Arbitrator Did Not Exceed Powers in Interpreting Collective Bargaining Agreement, N.J. Federal Judge Rules

TRENTON, N.J. — An arbitrator did not exceed his power in interpreting the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between a union and a contractor, a New Jersey federal judge has ruled, noting that where a contractual ambiguity exists, an arbitrator may interpret the ambiguous phrase.

On June 19, Judge Faith S. Hochberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey confirmed an arbitration award issued in favor of the contractor, explaining that the arbitrator was not required to explain his reasons for the award.

In 2012, Temco Service Industries Inc. hired members of Teamsters Local …