The Wright decision

Abstract

This article reviews a Supreme Court's labor and employment law decision concerning arbitration. In the case in chief, Wright v. Universal Maritime Services, the Court considered a general arbitration clause featured in a collective bargaining agreement. The Court refused to apply a presumption of arbitrability to an employee's disability claim reasoning that absent clear language including this substantive legal area that it should not be read into the parties' agreement. The author notes the significance of this case for bargaining units and makes recommendations for businesses and union representatives.