Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District / Sep 3, 2019
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 53 vs. The City of Independence, Missouri
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 53 (Local 53) filed a grievance on behalf of Ryan Saunders after the City of Independence (City) fired him. An arbitrator reduced Saunders's punishment and conditionally reinstated him, but the City Manager set aside the award. Local 53 sued for breach of the collective bargaining agreement, and the circuit court granted summary judgment for Local 53, ordering compliance with the award but removing the arbitrator's supervision. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the City Manager could not reject the entire award for a partial defect and lacked authority to reject the award as contrary to the evidence without a full arbitration record.