Originally from Dispute Resolution Journal

The labor relations community has long been divided over the degree of court intervention necessary to protect the arbitral process. Specifically, this article examines the courts' involvement when a grievant is denied an arbitral remedy on grounds of procedural nonarbitrability, but subsequently prevails on the merits in court.

Focusing on the Supreme Court's reasoning in Bowen v. U.S. Postal Service, the authors discuss possible paths of court decisions on procedural arbitrability and the potential consequences to parties and arbitrators. The authors advise participants to be aware of how their handling of grievances may affect their liability for back pay assessed by the courts.