October Term 2008 · Docket 07-581
Can a union force workers to use arbitration for discrimination claims?
Workers sue for age discrimination. The union says a contract clause requires arbitration. The workers say the union cannot waive their legal rights.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
The employer's lawyer argued the Second Circuit's judgment should stand.
The workers' lawyer argued the union cannot barter away fundamental rights.
Justice Souter noted the Court would decide the specific case, not a general question.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a collective bargaining agreement can force individual workers to resolve discrimination claims through private arbitration instead of court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 1, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-23
What each side wants
The employer wants the court to enforce the arbitration clause in the union contract.
The workers want the court to allow them to sue in public court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-19
What each side says
The employer argues the union has exclusive control over worker grievances.
The workers argue their right to a discrimination-free workplace cannot be bargained away.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-19
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if the issue relates to the Second Circuit's resolution.
Justice Ginsburg asked where the contract mentions individual succession to union arrangements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether unions can strip workers of their right to sue for discrimination. It affects the balance of power in workplace grievance processes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-19
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-17
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-19
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.