Labor & Employment Arbitration in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition

Labor and Employment Arbitration in a Nutshell (Fourth Edition, West Academic, 2020)

Co-authored by Dennis R. Nolan and Richard A. Bales, Labor and Employment Arbitration in a Nutshell provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of arbitration as the principal means of resolving workplace disputes in the United States. The book traces the historical development of labor arbitration, once nearly synonymous with workplace dispute resolution, and explains how employment arbitration emerged as a significant practice following the Supreme Court’s decision in Gilmer v. Interstate/Johnson Lane Corp. It offers a clear introduction to both systems, highlighting their similarities, differences, and evolving roles in the contemporary workplace.

Part I covers labor arbitration, including grievance and interest arbitration, arbitration procedure, contract interpretation, the role of arbitrators and advocates, judicial review, and the relationship between arbitration, the NLRB, and the courts. It also addresses substantive topics such as just cause discipline, management rights, seniority, subcontracting, and workplace safety. Part II examines employment arbitration, focusing on statutory rights, enforcement of arbitration agreements, issues of fairness and due process, and the special procedural concerns raised in individual employment disputes. The text incorporates developments such as the expansion of mandatory arbitration, the growth of online hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ethical standards for arbitrators.

The Fourth Edition integrates contemporary controversies, including Supreme Court decisions affecting arbitration of discrimination and sexual harassment claims, the rise of gig economy disputes, executive orders limiting federal sector bargaining, and public debates over the role of police unions. It balances accessibility with detail, making it useful both as an introduction for students and as a handy reference for practitioners and scholars. By combining doctrinal analysis with practical guidance, the book remains a leading short-format resource on workplace arbitration law and practice.