 'r e- ;t ir e- an d- th ei r- el ig ib le sp ou se s, or : el ig ib le su rv iv s wi ll . be el ig ib le to re ce iv e, he al th in ; &i 'C om nm un it yB lu eP PO . Th e se le ct io n- of pr ov id er s is su bj ec t to "c ha ng e ‘a tt he so le : di sc re ti on 'o f th e; Git y.. ; ‘ ., ‘B ut Th e- ré ti re e. .p or ti on :o f th e po st -r et ir em en t } he al th :- in su ra nc e: pa ym en ts ha ll ‘b e Te n Do ll ar s 00 ) pe r m Twe nty Dol lar s($ 20, re ti re e- an d el ig ib le sp ou se . ti re e. an d/ or .c ov er ed ;s po us e: be - ve L i l y U L Q u U e U t e m pr io r to re ti re me nt . Th is be ne fi t is no t pa id to in di vi du al s w h o s e e m p l o y m e n t ‘t er mi na te d or wh or et ir ed pr io r to Ja nu ar y 1, 20 03 . FE. T h e Ci ty -p ai d he al th in su ra nc e sh al l te rm i- na te in th e ca se of a re ti re e an d a su rv iv in g ‘ sp ou se if th at in di vi du al as su me s e m p l o y m e n t el se wh er e an d th at em pl oy er -p ro vi de s he al th co v- er ag e to it s em pl oy ee s wh ic h do es ’ no t su bs ta n- ti al ly di ff er fr om th at of fe re d by t h e Pl an ; pr o- v i d e d th at s h o u l d th e in di vi du al lo se s u c h . c o v e r - _a ge fr om th e ot he r em pl oy er fo r an y re as on , in - cl ud in g vo lu nt ar y or in vo lu nt ar y se pa ra ti on of e m p l o y m e n t , u p o n p r o d u c t i o n o f p r o o f o f s u c h lo ss to th e Ci ty an d sa ti sf ac ti on of el ig ib il it y el se - w h e r e un de r th e Pl an , th e Ci ty ’s ob li ga ti on to pr ov id e he al th co ve ra ge un de r th e Pl an sh al l. re - c o m m e n c e im me di at el y u p o n sa ti sf ac to ry pr o- d u c t i o n o f s u c h pr oo f- of -l os s. G. T h e be ne fi ts of th is Se ct io n ar e no t ve st ed . T h e em pl oy ee sh al l b e el ig ib le fo r re ti re e he al th in su ra nc e co ve ra ge ac co rd in g to th e co nd it io ns in ef fe ct on th e da te th e em pl oy ee ’r et ir ed or on th e da te t h e em pl oy ee te rm in at ed ‘s er vi ce ‘w it h a ve st ed pe ns io n. El ig ib le em pl oy ee s w h o -t er mi -- na te se rv ic e wi th a ve st ed ‘p en si on wi ll be el ig ib le fo r re ti re e he al th in su ra nc e co ve ra ge w h e n th ey be gi n to re ce iv e th ei r pe ns io n. T h e he al th in su r- an ce p l a n s av ai la bl e to re ti re d em pl oy ee s. th ro ug h th e Ci ty sh al l be as de te rm in ed by th e Ci ty . Ex ce pt as ot he rw is e pr ov id ed i n th is Co ll ec ti ve ' Ba rg ai ni ng Ag re em en t, :p ar ti ci pa ti on in Ci ty -p ai d, - re ti re e he al th in su ra nc e sh al l be su bj ec t. to th e - co nd it io ns se t fo rt hi n. th e Co de -o f th e Ci ty : of , So ut hf ie ld in th e. C h a p t e r d e s i g n a t e d ‘ R e t i r e e He al th Ca re Be ne fi ts Pl an an d Tr us t. ” Se ct io n 34 :1 (B ) is th e sa me i n bo th A g r é e m e n t s . AR TI CL E XI I GR IE VA NC E AN D _. AR BI TR AT IO N PR OC ED UR ES ” 12 .3 Gr ie va nc e Pr oc ed ur e. -. : St ep 4( B) T h e p o w e r of th e ar bi tr at or st em s f r o m th is A g r e e m e n t a n d ; h e r or hi s fu nc ti on is to in te rp re t an d ap pl y th is Ag re em en t an d to pa ss up on al le ge d vi ol at io ns th er eo f. T h e ar bi tr at or , sh al l no t ha ve th e, po we rt o , ad d to , su bt ra ct fr om , or mo di fy an y of th e te rm so f th is Ag re em en t, no r ., Sh al l th e ar bi tr at or ha ve an y po we ro r au th or it y to “m ak e an y de ci si on wh ic h ‘s ha ll re qu ir e th e. co m- “M is si on of an ac t pr oh ib it ed by la w. or wh ic h vi o- . la te s th e t e r m s o f th is A g r e e m e n t . T h e de ci si on of . “t he ar bi tr at or sh al l b e fi na l a n d b i n d i n g u p o n al l ‘p ar ti es . T h e fe e of t h e A m e r i c a n Ar bi tr at io n A s - so ci at io n a n d th e fe es an d- ex pe ns es of th e ar bi - tr at or sh al l be sh ar ed eq ua ll y: by . th e U n i o n an d th e Ci ty ; ot he rw is e, e a c h p a r t y sh al l. be ar -i ts .o wn ar bi tr at io n e x p e n s e . ~~. -' 8" 0 a C o n t e n t i o n s of th e Pa rt ie s. A: Fo r' th e T P O A M - Th e Un io n. in th is ca se su bm it s th at t h e co n tr ac t la ng ua ge is cl ea r an d un am bi gu ou s. |] st at es th e re ti re es pe ns io n fo r he al th ca re is te do ll ar s fo r a si ng le or tw en ty do ll at s fo r ma rr ie d co up le . Th at la ng ua ge ‘w as es ta t li sh ed in th e fi rs t co nt ra ct be tw ee n th T P O A M a n d th é Ci ty . T h e la ng ua ge h a s re ma in ed th e sa me i n th e. su cc es so r ag re em en Ac co rd in g to th e Un io s, in bo th , ne go ti at io n th e pa rt ie s ha d am pl e op po rt un it y’ to ch an g th e l a n g u a g e or pr op os e. a’ ch an ge . N e i t h pa rt y ex er ci se d th is ri gh t. Al l of ‘t he wi tn es s: in th is ca se ag re ed th at ’t he re we re no ’ ot h: d o c u m e n t s o r po li ci es in t h e C i t y w h i c h c o u te rm an de d th e ex ac t co nt ra ct , la ng ua ge . TI Un io n w a s no t pr es en te d wi th a n y no ti ce , ¢ wr it te n or 'v er ba l fo rm , se tt in gf or th fi Ci ty po li cy ‘c on ce rm in g pa kt ti me ca re er e r pl oy ee re ti re me nt he al th be ne fi ts . . “N ot hi ng wa s sa id du ri ng “n eg ot i ti on s ‘T ar c D “t et ir es “C ar ee r. en pl oy e in g a di ff er en t' co st st ru m e ca re er re ti re es .T ft he re w y wi tn es se s we re un ab le to id en ti ex ac tl y w h o pr op os e “o r, or ig in at ed ‘t he ci sh ar in g of pa rt -t im e, em pl oy ee s of re ti re me W h e n Ni kk i Bl ac k re ti fe d in Ja nu ar y 20 06 , ap pe ar s th at ‘a un il at er al de ci si on w a s ma de Ci ty of fi ci al s to ch ar ge th e re ti re e. ap er ce nt : a m o u n t pl us th e co nt ra ct ua ll y’ st ip ul at ed ' do ll ar s or tw en ty do ll ar s. At th at ti me , Un io n le ad er sh ip w a s no t co ns ul te d or no ti f of th is de ci si on . T h e Un io n -m ai nt ai ns . t th er e is n o ‘ n e e d . fo r: in te rp re ta ti on of ph ra se s in Ar ti cl e 3 4 . 1 B , a s th e t e r m s a r e ql cl ea r. "T he Un io n‘ th er ef or e re qu es ts th at : sp ec if ic l a n g u a g e of ‘t hi s c a s e - s h o u l d g o v a n d ‘t ha t th e ar bi tr at or h a s a du ty to : en fo th e la hg ua ge ag re ed to by th e pa rt ie s: It qu es ts th at th e gr ie va nc e be su st ai ne d. B. Fo rt h e Ci ty :o fS ou th fi el d ~: ~" T h e ci ty ci te s’ th e la te Sc ho la r, Ar ch it Co x, - wh o: st at ed , “ w h e n ne go ti at in g a l a ag re em en t, th e pa rt ie s c a n n o t re du ce a l l o f ru le s g o v e r n i n g a c o n i m u n i t y li ke : an -i nc tr ia l pl an t to fi ft ee n o r ev en f i f t y p a g e s . ” L w i s e , ‘ a c c o r d i n g ‘t o- th e C i t y , - n o t e v e r y - p r a c be tw ee n th e- Ci ty an d t h e ’ T P O A M gr ou p: re du ce d to a co mp le te ca ta lo g or .c on tr ac t. In - st ea d, w h a t w e h a v e he re , a c c o r d i n g to th e Ci ty , is a fa ir pr ac ti ce ,. wh ic h do es no t am ou nt to a n un ju st e n r i c h m e n t to th e f o r m e r e m p l o y - ee s an d fu lf il ls th e Ci ty ’s ! mi ss io n a s be in g a n ev en -h an de d em pl oy er , _ o o T h e ‘C it y ci te s, sé ve ra l ia rb it ra ti on de ci si on s wh ic hi t be li ev es su pp or t lit s, ar gu me nt th at th e em pl oy er i s us ua ll y, co ns id er ed th e ha ve br oa d au th or it y to d e t e r m i n e l e v e l s o f be ne fi ts a n d ty pe so f. co ve ra ge .’ ; Ac co rd in g to th e’ Ci ty , a t fi rs t, th e Un io n’ s po si ti on s e e m s si mp le a n d “ u n c o m p l i c a t e d : Wh il e| ac kn ow le dg in g. th at th e gr ie va nt ,. Ms . M a n n i n g , wa s. a , de di at ed ’ e m p l o y e e ‘d ur in g h e r t e n u r e a t t h e C i t y , ‘t he f a c t is th at t h e C i t y ha s a du ty to se e th at al l of it s em pl oy ¢e s, b o t h pr es en t, pa st an d fu tu re , ar e tr ea te d ‘e ve n- ha nd ed ly . A s a re su lt , th er e is n o t a re as on ab le ex pe ct at io n ‘t ha t a re ti ve d| pa rt ti me , em pl oy ee w o u l d re ce iv e a’ re ti re e he al th an d’ 'i ns ir an ce be ne fi t eq ua lt o th a pl oy ee . M o r e o v e r , ex pe ct at io nt h a t a‘ re t le ss fo rt he ir ‘h ea lt h an ac ti ve em pl oy ee . Ac co rd in g t o . he , Cit y, to gr an t! re qu es t is to ’ ig no re t ual ¢ th at ne it he r si de ad dr és se d he al th in su ra nc e Is su e 1. Di d: t h e Ci ty :. of So ut hf ie ld : vi ol at e th e Co ll ec ti ve B a r g a i n i n g A g r e e m e n t - w h e n i t : t e - qu ir ed a pa rt -t im e. ca re er e m p l o y e e to pa y. th e. s a m e pe rc en ta ge :o f ‘h er h e a l t h in su ra nc e. pr ez m i u m du ri ng -h er re ti re me nt as w a s pa id :d ur - in g he r ac ti ve e m p l o y m e n t pl us :t we nt y do ll ar s: pe r m o n t h fo r a‘ ma rr ie d re ti re e an d el ig ib le : sp ou se ? S h a Di sc us si on a n d D e c i s i o n o y e 1 ‘T n th is ’ pa rt ic ul ar ca se ,. /A rt ic le 34 . en ti tl ed , Re ti re e He al th In su ra nc e, ” ha s be en th ef o - ca l po in t of th is di sp ut e. In pa rt ic ul ar , Ar ti cl e. 34 .1 B. is to b e in te rp re te d: o g -) S e m i n a l Fi re R e s c u e 1 0 4 L A 2 2 2 (S er 1, 19 94 ), m i n a 2 L é 2: (S er ge nt ; 19 94 ). M a s o n Ci ty : S c h o o l Di st ri ct ; 1 0 9 , L A . 1 1 2 5 ( H o h , 1 9 9 % : { i l y V L d u U L a n e t d : A s ha s: be en st at ed ma ny :t im es , pe rh ap s no fu nc ti on i n la bo r m a n a g e m e n t re la ti on s is m o r e im po rt an t fo r. an ar bi tr at or th an th at o f in te rp re ti ng a co ll ec ti ve b a r g a i n i n g a g r e e m e n t . M o s t . c a s e s in vo lv e ‘c on tr ac t in te rp re ta ti on . ‘ T f th e w o r d s ar e. pl ai n. a n d cl ea r, a n d c o n v e y a di st in ct id ea ;- th er e is .n o ne ed to . re so rt t o te ch ni ca l ru le s: of .i nt er pr et at io n. ” y o A co nt ra ct is n o t a m b i g u o u s ‘i f a n ar bi tr at or c a n d e t e r m i n e it s m e a n i n g f r o m th e ge ne ra l th e fa ct s th e La n- gu ag ei s co ns id er ed am bi gu ou s if pl au s bl e co nt en ti on s ca nb e ma de fo r co nf li ct in g in te r- pr et at io ns ? w e y e a -B ot h pa ro le ev id en ce , an d ev id en ce of pa st pr ac ti ce s ar e- av ai la bl e. as :a n a i d e in -t he in te r- pr et at io n of an am bi gu ou s co nt ra ct pr ov is io n. ale un de rl yi ng su ch y . a n t h e ‘f ac t th at ’ th e } by ! th éi r‘ cl ea r, wi it te n: ap re ém ei ts . “T he se ag re em en ts sh ou ld . no t, be ‘c ha ng ed .b y -o ra l ag re em en ts -o r co nt en ti on s. Tt al lo w. .a cl ea r ne w. co nt ra ct s an d, a g r e e m .e pa rt ie s: In P a n a Re fi ni ni g: Co mp an y, 47 L A 19 3# 9 6 6 ) th e‘ ar bi tr at or 's ta te d th is . pr in ci pl eq ui te ’ we ll . of a co nt ra ct wh ic ht he pa rt ie s ha ve wr it te n fo r th em se lv es . I t is a ge ne ra l pr op os it io n of la w th at wh er e th e te rm so f a wr it in g ar e pl ai n an d u n a m - bi gu ou s, th er e, no ro om . fo r. co ns tr uc ti on si nc e* Th is .c il yc qn ce ms , an.i nt er pr et : ea r’ ar id “u ne qu iv éc al ; an ar bi tf at dr ig en er al ly .. . er th ia ii ’t ha t ex pr es se d. A Ar bi tr at or -F re i no t ig no ré vc lé ar ‘c ut ‘l af ig ua ge ; si nc e ‘t o- do so wo ul d. u s u r p th e ro le : o f th e: -l ab or or ga ni za ti on a n d : em pl oy er . E v e n t h o u g h th e pa rt ie si to ‘a n a g r e e m e n t di sa gr ee a s ‘ it s: me an in ga ni at bi tr at or w h o fi nd st he la ng ua ge to .b u n a m b i g u o u s . wi ll en fo rc e th ei cl ea r' y ea ni ng . it né y ha s‘ st at ed ; “ A n ai bi tr at or 'c an ~ Ci ty of So ut nn ei a ti bl e of m o r e th an on e co ns tr uc ti on th at on e mu st co ns tr ue th e co nt ra ct in or de r to re ac h a pr op er co ns tr uc ti on . : In de al in g w i t h pa st pr ac ti ce s. of th e pa rt ie s, it is im po rt an t. to no te : th at a pr ac ti ce ,. to be bi nd in g, mu st be un eq ui vo ca l, cl ea rl y en un ci - at ed , a n d a c t e d u p o n as we ll as b e i n g re ad il y as ce rt ai na bl e o v e r a re as on ab le p e r i o d o f ti me .“ O o , Wh il e ac kn ow le dg in g th e pl ai n la ng ua ge of Ar ti cl e 3 4 . 1 B c o n c e r n i n g p a y m e n t of po st re - ti re me nt he al th in su ra nc e, th e Ci ty ma in ta in s th at si nc e th e pa rt ie s di d no t di sc us s p a y m e n t s to b e m a d e b y pa rt -t im e ca re er ‘e mp lo ye es , it h a d th e ri gh t to i m p o s e a fa ir ru le an d: pr ac - ti ce . H e n c e , it f o l l o w e d th e s a m e pe rc en ta ge of p a y m e n t . th at th e gr ie va nt h a d du ri ng he r ca re er as a n ac ti ve e m p l o y e e . T h a t pr ac ti ce do es no t am ou nt t o an un ju st en ri ch me nt t o ei - th er pa rt y to th is di sp ut e. . T h e di ff ic ul ty I ha ve w i t h th is as se rt io n is th e fa ct th at Ar ti cl e 34 .1 B~ is qu it e cl ea r. It st at es , ‘“ ‘t he re ti re e po rt io n of th e po st ‘r et ir e- re nt he al th in su ra nc e pa ym en t sh al l b e Le e tw en ty do ll ar s. ($ 20 .0 0) pe r. mo nt h fo r a ma r- ri ed re ti re e a n d el ig ib le . sp ou se .” T h e pl ai n m e a n i n g of th is l a n g u a g e is -c le ar .> U n d e r no r- m a l ru le s of in te rp re ta ti on , a co nt ra ct te rm :i s sa id to b e a m b i g u o u s if it is su sc ep ti bl e of _ M o r e th an on e me an in g, th at is ,. if “p la us ib le co nt en ti on s m a y be m a d e f o r co nf li ct in g in te r- pr et at io ns .” ® In th is ca se ,’ no su ch pl au si bl e co nt en ti on s ar e be in g m a d e . Th e: Ci ty ‘d oe s ci te th e ex am pl e ‘o f fo rm er em pl oy ee Ni kk i Bl ac k, w h o re ti re d in Ja nu ar y of 20 06 , ap - pr ox im at el y te n m o n t h s be fo re th e gr ie va nt re - ti re d. H o w e v e r , ‘t ha t on e’ e x a m p l e , ac co rd in g to th e ‘t es ti mo ny re ce iv ed , w a s no t k n o w n to ei th er th e U n i o n or th e gr ie va nt , a n d he nc e, do es no ts et ’a pr ec ed en t or cr ea te ’a pa st -p ra c- ti ce . | - * Wh at w e ha ve he re is th ep ar ti es ag re ci ng to th e cl ea r ex pr es s la ng ua ge of Ar ti cl e 34 .1 B re ga rd in g re ti re e he al th pr em iu ms . *A pp ar - ‘e nt ly , th e pa rt ie s di d no t di sc us s pa rt -t im e ca - 4 So ci al Se cu ri ty Ad mi ni st ra ti on , 16 L A 56 9 (M c- D o n a l d , 1 9 8 1 ) . . “ o o ” 3 Ci ty of Ta yl or , 84 L A 52 2 (M cD on al d, 19 85 ); E l k ou ri & El ko ur i, “ H o w Ar bi tr at io n W o r k s , ” 6t h Ed it io n, at P a g e 43 4. . : a . “6 An ms tr on g Ru bb er Co mp an y, 17 LA ’7 41 (G or de r, 19 52 ); Ci ty of St Pe te rs bu rg , Fl or id a, 11 5 L A 6 1 5 ( D e e m , 20 01 ); 'B a y Ci ty , ‘M ic hi ga n, ‘1 11 L A 1 1 2 4 (A ll en ,. 19 98 ): 5. 0 w e v e e re er re ti re es .’ H a d . th ey d o n e so , th ey m a y we ll ha ve co me -t o a di ff er en t: co nc lu si on an d se t fo rt h di ff er en t te rm s. O n th e ot he r ha nd , th ey m a y n o t h a v e d o n e so . Jt d o e s li tt le g o o d to sp ec ul at e’ a s ‘t o’ wh at th e ‘p ar ti es mi gh t 01 m i g h t no t h a v e do ne . T h e fa ct is th at s o m e ad - mi ni st ra to rs , re al iz in g th at th er e wa s a pe r: ce iv ed “g ap ” i n pa rt -t im e an d fu ll -t im er et ir ee be ne fi ts , cr ea te d a’ ru le th at th ey . be li ev ed wa t fa ir . Un fo rt un at el y, w h i l e it ma y. b e fa ir ,. it wa : co nt ra di ct or y to th e ex pr es s. la ng ua ge of ,t hc co nt ra ct in Se ct io n 34 .1 B. A s ’ a n ar bi tr at or , c a n n o t ig no re cl ea r c u t co nt ra ct ua l la ng ua g: a n d le gi sl at e n e w la ng ua ge , .s in ce t o do 's o, w o u l d b e us ur pi ng th e ro le of b o t h th e la bo or ga ni za ti on ‘a nd th e em pl oy er .® Th is ’ is ” pa t ti cu la rl y th e ca se si nc e th e pa rt ie s th em se ly es in Ar ti cl e 12 .3 of th e gr ie va nc e pr oc ed ur e, ex pr es sl y st at e th at “t he . ar bi tr at or ‘s ha ll ne ha ve th e’ po we r to: a d d to , su bt ra ct fr om , -o mo di fy an y of th e te rn s o f th is ag re em en t. . 7 [1 ] .A s a re su lt o f th is -a na ly si s, I- do .- th er e fo re co nc lu de th at th e Ci ty of So ut hf ie ld vi c la te d Ar ti cl e: 34 ,; 1B : in th is ‘: ca se in vo lv in g, th gr ie va nt , Ca th er in e M a n n i n g : Ar ti cl e 34 .1 : co nt in ue s in fo rc e- wn ti l J u n e 3 0 ; 2 0 0 9 . As -« th at da te , w h e n th e co nt ra ct ex pi re s, n e w co l tr ac t l a n g u a g e ‘ m a y we ll :b e: p r o p o s e d b y - o r or bo th -: pa rt ie s. .I n th e: in te ri m; -+ ho we ye ! t t pl ai n m e a n i n g of Ar ti cl e -3 4. 1B i s co nt ro ll in ; A W A R D . Po O R Me _ 1, T h e gr ie va nc ei s su st ai ne d. A vi ol at io n : Ar ti cl e 3 4 . 1 B h a s b e e n d e m o n s t r a t e d . 2. Th e Ci ty of So ut hf ie ld is th er ef or e- c d e r e d to fo ll ow th e l a n g u a g e of Ar ti cl e 34 .1 in ch ar gi ng th e gr ie va nt , Ca th er in e M a n n i n th e re ti re e po rt io n of th e po st re ti re me he al th in su ra nc e p a y m e n t a t a ra te of ‘“ tw er do ll ar s ($ 20 . 00 ) p e r m o n t h f o r a m a r r i e d 1 ti re e a n d el ig ib le s p o u s e . ” c o _3 , A n y m o n e t a r y am ou nt s pa id by t h e g r i e ot ov er an d ab ov e th at ra te pe r mo nt h ar e b e re tu rn ed to th e gr ie va nt as s o o n as re as c ab ly po ss ib le , b u t n o la te r th an th ir ty G da ys fo ll ow in g re ce ip t of th is de ci si on “a aw ar d. , ‘ 7 Si nc e th er e a r e on ly 6 pa rt -t im e, ca re er . e m p l o y ye rs us 6 5 0 fu ll -t im e e m p l o y e e s , ac co rd in g to ‘V ak C r u m p , t h i s is un de rs ta nd ab le . t t a 3 Cl ea n Ov er al l Su pp ly , 47 L A 27 2 (W it ne y, 19 ¢ Ci ty o f Ba in br id ge Is la nd , WA , 11 5 L A 74 7 (L i 20 01 ); Se e al so ca se s co ll ec te d in El ko ur i & El ko “ H o w Ar bi tr at io n W o r k s , ” 6t h Ed it io n, at p a g e 4 3 6 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I am a citizen of the United States of America and am employedin the County of Sacramento, State of California. I am over the age of eighteen years old and not a party to the within action. Mybusinessaddress is 515 12" Street, Sacramento California 95814. On May 17, 2013, I served the within Appellant’s Motion For Judicial Notice In Support Of Reply Brief; Memorandum of Points And Authorities In Support Thereof; Declaration of Stephen E Goldberg In Support Thereof; Proposed Order in Paratransit, Inc. v. Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (Craig Medeiros), California Supreme Court Case Number 8204221 [Third Appellate Dist. Ct. of Appeal Case No. C063863; Sacramento County Sup. Ct. Case No. 34-2009-80000249-CU-Wm-GDS]byplacing a true copy enclosed in a sealed envelope, addressed as follows: Laura C. McHugh andAlex K. Levine Rediger McHugh & Owensby, LLP. 555 Capitol Mall, Suite 1240 Sacramento CA 95814 Michael Hammang, Deputy Attorney General Office of the Attorney General 1300 I Street, Suite 125 Sacramento CA 95814 Honorable Timothy M.Frawley Sacramento Superior Court 720 Ninth Street, Department 29 Sacramento CA 95814 Third Appellate District Court of Appeal 914 Capitol Mall, 4" Floor Sacramento CA 95814 ‘ I declare under sCoalty of perjury underthe lawsofthe State of California that the foregoing is Wrthis 17" day of May 2013, at Sacramento California Alexa ra ~
