Fashion Institute of Technology v. Union of College Employees of Fashion Institute of Technology, Local 3457, American Federation of Teachers

This case involved a dispute between the Fashion Institute of Technology and a teachers' union over a tenure decision. The school decided to discontinue a teacher's tenure, essentially ending their job security and employment. The teacher's union challenged this decision through arbitration, which is a process where a neutral third party resolves workplace disputes outside of court. An arbitrator ruled that the school had to reconsider its decision to end the teacher's tenure. The Fashion Institute didn't like this outcome and asked the court to throw out the arbitrator's decision. However, both the lower court and the appeals court refused to overturn the arbitration award, finding that the arbitrator had acted properly and within their authority. This case matters for workers because it shows that arbitration can be an effective way to challenge employer decisions, even significant ones like tenure termination. When employers try to overturn arbitration decisions they don't like, courts will generally uphold those decisions as long as the arbitrator followed proper procedures and stayed within their authority. This gives workers confidence that arbitration processes can provide real protection against unfair employment actions.