US SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

480 U.S. 1301

WESTERN AIRLINES, INC. and Delta Air Lines, Inc.
v.
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS and Air Transport Employees
No. A-716.

April 2, 1987.

Page 480 U.S. 1301 , 1302

Justice O'CONNOR, Circuit Justice.

Applicants request that I issue a stay pending the filing and disposition of a petition for certiorari to review the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

The underlying dispute in this case involves the division of responsibility for regulation of collective bargaining between airlines and their employees under the Railway Labor Act, 44 Stat. 577, as amended, 45 U.S.C. 151 et seq. The Act defines three classes of labor disputes and establishes a different dispute resolution procedure for each. "Minor" disputes involve the application or interpretation of an existing collective-bargaining agreement. Minor disputes are subject to arbitration by a System Board of Adjustment. 45 U.S.C. 184. While courts lack authority to interpret the terms of a collective-bargaining agreement, a court may compel arbitration of a minor dispute before the authorized System Board.

"Major" disputes involve the formation of collective-bargaining agreements, and the resolution of such disputes is governed by 6 of the Act, 45 U.S.C. 156, 181.

"Representation" disputes involve defining the bargaining unit and determining the employee representative for collective bargaining. Under 2, Ninth, of the Act, the National [480 U.S. 1301 , 1303]

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