Alcan Packaging Co. v. Graphic Communication Conference

COLLOTON, Circuit Judge.

Teamsters Local Unions 727-S and 77-P (“the Unions”) appeal from the district court’s order vacating an arbitrator’s award of severance pay. Because the arbitrator was at least arguably construing or applying the collective bargaining agreement, a federal court must defer to the arbitrator’s interpretation, and we therefore reverse.

I

In 2009, Rio Tinto PLC agreed to sell to Bemis Company, Inc., three packaging plants operated by Rio Tinto’s subsidiary, Alcan Packaging Company. The sale closed on March 1, 2010. The Unions represent the workers at the plants and were…