Trusted Labor Arbitrator & Employment Dispute Specialist serving Michigan, Georgia, Illinois and Nationwide

Ludington News and UFCW/Drug Employers Pension Fund, 9 EBC 1913; 1988 WL 1591408; 111 LRP 3971 (Cornelius Arb, 1988); also posted here. This was a case of first impression under the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1980, decided by arbitrator E Frank Cornelius, PhD, JD (Website: arbitrator.org). When the Federal Circuits split, the Supreme Court settled the issue in Bay Area Laundry and Dry Cleaning Pension Trust Fund v Ferbar Corp, 522 US 192 (1997), precisely as

The published opinions are posted HERE, and are easily accessible from the arbitrator's website arbitrator.org under the OPINIONS tab. The list of citations may be incomplete. The author would appreciate learning of additional citations. The following abbreviations are used for arbitration reporters and databases: ARB—Labor Arbitration Awards, Commerce Clearing House, Wolters Kluwer BL—Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg BNA BNA—Bureau of National Affairs, Bloomberg BNA EBC—Employee

Out of Jail & Out of Job? International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local Lodge No. 1349, and Bard Manufacturing Company AI Summary of Opinion of Arbitrator E FRANK CORNELIUS, PhD, JD — July 7, 1988 Background The Company manufactures air-conditioning and heating equipment at its Bryan, Ohio plant. Grievant was employed there as an air-conditioner assembler and had been employed since 1978. He was a member of the Union, which represented the Company's pro

NEW CITATIONS Two of arbitrator E Frank Cornelius’ recent opinions have been published: (I) AFGE Local 1629 and VA Battle Creek Medical Center, 2026 WL 2428385, 126 LRP 24614 (Cornelius Arb 2026). The arbitrator's slip opinion can be accessed by clicking here. (II) AFGE Local 85 and VA Financial Services Center, 2026 WL 2428386, 126 LRP 25695 (Cornelius Arb 2026). The arbitrator's slip opinion can be accessed by clicking here. The first of these (I) is the subject of the a

The authority of arbitrators to issue preliminary injunctions plays a crucial role in resolving labor disputes efficiently. In a recent case involving AFGE Local 1629 and the VA Medical Center in Battle Creek, Michigan, Arbitrator E Frank Cornelius, PhD, JD, demonstrated the importance of this power. After a videoconference hearing, he issued a preliminary injunction restoring office space and equipment to the Union, a decision challenged by the Agency before the Federal Labo

Case: AFGE Local 1658 and Army Tank-Automotive Command Arbitrator: E Frank Cornelius, PhD, JD, Website: arbitrator.org, full text accessible from OPINIONS icon on website Email: frankcornelius@alum.MIT.edu Decision Date: September 6, 2011 Citations: 11-2 ARB ¶ 5361, 2011 WL 7637774, 111 LRP 61232 US Soldiers in an Army Tank The Grievance The case involved a grievance filed by American Federation of Government Employees Local 1658 against U.S. Army Tank Command concerning a f

Case: IBEW Local No. 193 vs. City of Springfield Arbitrator: E Frank Cornelius, PhD, JD, Website: arbitrator.org, Email: frankcornelius@alum.MIT.edu Decision Date: January 13, 2026 Citations: 2026 BNA LA 3, 26-1 ARB ¶ 8871, 2026 WL 357475 Electrical Lineman at Work Background The dispute arose after the City awarded a Permanent Relief Troubleman position to an employee selected by management (the “Appointee”). The Union filed a grievance on behalf of another employee (the “Gr

At least not in Illinois, because that state has what is commonly known as a quota law. It prohibits a municipality, for the purposes of evaluating an officer's job performance, of comparing the number of tickets that they write, to the number of tickets written by other police officers with similar jobs. Specifically, Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/11-1-12 provides: Quotas prohibited. A municipality may not require a police officer to issue a specific number of citat

A hand signing a document titled "Last Chance Agreement," symbolizing a critical opportunity for resolution. AFGE Local 1770 and Department of the Army , 2022 BNA LA 252, 2022 BL 281061, 22-2 ARB ¶ 8040, 2022 WL 3644541, 122 LRP 27029, (Cornelius, Arb, July 25, 2022); Also available on arbitrator.org/opinions , 90. US Army March 18, 2026 Arbitrator E. Frank Cornelius, PhD, JD This is the first of several blog posts about cases in which the arbitrator has addressed the

Understanding Last Chance Agreements, AFGE Local 1770 and Department of the Army Case Explained

When a labor dispute arises, resolving it quickly and fairly is crucial for both employees and employers. One tool often used in these situations is the last chance agreement . This type of agreement can play a key role in grievance settlements by offering a final opportunity for an employee to correct behavior or performance issues before termination. Understanding how last chance agreements work helps both parties navigate labor disputes with clearer expectations and better