Printing Service Co. v. Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 508 of Council 3

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
File Name: 12a0830n.06

No. 11-3288

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT FILED
Aug 02, 2012
PRINTING SERVICE COMPANY, LEONARD GREEN, Clerk

Plaintiff-Appellee, On Appeal from the United
States District Court for the
v. Southern District of Ohio

GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE
OF THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
TEAMSTERS, LOCAL 508 OF DISTRICT
COUNCIL 3,

Defendant-Appellant.

/

Before: GUY and DONALD, Circuit Judges; O’MEARA, District Judge.*

RALPH B. GUY, JR., Circuit Judge. In this appeal, a labor union challenges the

district court’s decision to vacate an arbitration award. The arbitrator found for the union,

determining that the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the union and plaintiff

applied to the purchase and use of a digital printer by plaintiff’s related entity, a non-union

shop. Because we find that the district court erroneously found the matter was not subject

to arbitration, we reverse.

*
The Honorable John Corbett O’Meara, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of
Michigan, sitting by designation.
No. 11-3288 2

I.

Plaintiff, Printing Service Company (“Printing Service”), is a lithographic printing

company with a printing plant in Springboro, Ohio. The owners of Printing Service also own

several additional affiliated companies. These include Concept Imaging (“Concept”), which

they purchased in 1995, and InnoMark, which is described as the “corporate umbrella” over

the several related entities. In 2001, both Printing Service’s and Concept’s operations were

moved to separate spaces within one building in Springboro, which is owned by the owners

of the corporations.

While Concept has had some digital printing capacity for at least a decade, Concept’s

business has always primarily been in “prepress” work, a shorthand term for preparation

work, such as proofing plates, for lithographic presses. Work for Printing Service comprises

a large portion of Concept’s business.

Certain of Printing Service’s employees at its Springboro plant are represented by

defendant, Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of

Teamsters (“union”). Printing Service and the union are long-term signatories to a series of

CBAs, which organize two groups of Printing Service employees: the “litho unit,” at issue

here, and bindery employees, not involved in this dispute. A provision in the CBA addresses

the mechanism for agreeing upon wages and conditions of work in the event of Printing

Service’s installation of new or improved machines or processes. Concept, a non-union

shop, is expressly excluded from coverage by the CBA, as are InnoMark and other specified

entities under the same corporate umbrella.
No. 11-3288 3

In 2007 and 2008, Concept purchased and installed new, significant pieces of digital

printing equipment with large commercial printing capabilities. The instant dispute arose

after the 2008 purchase of a Kodak NexPress. The NexPress has the capacity to produce

vastly greater amounts of printed material than digital printers previously operated by

Concept. Concept operated the NexPress using its non-unionized employees. The grievance

that initiated this dispute was filed by a union shop steward and Printing Service employee.

He asserted that the “newly acquired digital press” (i.e. the NexPress machine) was a

“violation of but not limited to article 3 of the CBA.” 1

Printing Service denied the grievance, stating that the piece of equipment was “simply

a very large copier.” The denial further asserted that the union did not have jurisdiction over

Concept’s equipment for the reason that it was neither operated by bargaining unit members

nor covered by the CBA.

The grievance then proceeded to arbitration. Arbitrator Mollie Bowens was mutually

selected by the parties. The parties provided briefing before and after a hearing. The

arbitrator ruled in favor of the union, finding that the dispute was arbitrable and that the

NexPress work assignment violated the CBA. In accordance with that finding, the arbitrator

upheld the grievance filed by the union and found the NexPress work was the domain of

union employees.

Printing Service filed this action in federal district court, seeking vacation of the

arbitrator’s award. The district court determined that the arbitrator, in finding Concept to be

1
The pertinent provisions of Article 3, entitled “Jurisdiction,” are set forth below. Article 3 describes
which Printing Service employees, by function, are covered under the CBA.
No. 11-3288 4

constrained by a CBA from which it was expressly excluded, exceeded the scope of

arbitrable issues. The district court granted Printing Service’s motion for summary judgment

and vacated the arbitration award. This appeal followed.

II.

This lawsuit was brought under Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act,

29 U.S.C. § 185. Section 301(a) provides that lawsuits alleging violations of contracts

between unions and employers may be brought in United States district courts having

jurisdiction over the parties. 29 U.S.C. § 185(a).

When a CBA provides for arbitration of a dispute, and a subsequent lawsuit seeks

judicial review of the arbitrator’s award, the scope of review is very limited. Major League

Baseball Players Ass’n v. Garvey, 532 U.S. 504, 509 (2001). As the district court noted,

vacation of an arbitrator’s award may not be based on a disagreement with the arbitrator’s

construction of a contract or determination that the arbitrator erred in resolving the merits of

the dispute. United Paperworkers Int’l Union v. Misco, Inc., 484 U.S. 29, 39 (1987).

In 2007, our circuit heightened the deference to be applied to arbitral decisions. As

described in Michigan Family Resources, Inc. v. Service Employees International Union

Local 517M, 475 F.3d 746 (6th Cir. 2007) (en banc), we now limit our review to whether the

award constituted a “procedural aberration:”

Did the arbitrator act “outside his authority” by resolving a dispute not
committed to arbitration? Did the arbitrator commit fraud, have a conflict of
interest or otherwise act dishonestly in issuing the award? And in resolving
any legal or factual disputes in the case, was the arbitrator “arguably
construing or applying the contract?”
No. 11-3288 5

Id. at 753. Though this increased deference means relatively few arbitral awards are

disturbed, if the terms of a CBA are ignored, vacation of the award is the appropriate remedy.

See Totes Isotoner Corp. v. Int’l Chem. Workers Union Council/UFCW Local 664C, 532

F.3d 405, 412 (6th Cir. 2008).

Where, as here, “the parties ‘clearly and unmistakably’ submit the issue [of

arbitrability] to the arbitrator ‘without reservation,’ then the parties have waived their right

to have a court make the decision.” Cleveland Elec. Illuminating Co. v. Util. Workers Union

of Am., 440 F.3d 809, 813 (6th Cir. 2006) (citations omitted). We accord deference to the

arbitrator’s determination on that issue, as we do a decision on the merits; the decision may

not be disturbed absent a finding that it failed to “‘draw its essence from the collective

bargaining agreement.’” Id. at 814 (citing Vic Wertz Distrib. Co. v. Teamsters Local 1038,

898 F.2d 1136, 1140 (6th Cir. 1990) (quoting Eberhard Foods, Inc. v. Handy, 868 F.2d 890,

891 (6th Cir. 1989)).

When we review the determination of a district court on this issue, our review is

conducted de novo. See Equitable Res., Inc. v. United Steel Workers Int’l Union, 621 F.3d

538, 544-45 (6th Cir. 2010). That review focuses “‘on the arbitrator’s analysis, not that of

the district court.’” Titan Tire Corp. of Bryan v. United Steelworkers of Am., Local 890L,

656 F.3d 368, 371 (6th Cir. 2011) (quoting Truck Drivers Local No. 164 v. Allied Waste Sys.,

Inc., 512 F.3d 211, 216 (6th Cir. 2008)).

The pertinent provisions of the CBA in place at the time of this dispute, effective

January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2011, are as follows:
No. 11-3288 6

ARTICLE 1: ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT

1.1 Both parties agree that their common objective is the mutual welfare of
the Concern and its employees. In the interest of sound collective bargaining
and the promotion of industrial peace they will at all times abide by the terms
of this agreement and observe the spirit of its intent.

1.2 It is hereby agreed by and between the Printing Service Company,
Dayton, Ohio hereinafter know [sic] as the “Company” and the Graphic
Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Local 508-M of District Council 3 hereinafter known as the Union, as follows:

ARTICLE 2: RECOGNITION

2.1 The Company recognizes Graphic Communications Conference of the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 508-M of District Council 3 as
the exclusive representative for the purposes of collective bargaining in respect
to rates of pay, hours of employment, and other conditions of employment for
all production employees within the geographic jurisdiction of the Union,
whose rates of pay are agreed upon in a minimum scale attached to this
contract; provided, however, that for the purposes of this provision the
geographical jurisdiction hereinbefore referred to of the Union shall be defined
as an area equal to the entire State of Ohio. The provisions of this Recognition
Clause and all other provisions of this agreement shall not apply or cover
Grafcor Inc., Concept Imaging and Prestige Display and Packaging; PakMark;
GroMark; and, Innomark

A. All employees, regardless of title, performing
production work shall be considered members of the Bargaining
Unit and shall be covered by this Agreement except as provided
in (B) below. . . .

ARTICLE 3: JURISDICTION

3.1 All employees performing production work, processes and operations
directly associated or related to lithography, offset (including wet or dry) and
photoengraving including any technological or other change, evolution from
or substitution for any production work, process or operation now or hereafter
utilized in any way of the methods described and in conjunction with the New
Machines or Processes clause, and whose job classification and rates of pay are
set forth in the wage scales appended hereto, as may be amended from time to
time shall be covered by the terms of this contract. Nothing herein shall be
No. 11-3288 7

construed as adding to, modifying or detracting from recognition, Article 2 of
this contract. . . .

ARTICLE 16: NEW MACHINES OR PROCESSES

16.1 In the event of the installation of new or improved machines or
processes as covered in the Jurisdiction Article of this contract for production
work, such machines or processes must be operated by qualified personnel
under this contract and under a scale of wages and conditions of work agreed
upon by a joint committee of four (4) members each party hereto choosing and
appointing two (2) members thereof. The wages whenever finally adopted
shall be retroactive to the date of beginning of operation of such equipment.

16.2 The Company shall give at least sixty (60) days’ [sic] notice to the
Union when purchasing new press equipment covered by the Jurisdictional
requirements of the within contract before the permanent installation of such
new equipment. Upon request of the Union, the Company shall meet promptly
with the Union for consideration of operation of such equipment. Upon
compliance with the foregoing by the employer, production on such new
equipment shall not be interfered with.

16.3 In the event the Company fails to give such notice, the new equipment
shall not be operated until the Company gives notice. This provision shall only
apply to new equipment which would be covered by this agreement pursuant
to the terms of Article 3.

ARTICLE 26: GRIEVANCE AND ARBITRATION

26.1 Any dispute, difference or disagreement between the Company and any
employee, involving the meaning and application or interpretation of any
provision of this Agreement shall constitute a grievance and must be taken up
by the Union or any employee as follows: . . .

26.4 Only disputes involving the interpretation or application of this
Agreement may be arbitrated. The arbitrator cannot modify, detract from, or
alter the provisions of this Agreement, and the decision of the arbitrator shall
be final and binding upon the parties. . . .

The arbitrator, in determining that the grievance was arbitrable, found it to be a valid

challenge to Articles 3 and 16 of the CBA. She then found that Concept, Printing Services,
No. 11-3288 8

and other related entities were all under the same “corporate umbrella” or parent company

of InnoMark. As a result, the arbitrator concluded that

this is a “corporate family” and not, as the Company would have her believe,
a group of independent companies. In making decisions about where to install
“new or [technologically] improved [printing] machines”, the owners are
constrained by the Agreement that it [sic] negotiated with the Union at the
Printing Services [sic] Company.

She next determined that the evidence showed there was a quid pro quo between the Union

and Printing Service—that Concept and other affiliated companies would be excluded from

the CBA on the basis that all printing was to be done by union members at Printing Service.2

Because, the arbitrator found, the NexPress produced such large-volume printing work, it (1)

represented a technological advance contemplated by the CBA; (2) was not the kind of

digital printing Concept had ever engaged in before; and (3) was printing work reserved

exclusively for union members under the agreement. She concluded that the grievance was

arbitrable and sustained it on the merits for the reason that “[t]he owners’ decision to operate

the Kodak NexPress with non-union employees at Concept Imaging violates Articles 3 and

16 of the Agreement.”

The district court, on the other hand, did not get past the question of whether the

grievance was arbitrable. Finding that Article 2 was plain and unambiguous in its exclusion

of Concept from the CBA, the district court determined that the arbitrator improperly

2
The arbitrator’s opinion’s background section describes testimony of numerous witnesses
concerning a “deal” reached in negotiating the CBA back in 1998, when the explicit exclusion of Concept
was first included. She noted testimony stating that in 1998 Concept was “strictly a prepress operation,”
doing no printing of its own, and assurances given on behalf of the union that it would not attempt to
organize the employees of Concept. The arbitrator cited the corresponding testimony of a Printing Service
representative assuring the union that Concept “would never do any printing.”
No. 11-3288 9

considered evidence outside of the agreement in reaching her conclusion. On appeal, the

union asserts that the dispute is arbitrable and that it is “unquestionable” that the arbitrator

was interpreting the labor agreement at issue. Quoting Misco, 484 U.S. at 38, the union

argues that because the arbitrator was “arguably construing . . . the contract and acting within

the scope of [her] authority,” even if the district court believed she made errors in

interpretation, vacation of the award was not permitted.

The exclusion of Concept and other affiliated companies is set forth in CBA Article

2, Section 2.1, supra. While the arbitrator cited this provision, she also considered evidence

presented at the hearing in determining that a “quid pro quo” agreement existed between the

parties to the CBA. The arbitrator described this as an agreement by the union, beginning

in 1998, “to not organize prepress work at Concept Imaging, in exchange for a work

preservation clause at the Company.” Noting that “[t]he Union has kept its part of this

bargain,” the arbitrator found the dispute to be arbitrable, and stated “[t]o rule otherwise

would render the language contained in Articles 3 and 16 of the Agreement to be

meaningless.”

Although we do not agree with all of the analysis employed by the arbitrator, we agree

with her conclusion that this matter was arbitrable. The error by the district court was to read

too broadly the language in the recognition clause that “this agreement shall not apply or

cover . . . Concept Imaging.” This language obviously would not grant to Concept any of the

benefits of the CBA nor access to its grievance procedures, nor would Concept be subject

to the “nuts and bolts” provisions that governed the day-to-day relationship between Concept
No. 11-3288 10

and Printing Service. That does not mean, however, that something that occurred at Concept

could not have an impact on the CBA between Printing Service and the union. For example,

if the decision were made to transfer all of the work being performed by Printing Service to

Concept, no serious argument could be advanced that such action would not trigger the

provisions of the CBA. It is not what went on at Concept that is the trigger point but rather

what did not occur at Printing Service.

The key decision by the arbitrator was that the work in question was Printing Service’s

work. That decision is non-reviewable as it is the type of question left to the purview of

arbitrators under a CBA of this nature. The fact that Concept was not covered by this CBA

does not dictate a different result.

REVERSED and REMANDED with instructions to reinstate the award of the

arbitrator.