CSXT prevails before Sixth Circuit in challenge to arbitration awards

Client(s) CSX Corporation

Jones Day client CSX Transportation, Inc. ("CSXT") obtained an appellate victory in a suit seeking to overturn a series of ten labor arbitration awards. The employees at issue and their union, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Transportation Division, claimed that the arbitrator exceeded her authority by not even arguably correctly applying the parties’ collective bargaining agreement ("CBA"). CSXT, however, argued that the arbitrator unquestionably interpreted and applied the CBA in reaching her decision, which was all that was required for the awards to be upheld under the Railway Labor Act. District Judge Christopher Boyko agreed with CSXT, granting CSXT's motion for summary judgment and upholding the arbitration awards in favor of CSXT. On appeal, the Sixth Circuit affirmed. Rejecting the appellants' various contentions that the arbitrator ignored purported plain language in the CBA, the court held that the arbitrator was clearly construing the CBA in reaching her decision and therefore upheld the awards.

International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Workers Transportation Division, et al. v. CSX Transportation, Inc., No. 1-16-cv-02554 (N.D. Ohio); No. 18-03323 (6th Cir.)