perry thomas argued april decided june appellee brought suit california superior former employer appellants two employees alleging breach contract related causes action arising dispute commissions securities sales appellee refused arbitrate appellants filed petition compel arbitration federal arbitration act respectively provide contractual arbitration provisions valid enforceable mandate judicial enforcement demand arbitration based provision form appellee executed connection employment application whereby agreed arbitrate dispute employer appellee opposed arbitration ground suit authorized california labor code provides wage collection actions may maintained without regard existence private agreement arbitrate refused compel arbitration characterizing controlling authority merrill lynch pierce fenner smith ware upheld face supremacy clause preemption challenge premised arbitration requirement new york stock exchange rule promulgated pursuant securities exchange act act state appeals affirmed lower courts refused consider appellee argument appellants lacked standing enforce arbitration agreement since parties held supremacy clause federal arbitration act california labor code enacting congress declared national policy favoring arbitration withdrew power require judicial forum resolution claims contracting parties agreed resolve arbitration ware distinguishable ground language policies act regulations promulgated thereunder evidenced clear federal intent require arbitration oblique reference federal arbitration act ware fairly read definitive holding act since concerned federally created rights address issue federal preemption rights pp appellee contention resolving appellants favor question standing enforce agreement arbitrate prerequisite article iii constitution maintenance appeal rejected appellee standing argument reach lower courts address simply presents straightforward contract interpretation issue whether arbitration provision inures appellants benefit may construed cover present dispute issue may resolved remand status alternative ground denying arbitration prevent reviewing lower courts holdings question marshall delivered opinion rehnquist brennan white blackmun powell scalia joined stevens post post filed dissenting opinions peter brown dolan argued cause appellants briefs maren nelson bruce gelber argued cause filed brief appellee justice marshall delivered opinion appeal decide whether federal arbitration act et mandates enforcement arbitration agreements california labor code provides actions collection wages may maintained without regard existence private agreement arbitrate cal lab code ann west appellee kenneth morgan thomas brought action california superior former employer kidder peabody kidder peabody two employees appellants barclay perry james johnston complaint arose dispute commissions sale securities thomas alleged breach contract conversion civil conspiracy commit conversion breach fiduciary duty sought compensatory punitive damages thomas refused submit dispute arbitration defendants sought stay proceedings superior perry johnston filed petition superior compel arbitration kidder peabody invoked diversity jurisdiction filed similar petition federal district petitions sought arbitration authority federal arbitration act demands arbitration based provision found uniform application securities industry registration form thomas completed executed connection application employment kidder peabody provision agree arbitrate dispute claim controversy may arise firm customer person required arbitrated rules constitutions organizations register app ny controversy registered representative member member organization arising employment termination employment registered representative member member organization shall settled arbitration instance party app kidder peabody sought arbitration member organization new york stock exchange nyse perry johnston relied thomas allegation acted course scope employment argued agents employees kidder peabody beneficiaries arbitration agreement superior denied appellants petition compel arbitration thomas kidder peabody civ action los angeles county apr reprinted app characterized ware controlling authority held accordance california labor code section actions collect wages may pursued without regard private arbitration agreements concluded since thomas claims conversion civil conspiracy breach fiduciary duty ancillary claim breach contract differed terms remedies sought also tried severed arbitration superior address thomas contention perry johnston parties arbitration agreement therefore lacked contractual basis asserting right arbitrate argument thomas characterizes one standing california appeal appellants argued ware resolved narrow issue whether rule provision arbitration given promulgation rule nyse pursuant securities exchange act act stat amended authority securities exchange commission sec review modify nyse rules pursuant act see appellants contention despite indirect reference federal arbitration act ware opinion effect act issue case unpublished opinion appeal affirmed thomas perry civ div apr reprinted app read ware single reference federal arbitration act imply refused hold act litigants agreement arbitrate disputes pursuant rule thus appeal held claim unpaid wages brought subject compulsory arbitration notwithstanding existence arbitration agreement app like superior appeal also rejected appellants argument based decision dean witter reynolds byrd ancillary claims conversion civil conspiracy breach fiduciary duty severable claim arbitrated app finally appeal refused consider thomas argument perry johnston lacked standing enforce arbitration agreement concluded thomas raised argument first time appeal california denied appellants petition review noted probable jurisdiction reverse ii section congressional declaration liberal federal policy favoring arbitration agreements notwithstanding state substantive procedural policies contrary effect section create body federal substantive law arbitrability applicable arbitration agreement within coverage act moses cone memorial hospital mercury construction enacted pursuant commerce clause art cl body substantive law enforceable state federal courts southland keating held provision california franchise investment law california courts interpreted require judicial consideration claims arising law stated keating enacting federal act congress declared national policy favoring arbitration withdrew power require judicial forum resolution claims contracting parties agreed resolve arbitration congress intended foreclose state legislative attempts undercut enforceability arbitration agreements omitted section therefore embodies clear federal policy requiring arbitration unless agreement arbitrate part contract evidencing interstate commerce revocable upon grounds exist law equity revocation contract see nothing act indicating broad principle enforceability subject additional limitations state law keating supra contrast present appeal addresses effect federal arbitration act statute embodies congress intent provide enforcement arbitration agreements within full reach commerce clause general applicability reflects preeminent concern congress passing act enforce private agreements parties entered byrd accordingly held agreements must rigorously enforce ibid see express mcmahon ante mitsubishi motors soler clear federal policy places act unmistakable conflict california requirement litigants provided judicial forum resolving wage disputes therefore supremacy clause state statute must give way oblique reference federal arbitration act ware decision fairly read definitive holding contrary noted number decisions endorsed suitability arbitration resolve federally created rights ibid emphasis added address issue federal rights rather import reasoning perhaps result ware might different act ha provided arbitration ibid holding federal arbitration act california labor code obviates need consider whether decision byrd supra required severance thomas ancillary claims conversion civil conspiracy breach fiduciary duty claim likewise decline reach thomas contention perry johnston lack standing enforce agreement arbitrate claims since courts address alternative argument refusing compel arbitration however reject thomas contention resolving questions appellants favor prerequisite standing article iii constitution maintain present appeal perceive thomas standing argument simply presents straightforward issue contract interpretation whether arbitration provision inures benefit appellants may construed light circumstances surrounding litigants agreement cover dispute arisen issue may resolved remand status alternative ground denying arbitration prevent us reviewing ground exclusively relied upon courts iii judgment california appeal reversed case remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered footnotes written provision contract evidencing transaction involving commerce settle arbitration controversy thereafter arising contract transaction refusal perform whole part thereof shall valid irrevocable enforceable save upon grounds exist law equity revocation contract section california labor code defines wages include amounts earned commission basis cal lab code ann west california superior california appeal held commissions issue case fall within statutory definition app federal district gave ruling preclusive effect entered final order dismissing kidder peabody petition parallel proceeding kidder peabody thomas civ action cd reprinted app concluded decision merrill lynch pierce fenner smith ware dispositive california superior also address thomas alternative argument arbitration agreement case constitutes unconscionable unenforceable contract adhesion selection arbitrators made new york stock exchange presumptively biased favor management denial meaningful discovery unduly oppressive frustrates employee claim relief app appeal rejected appellants contention amendments act since decision ware removed theoretical underpinnings decision expanding scope sec authority review modify nyse rules see appellants continue make argument appeal alternative basis distinguishing ware brief appellants citing pp drayer krasner cert denied however rest decision exclusively federal arbitration act decline consider effect amended act relates thomas agreement bound nyse rule objecting appellants request formal statement decision superior following summary denial motion compel thomas argued appellants standing seek order compelling arbitration app perry johnston replied standing seek arbitration inhered status agents employees kidder peabody beneficiaries agreement kidder peabody thomas response thomas simply argued perry johnston submitted supporting evidence show acted agents kidder peabody superior amend proposed statement decision see address arguments formally adopted statement decision perry johnston appealed based decision squarely ware appeal also declined reach thomas alternative ground supporting superior decision compel arbitration contention arbitration provision constitutes unconscionable unenforceable contract adhesion see supra jurisdiction appeal provided see southland keating first among decisions cited wilko swan resolved conflict federal securities act federal arbitration act holding policies former prevailed arbitration agreement enforcement sought latter invalid federal question presented unexplained citation prima paint flood conklin mfg construed reference principles federal however case provides support thomas position arose diversity action one party contract containing arbitration clause asserted right state law judicial resolution claim fraud inducement contract held federal arbitration act authorized judicial determination claim arbitration clause procured fraud decide whether fraud induced making performance contract generally since claim fell within broad scope agreement arbitrate dismissed argument asserted right judicial resolution adhered state substantive law federal sitting diversity bound follow rule erie tompkins reasoned instead congress enacted substantive provisions federal arbitration act pursuant part constitutional power regulate interstate commerce distinction endows provisions force supremacy clause also decline address thomas claim arbitration agreement case constitutes unconscionable unenforceable contract adhesion issue decided see nn supra may likewise considered remand note however issue arises defenses thomas standing unconscionability arguments asserted instances text provides touchstone choosing principles principles federal common law envisioned passage statute agreement arbitrate valid irrevocable enforceable matter federal law see moses cone memorial hospital mercury construction save upon grounds exist law equity revocation contract emphasis added thus state law whether legislative judicial origin applicable law arose govern issues concerning validity revocability enforceability contracts generally principle takes meaning precisely fact contract arbitrate issue comport requirement see prima paint supra southland keating may assessing rights litigants enforce arbitration agreement construe agreement manner different otherwise construes nonarbitration agreements state law may rely uniqueness agreement arbitrate basis holding enforcement unconscionable enable effect hold today state legislature justice stevens dissenting despite striking similarity case merrill lynch pierce fenner smith ware correctly concludes precise question presented decided ware even though arbitration act books almost years apparently neither litigants even considered possibility act rights last years effectively rewritten statute give scope congress certainly intend see southland keating stevens concurring part dissenting part dicta recent cases admittedly broad enough cover case see ante since none prior holdings point doctrine stare decisis controlling cf express mcmahon ante stevens concurring part dissenting part accordingly share justice opinion power except certain categories disputes arbitration preserved unless congress decides otherwise affirm judgment california appeal justice dissenting today holds federal arbitration act act et requires arbitration appellee claim wages despite clear state policy contrary held southland keating act applies state well federal proceedings continue believe holding unfaithful congressional intent unnecessary light act antecedents intervening contraction federal power inexplicable dissenting respectfully dissent even adhere position act inapplicable state proceedings however still dissent held congress limit preclude waiver judicial forum congress intent deduced statute text legislative history inherent conflict arbitration statute underlying purposes express mcmahon ante justice stevens observed explained state legislatures also able limit preclude waiver judicial forum refuse exercise independent judgment concerning conditions arbitration agreement generally enforceable act held invalid contrary public policy simply source substantive law arbitration agreement attaches state rather federal government find evidence congress intended double standard apply lightly impute intent congress enacted arbitration act southland keating supra view therefore even act applies state proceedings california policy choice preclude waivers judicial forum wage claims entitled respect accordingly affirm judgment california appeal