Arbitrator’s Mistake Justifies Reversal in AT&T, Union Dispute

An arbitrator had the power to vacate a grievance award in favor of the Communications Workers of America and issue a modified opinion siding with an AT&T subsidiary after realizing he’d made a mistake in reaching his initial conclusion, the Fifth Circuit ruled Friday.

The arbitrator’s determination that his earlier error should be corrected is a reasonable interpretation of the collective bargaining agreement, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit said, affirming the district court’s decision to uphold the second award.

The arbitration centered on CWA’s grievance against Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. and its parent company, AT&T Services ...