City of Grand Rapids v. Grand Rapids Lodge No 97, Fraternal Order of Police

(to reverse). The questions presented are: (i) whether a collective-bargaining agreement providing for arbitration as the final step in the grievance procedure may validly provide that the grievance proceedings terminate if an employee claiming to be aggrieved by an employer’s breach of the collective-bargaining agreement submits the subject matter of the grievance to adjudication in a court of law, and (ii) whether the instant agreement so provides.

We answer both questions in the affirmative.

I

As with any other mandatory subject of collective bargaining, the employer and the union have a…