Polk County Secondary Roads v. Iowa Civil Rights Commission

ANDREASEN, Justice.

This case involves a collective bargaining agreement which prohibits discrimination and includes an election of remedies provision. The fundamental question is whether the arbitration of civil rights complaints conflicts with Iowa civil rights law.

I. Background.

In 1984, Kenneth Hill, Jr., a black male, was fired from his job with Polk County for allegedly stealing some county-owned gravel for private use by a coworker. The coworker, who was white and who also participated in the theft, was also fired. Hill believed his conduct was less serious than that of his coworker who…