Reference no: EM132207606

Question: Union and Management disagree on the appropriate enforcement of the grooming standards. In this case study, you will be assuming the role of an arbitrator, in your opinion, who should “win” this arbitration? If you determine that the organization did or did not enforce the grooming standards appropriately, you should recommend that the union prevail in the arbitration and How did the fact that male ramp agents and male maintenance employees have different grooming standards factor into your decision? and also summarize the whole content.

Case Study: Ramp agents of Southwest Airlines load and unload baggage from aircraft and also collect baggage from customers as they board the aircraft. The union states that Grievant B, a ramp agent with 13 years of experience, is being discriminated against because management at its Love Field Operation in Dallas, Texas, requires him to wear his long hair tucked beneath a cap, but female ramp agents and male maintenance employees are not required to wear caps. At an arbitration hearing, the company testified that its grooming rules have been enforced on a uniform basis. All male ramp agents have been treated the same, and all female ramp agents have been treated the same. The company argues that discrimination is permissible as long as it is not unlawful and as long as differences in grooming standards that do not unreasonably inhibit work opportunities are permissible under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The company also states that the issue of an alleged discrimination with respect to male maintenance employees is beyond the scope of this grievance because a separate labor agreement exists between maintenance employees and the company.