Case: Health & Welfare Benefits/Arbitration (2d Cir.)

Pilots’ unions must arbitrate Atlas Air Inc. and Southern Air Inc. grievances stemming from the air cargo carriers’ 2016 merger, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held. The Teamsters unions initially refused to negotiate a new joint collective-bargaining agreement under terms of the merger and existing collective-bargaining agreements, prompting the carriers to file grievances with their respective boards of adjustment. The pilots’ unions opposed arbitration in favor of going before the National Mediation Board. These are arbitrable disputes that don’t raise a representation dispute and are properly decided by the companies’ respective boards of adjustment, the court said. ...