Generally Arbitration Agreements Are Enforceable When faced with the question of whether or not to enforce an agreement to arbitrate, American courts routinely uphold the vast majority of arbitration clauses.
California law permits employers not to hire you if you refuse to sign an arbitration agreement. An arbitration agreement is where you waive your right to sue in the event of a dispute.
To be “void” the arbitration agreement must be intrinsically defective ing to the usual rules of contract law, including when it is undermined by fraud, undue influence, unconscionability, duress, mistake or misrepresentation, expressly noting that this would be rare.
The common experience: unions seem to run about a 50-50 chance of winning discharge and discipline cases, but a much lower percentage of cases involving contract language.
Error # 1: Ignoring a clause in the arbitration agreement delegating enforceability determinations to the arbitrator, and the individual asking the court to throw out the arbitration requirement. This sets the consumer or worker up to lose a winnable challenge as the court may just rule it will be up to the arbitrator.
(1) A court of this state having jurisdiction over the controversy and the parties may enforce an agreement to arbitrate.
The parties to labor arbitration usually agree to a provision in their collective bargaining agreement (CBA) stating that the arbitrator's decision will be final and binding. Arbitration is typically the last step for resolving a labor and employment law dispute that was first raised through the grievance procedure.
An agreement contained in a record to submit to arbitration any existing or subsequent controversy arising between the parties to the agreement is valid, enforceable, and irrevocable except upon a ground that exists at law or in equity for the revocation of a contract.
Always get straight to the merits without berating the other side or whining about how badly it has treated you. Another threat to your credibility is the “kitchen sink” arbitration demand or a response that includes numerous claims or defenses that have little chance of succeeding.