penn plaza llc et al pyett et argued december decided april respondents members service employees international union local union national labor relations act union exclusive bargaining representative employees within industry new york city includes building cleaners porters doorpersons union exclusive authority bargain behalf members rates pay wages hours employment conditions employment engages collective bargaining realty advisory board labor relations rab multiemployer bargaining association new york city industry agreement union rab embodied collective bargaining agreement contractors building owners cba cba requires union members submit claims employment discrimination binding arbitration cba grievance dispute resolution procedures petitioner penn plaza llc member rab owns operates new york city office building respondents worked night lobby watchmen similar capacities respondents directly employed petitioner temco service industries temco maintenance service cleaning contractor penn plaza union consent engaged unionized security contractor affiliated temco provide licensed security guards building temco reassigned respondents jobs porters cleaners contending reassignments led loss income damages otherwise less desirable former positions respondents asked union file grievances alleging among things petitioners violated cba ban workplace discrimination reassigning respondents basis age violation age discrimination employment act adea et seq union requested arbitration cba initial hearing withdrew claims ground consent new security contract precluded objecting respondents reassignments discriminatory respondents filed complaint equal employment opportunity commission eeoc alleging petitioners violated adea rights eeoc issued notice ensuing lawsuit district denied petitioners motion compel arbitration respondents age discrimination claims second circuit affirmed holding alexander forbids enforcement provisions requiring arbitration adea claims held provision agreement clearly unmistakably requires union members arbitrate adea claims enforceable matter federal law pp examination two federal statutes issue adea national labor relations act nlra yields straightforward answer question presented union rab negotiating behalf penn plaza collectively bargained good faith agreed discrimination claims including adea claims resolved arbitration freely negotiated contractual term easily qualifies conditio employment subject mandatory bargaining nlra see litton financial printing litton business systems nlrb contractual negotiation union may agree inclusion arbitration provision agreement return concessions employer courts generally may interfere exchange see nlrb magnavox thus cba arbitration provision must honored unless adea removes particular class grievances nlra broad sweep see mitsubishi motors soler squarely held adea preclude arbitration claims brought statute see gilmer lane pp accordingly legal basis strike arbitration clause cba freely negotiated union rab clearly unmistakably requires respondents arbitrate claims issue appeal pp cba arbitration provision also fully enforceable line cases respondents incorrectly interpret progeny holding agreement arbitrate adea claims provided agreement waive individual employee right judicial forum federal antidiscrimination pp facts underlying progeny reveal narrow scope legal rule engendered cases involve issue enforceability agreement arbitrate statutory claims quite different issue whether arbitration claims precluded subsequent judicial resolution statutory claims gilmer supra control outcome agreement arbitration provision expressly covers statutory contractual discrimination claims pp ii apart narrow holdings line cases included broad dicta highly critical using arbitration vindicate statutory antidiscrimination rights skepticism however rested misconceived view arbitration since abandoned first contrary erroneous assumption decision resolve adea claims way arbitration instead litigation waive statutory right free workplace age discrimination waives right seek relief first instance see gilmer supra second mistaken suggestion certain informal features arbitration made forum well suited resolution contractual disputes comparatively inappropriate forum final resolution employment rights corrected see express mcmahon third concern arbitration union may subordinate individual employee interests collective interests employees bargaining unit relied introduce qualification adea found text congress amends adea meet concern identified dicta reason color lens arbitration clause read mitsubishi supra event argument amounts unsustainable collateral attack nlra see emporium capwell western addition community organization congress accounted conflict several ways union members may bring duty fair representation claim union union subjected direct liability adea discriminates basis age union members may also file claims eeoc national labor relations board pp respondents arguments cba clearly unmistakably require arbitrate adea claims raised lower courts forfeited moreover although substantive waiver federally protected civil rights upheld see mitsubishi supra positioned resolve first instance respondents claim cba allows union prevent effectively vindicating federal statutory rights arbitral forum given question require resolution contested factual allegations fully briefed fairly encompassed within question presented resolution particularly inappropriate light hesitation invalidate arbitration agreements based speculation see green tree financial randolph pp reversed remanded thomas delivered opinion roberts scalia kennedy alito joined stevens filed dissenting opinion souter filed dissenting opinion stevens ginsburg breyer joined penn plaza llc et petitioners steven pyett et al writ certiorari appeals second circuit april justice thomas delivered opinion question presented case whether provision agreement clearly unmistakably requires union members arbitrate claims arising age discrimination employment act adea stat amended et enforceable appeals second circuit held decision alexander forbids enforcement arbitration provisions disagree reverse judgment appeals respondents members service employees international union local union national labor relations act nlra stat amended union exclusive bargaining representative employees within industry new york city includes building cleaners porters doorpersons see role union exclusive authority bargain behalf members rates pay wages hours employment conditions employment ibid since union engaged collective bargaining realty advisory board labor relations rab multiemployer bargaining association new york city industry agreement union rab embodied collective bargaining agreement contractors building owners cba cba requires union members submit claims employment discrimination binding arbitration cba grievance dispute resolution procedures discrimination shall discrimination present future employee reason race creed color age disability national origin sex union membership characteristic protected law including limited claims made pursuant title vii civil rights act americans disabilities act age discrimination employment act new york state human rights law new york city human rights code similar laws rules regulations claims shall subject grievance arbitration procedures articles vi sole exclusive remedy violations arbitrators shall apply appropriate law rendering decisions based upon claims discrimination app pet cert petitioner penn plaza llc member rab owns operates new york city office building prior august respondents worked night lobby watchmen similar capacities respondents directly employed petitioner temco service industries temco maintenance service cleaning contractor august union consent penn plaza engaged spartan security unionized security services contractor affiliate temco provide licensed security guards staff lobby entrances building rendered respondents lobby services unnecessary temco reassigned jobs night porters light duty cleaners locations building respondents contend reassignments led loss income caused emotional distress otherwise less desirable former positions respondents request union filed grievances challenging reassignments grievances alleged petitioners violated cba ban workplace discrimination reassigning respondents account age violated seniority rules failing promote one respondents handyman position failed equitably rotate overtime failing obtain relief claims grievance process union requested arbitration cba initial arbitration hearing union withdrew first set respondents grievances claims arbitration consented contract new security personnel penn plaza union believed legitimately object respondents reassignments discriminatory union continued arbitrate seniority overtime claims several hearings claims denied may arbitration ongoing union withdrew claims respondents filed complaint equal employment opportunity commission eeoc alleging petitioners violated rights adea approximately one month later eeoc issued dismissal notice rights explained agency evidence fail ed indicate violation ha occurred notified respondent right sue pyett pennsylvania building respondents thereafter filed suit petitioners district southern district new york alleging reassignment violated adea state local laws prohibiting age petitioners filed motion compel arbitration respondents claims pursuant federal arbitration act faa district denied motion second circuit precedent even clear unmistakable waiver right litigate certain federal state statutory claims judicial forum unenforceable app pet cert respondents immediately appealed ruling faa authorizes interlocutory appeal order refusing stay action section title denying petition section title order arbitration proceed appeals affirmed according appeals compel arbitration dispute remains good law held collective bargaining agreement waive covered workers rights judicial forum causes action created congress citing appeals observed decision tension recent decision gilmer lane held individual employee agreed individually waive right federal forum compelled arbitrate federal age discrimination claim citing gilmer supra emphasis original appeals also noted previously declined resolve tension wright universal maritime service waiver issue clear unmistakable appeals attempted reconcile gilmer holding arbitration provisions agreement purport waive employees rights federal forum respect statutory claims unenforceable result individual employee free choose compulsory arbitration gilmer labor union collectively bargain arbitration behalf members granted certiorari address issue left unresolved wright continues divide courts reverse ii nlra governs federal law permitted statute respondents designated union exclusive representativ purposes collective bargaining respect rates pay wages hours employment conditions employment employees exclusive bargaining representative union enjoys broad authority negotiation administration collective bargaining contract communications workers beck internal quotation marks omitted broad authority accompanied responsibility equal scope responsibility duty fair representation humphrey moore employer corresponding duty nlra bargain good faith representatives employees wages hours conditions employment see also instance union rab negotiating behalf penn plaza collectively bargained good faith agreed discrimination claims including claims brought adea resolved arbitration freely negotiated term union rab easily qualifies conditio employment subject mandatory bargaining see litton financial printing litton business systems nlrb rrangements arbitration disputes term condition employment mandatory subject bargaining steelworkers warrior gulf nav rbitration labor disputes collective bargaining agreements part parcel collective bargaining process textile workers lincoln mills plainly agreement arbitrate grievance disputes quid pro quo agreement strike decision fashion cba require arbitration claims different many decisions made parties designing grievance respondents however contend arbitration clause outside permissible scope process affects employees individual statutory rights brief respondents see also post souter dissenting disagree parties generally favor arbitration precisely economics dispute resolution see circuit city stores adams arbitration agreements allow parties avoid costs litigation benefit may particular importance employment litigation often involves smaller sums money disputes concerning commercial contracts contractual negotiation union may agree inclusion arbitration provision agreement return concessions employer courts generally may interfere exchange judicial nullification contractual concessions contrary recognized one fundamental policies national labor relations act freedom contract nlrb magnavox stewart concurring part dissenting part internal quotation marks brackets omitted result cba arbitration provision must honored unless adea removes particular class grievances nlra broad sweep see mitsubishi motors soler squarely held adea preclude arbitration claims brought statute see gilmer gilmer explained lthough statutory claims may appropriate arbitration made bargain arbitrate party held unless congress evinced intention preclude waiver judicial remedies statutory rights issue quoting mitsubishi motors supra congress intended substantive protection afforded adea include protection waiver right judicial forum intention deducible text legislative history internal quotation marks brackets omitted determined nothing text adea legislative history explicitly precludes arbitration also concluded arbitrating adea disputes undermine statute remedial deterrent function internal quotation marks omitted end employee generalized attacks adequacy arbitration procedures insufficient preclude arbitration statutory claims evidence congress enacting adea intended preclude arbitration claims act gilmer interpretation adea fully applies context nothing law suggests distinction status arbitration agreements signed individual employee agreed union representative required agreement arbitrate statutory antidiscrimination claims explicitly stated agreement wright internal quotation marks omitted cba review meets obligation respondents incorrectly counter individual employee must personally waive substantive right proceed waiver knowing voluntary adea explained however agreement arbitrate adea claims waiver substantive right term employed adea wright supra see infra indeed right referred included prospective waiver right bring adea claim even waiver signed individual employee invalid statute also prevents individuals waiv ing rights claims may arise date waiver executed examination two federal statutes issue case therefore yields straightforward answer question presented nlra provided union rab statutory authority collectively bargain arbitration workplace discrimination claims congress terminate authority respect federal claims adea accordingly legal basis strike arbitration clause cba freely negotiated union rab clearly unmistakably requires respondents arbitrate claims issue appeal congress chosen allow arbitration adea claims judiciary must respect choice cba arbitration provision also fully enforceable line cases respondents interpret progeny hold union waive employee right judicial forum federal antidiscrimination statutes allowing union waive right substitute union interests employee antidiscrimination rights brief respondents combination union control process inherent conflict interest respect discrimination claims argue provided foundation holding arbitration agreement preclude individual employee right bring lawsuit vindicate statutory discrimination claim disagree holding broad respondents suggest employee case covered agreement prohibited discrimination employee account race color religion sex national origin ancestry guaranteed employee discharged except cause internal quotation marks omitted agreement also included multistep grievance procedure culminated compulsory arbitration differences aris ing company union meaning application provisions agreement trouble aris ing plant internal quotation marks omitted employee discharged allegedly producing many defective parts working respondent drill operator filed grievance union claiming violation provision within cba final prearbitration step grievance process employee added claim discharged race arbitrator ultimately ruled employee cause made reference claim racial discrimination obtaining letter eeoc employee filed claim federal district alleging racial discrimination violation title vii civil rights act district issued decision affirmed appeals granted summary judgment employer concluded claim racial discrimination submitted arbitrator resolved adversely employee district view voluntarily elected pursue grievance final arbitration nondiscrimination clause agreement employee bound arbitral decision precluded suing employer grounds statutory claim title vii ibid reversed judgment narrow ground arbitration preclusive agreement cover statutory claims result lower courts erred relying doctrine election remedies bar employee title vii claim doctrine refers situations individual pursues remedies legally factually inconsistent apply employee dual pursuit arbitration title vii discrimination claim district employee agreement mandate arbitration statutory antidiscrimination claims proctor bargain arbitrator task effectuate intent parties agreement gave arbitrator authority resolve questions contractual rights decision prevent employee bringing title vii claim federal regardless whether certain contractual rights similar duplicative substantive rights secured title vii see also also explained employee waived right pursue title vii claim federal participating arbitration premised underlying facts title vii claim see thus whether legal theory preclusion advanced employer rested doctrines election remedies recast resting instead doctrine equitable estoppel themes res judicata collateral estoppel internal quotation marks omitted prevail light agreement failure address arbitration title vii claims see hold federal policy favoring arbitration establish arbitrator resolution contractual claim dispositive statutory claim title vii emphasis added decisions following broadened holding make applicable facts case barrentine freight system considered whether employee may bring action federal district alleging violation minimum wage provisions fair labor standards act unsuccessfully submitted wage claim based underlying facts joint grievance committee pursuant provisions union agreement held unsuccessful arbitration preclude federal lawsuit like agreement arbitration provision review barrentine expressly reference statutory claim issue see thus reiterated arbitrator power derived limited agreement task limited construing meaning agreement effectuate collective intent parties mcdonald west branch decided along similar lines question presented case whether federal may accord preclusive effect unappealed arbitration award case brought declined fashion rule explaining arbitrator authority derives solely contract barrentine supra arbitrator may authority enforce provision left unaddressed arbitration agreement accordingly barrentine decision mcdonald hinged scope agreement arbitrator parallel mandate facts underlying barrentine mcdonald reveal narrow scope legal rule arising trilogy decisions summarizing opinions gilmer made clear line cases involve issue enforceability agreement arbitrate statutory claims decisions instead involved quite different issue whether arbitration claims precluded subsequent judicial resolution statutory claims since employees agreed arbitrate statutory claims labor arbitrators authorized resolve claims arbitration cases understandably held preclude subsequent statutory actions ibid see also wright livadas bradshaw progeny thus control outcome case agreement arbitration provision expressly covers statutory contractual discrimination recognize apart narrow holdings line cases included broad dicta highly critical use arbitration vindication statutory antidiscrimination rights skepticism however rested misconceived view arbitration since abandoned first erroneously assumed agreement submit statutory discrimination claims arbitration tantamount waiver rights see prospective waiver employee rights title vii emphasis added reason stated rights conferred title vii form part process since waiver rights defeat paramount congressional purpose behind title vii ibid see also long recognized choice forums inevitably affects scope substantive right quoting bulk carriers arguelles harlan concurring correct concluding federal antidiscrimination rights may prospectively waived see see supra confused agreement arbitrate statutory claims prospective waiver substantive right decision resolve adea claims way arbitration instead litigation waive statutory right free workplace age discrimination waives right seek relief first instance see gilmer supra agreeing arbitrate statutory claim party forgo substantive rights afforded statute submits resolution arbitral rather judicial quoting mitsubishi motors quite specific holding arbitration agreements enforced faa without contravening policies congressional enactments giving employees specific protection discrimination prohibited federal law circuit city stores suggestion decision arbitrate statutory discrimination claims tantamount substantive waiver rights therefore reveals distorted understanding compromise made employee agrees compulsory arbitration respect direct descendant decision wilko swan held agreement arbitrate claims securities act unenforceable see subsequently overruled wilko characterized decision pervaded old judicial hostility arbitration rodriguez de quijas express added extent wilko rested suspicion arbitration method weakening protections afforded substantive law complainants fallen far step current strong endorsement federal statutes favoring method resolving disputes see also mitsubishi motors supra well past time judicial suspicion desirability arbitration competence arbitral tribunals inhibited development arbitration alternative means dispute resolution timeworn mistrust arbitral process harbored thus weighs reliance anything core holding express mcmahon see also gilmer reiterating view arbitration undermined recent arbitration decisions indeed light radical change two decades receptivity arbitration wright reliance judicial decision similarly littered wilko overt hostility enforcement arbitration agreements ill advised second mistakenly suggested certain features arbitration made forum well suited resolution contractual disputes comparatively inappropriate forum final resolution rights created title vii according factfinding process arbitration equivalent judicial factfinding informality arbitral procedure makes arbitration less appropriate forum final resolution title vii issues federal courts also questioned competence arbitrators decide federal statutory claims see specialized competence arbitrators pertains primarily law shop law land barrentine although arbitrator may competent resolve many preliminary factual questions whether employee said may lack competence decide ultimate legal issue whether employee right minimum wage overtime pay statute violated view resolution statutory constitutional issues primary responsibility courts judicial construction proved especially necessary respect title vii whose broad language frequently given meaning reference public law concepts supra see also mcdonald arbitrator may expertise required resolve complex legal questions arise actions misconceptions corrected example recognized arbitral tribunals readily capable handling factual legal complexities antitrust claims notwithstanding absence judicial instruction supervision reason assume outset arbitrators follow law mcmahon supra mitsubishi motors decline indulge presumption parties arbitral body conducting proceeding unable unwilling retain competent conscientious impartial arbitrators arbitrator capacity resolve complex questions fact law extends equal force discrimination claims brought adea moreover recognition arbitration procedures streamlined federal litigation basis finding forum somehow inadequate relative informality arbitration one chief reasons parties select arbitration parties trad procedures opportunity review courtroom simplicity informality expedition arbitration event unlikely age discrimination claims require extensive discovery claims found arbitrable rico antitrust claims gilmer bottom objections centered nature arbitration offer credible basis discrediting choice forum resolve statutory antidiscrimination third raised concern regarding union exclusive control manner extent individual grievance presented suggested arbitration process union may subordinate interests individual employee collective interests employees bargaining unit ibid see also mcdonald supra union interests individual employee always identical even compatible result union may present employee grievance less vigorously make different strategic choices employee see also barrentine supra post souter dissenting rely judicial policy concern source authority introducing qualification adea found text absent constitutional barrier us substitute view policy legislation passed congress florida dept revenue piccadilly cafeterias slip internal quotation marks omitted congress fully equipped identify category claims agreements arbitrate held unenforceable mitsubishi motors supra congress amends adea meet concern identified dicta seized respondents reason color lens arbitration clause read simply alleged conflict interest union members mitsubishi motors supra battl fought among political branches industry parties seek amend statute appeal judicial branch barnhart sigmon coal argument also proves much labor unions certainly balance economic interests employees needs larger work force negotiate agreements implement daily basis attribute organized labor justify singling arbitration provision disfavored treatment principle majority rule respondents object fact central premise nlra emporium capwell western addition community organization establishing regime majority rule congress sought secure members unit benefits collective strength bargaining power full awareness superior strength individuals groups might subordinated interest majority ibid omitted see also ford motor huffman complete satisfaction represented hardly expected pennsylvania rychlik frankfurter concurring congress verdict benefits organized labor outweigh sacrifice individual liberty system necessarily demands respondents argument deprived right pursue adea claims federal labor union conflict interest therefore unsustainable amounts collateral attack nlra event congress accounted conflict interest several ways indicated nlra interpreted impose duty fair representation labor unions union breaches conduct toward member bargaining unit arbitrary discriminatory bad faith marquez screen actors duty extends challenges leveled union contract administration enforcement efforts negotiation activities well beck citation omitted thus union subject liability nlra illegally discriminates older workers either formation governance agreement deciding pursue grievance behalf one members discriminatory reasons see vaca sipes describing duty fair representation statutory obligation serve interests members without hostility discrimination toward exercise discretion complete good faith honesty avoid arbitrary conduct emphasis added respondents fact brought fair representation suit union based withdrawal support claims see supra given avenue congress made available redress union violation duty members particularly inappropriate ask impose artificial limitation process addition union subject liability adea union discriminates members basis age see see also lindemann grossman employment discrimination law ed explaining labor union may held jointly liable employer federal antidiscrimination laws discriminating formation agreement knowingly acquiescing employer discrimination inducing employer discriminate cf goodman lukens steel union members may also file claims eeoc national labor relations board may seek judicial intervention precedent see eeoc waffle house sum congress provided remedies situation labor union less vigorous defense members claims discrimination adea iii finally respondents offer series arguments contending particular cba issue clearly unmistakably require arbitrate adea claims see brief respondents respondents raise arguments district appeals contrary respondents acknowledged appeal cba provision requiring arbitration federal antidiscrimination statutory claims sufficiently explicit precluding federal lawsuit brief etc light respondents litigating position lower courts assumed cba arbitration clause clearly applied respondents proceeded decide question left unresolved wright granted review question presented understanding without certiorari prevailing party may course judgment ground properly raised whether ground relied upon rejected even considered district appeals granfinanciera nordberg quoting washington confederated bands tribes yakima nation affirm grounds raised exceptional cases nordberg supra quoting heckler campbell exceptional case result find respondents alternative arguments affirmance forfeited see rita sprietsma mercury marine resurrect respondents behalf respondents also argue cba operates substantive waiver adea rights precludes federal lawsuit also allows union block arbitration claims brief respondents petitioners contest characterization cba see reply brief petitioners offer record evidence suggesting union allowed respondents continue arbitration even though union declined participate see app pet cert question require resolution contested factual allegations fully briefed fairly encompassed within question presented see rule thus although substantive waiver federally protected civil rights upheld see mitsubishi motors gilmer positioned resolve first instance whether cba allows union prevent respondents effectively vindicating federal statutory rights arbitral forum green tree financial randolph resolution question juncture particularly inappropriate light hesitation invalidate arbitration agreements basis speculation see iv hold agreement clearly unmistakably requires union members arbitrate adea claims enforceable matter federal law judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered penn plaza llc et petitioners steven pyett et al writ certiorari appeals second circuit april justice stevens dissenting justice souter dissenting opinion join full explains decision alexander answers question presented case concern regarding subversion precedent policy favoring arbitration prompts additional remarks notwithstanding absence change relevant statutory provision recently retreated cases reversed prior decisions based changed view merits arbitration previously approached caution questions involving union waiver employee right raise statutory claims federal judicial forum searching text purposes title vii civil rights act held clause agreement cba requiring arbitration discrimination claims waive employee right judicial forum statutory claims see decision rested several features statute including individual nature rights confers broad remedial powers grants federal courts expressed preference overlapping remedies see also noted problem entrusting union certain arbitration decisions given potential conflict collective interest interests individual employee seeking assert rights see concern later provided basis decisions barrentine freight system mcdonald west branch similarly held cba may commit enforcement certain statutes exclusively arbitration process congress taken action signaling disagreement decisions statutes construed foregoing cases wilko swan since amended relevant respect number cases replaced predecessors statutory analysis judicial reasoning espousing policy favoring arbitration thereby reached divergent results dissented cases express concern colleagues making policy choices made congress see mitsubishi motors soler rodriguez de quijas express gilmer lane circuit city stores adams today majority preference arbitration leads disregard precedent although purports ascertain relationship age discrimination employment act adea national labor relations act federal arbitration act ignores earlier determination relevant provisions meaning concludes congress verdict benefits organized labor outweigh sacrifice individual liberty system organized labor necessarily demands even sacrifice demanded judicial forum asserting individual statutory right ante determined congress verdict otherwise held title vii permit cba waive employee right federal judicial forum purposes relevant provisions title vii adea meaningfully distinguishable reexamining statutory questions resolved lens policy favoring arbitration majority reaches different result circumstances believe passage one earlier dissents merits repetition rodriguez de quijas overruled decision wilko held predispute agreements arbitrate claims securities act enforceable see also noting wilko reliance outmoded presumption disfavoring arbitration proceedings observed dissent final analysis justice vote case like depends views respective lawmaking responsibilities congress conflicting policy interests judges confidence ability fashion public policy less hesitant change law us inclined give wide latitude views voters representatives nonconstitutional matters cf boyle technologies pointed years ago scherk dissenting opinion rev valid policy textual arguments sides regarding interrelation federal securities arbitration acts none arguments however carries sufficient weight tip balance judicial legislative authority overturn interpretation act congress settled many years rodriguez de quijas citation omitted true rodriguez de quijas competing arguments case regarding interaction relevant statutory provisions considered arguments including federal policy favoring arbitration labor disputes held congress intend permit result petitioners seek absence intervening amendment relevant statutory language bound decision congress rather reassess policy arguments favoring arbitration revise relevant provisions reflect views penn plaza llc et petitioners steven pyett et al writ certiorari appeals second circuit april justice souter justice stevens justice ginsburg justice breyer join dissenting issue whether employees subject agreement cba providing conclusive arbitration grievances including claimed breaches age discrimination employment act adea et lose statutory right bring adea claim holding alexander adhere stare decisis hold today like title vii civil rights act et adea aimed elimination discrimination workplace mckennon nashville banner publishing quoting oscar mayer evans like title vii adea contains vital element grants injured employee right action obtain authorized relief person aggrieved act may bring civil action competent jurisdiction legal equitable relief thereby redress ing injury also vindicat ing important congressional policy discriminatory employment practices supra considered effect cba arbitration clause employee right sue title vii one employer arguments cba entered union waived individual employees statutory cause action subject judicial remedy discrimination violation title vii although title vii like adea speak expressly relationship federal courts machinery agreements unanimously held rights conferred title vii exception right judicial forum waived part collective bargaining process stressed contrast two categories rights labor employment law statutory rights related collective activity conferred employees collectively foster processes bargaining properly may exercised relinquished union agent obtain economic benefits union members ibid title vii stands plainly different categorical ground concerns majoritarian processes individual right equal employment opportunities ibid thus previously realized imposed seemingly absolute prohibition union waiver employees federal forum rights wright universal maritime service supported judgment several lines complementary reasoning first explained antidiscrimination statutes long evinced general intent accord parallel overlapping remedies discrimination title vii statutory scheme carried suggestion prior arbitral decision either forecloses individual right sue divests federal courts jurisdiction accordingly concluded individual forfeit private cause action first pursues grievance final arbitration nondiscrimination clause agreement second rejected district view simply participating arbitration amounted electing arbitration remedy waiving plaintiff right sue said arbitration agreement issue covered contractual right cba free discrimination independent statutory rights accorded congress title vii third rebuffed employer argument federal courts defer arbitral rulings declined make assumption arbitral processes commensurate judicial processes described arbitration less appropriate forum final resolution title vii issues federal courts finally took note arbitration collective bargaining process interests individual employee may subordinated collective interests employees bargaining unit result deemed unacceptable came title vii claims sum held individual statutory right freedom discrimination access enforcement beyond union power waive analysis title vii pertinent adea case interpretation title vii applies equal force context age discrimination substantive provisions adea derived haec verba title vii indeed neither petitioners points relevant distinction two statutes trans world airlines thurston quoting lorillard pons see also mckennon adea title vii share common substantive features also common purpose given unquestionable applicability rule adea issue argument precedent followed case statutory interpretation equally unquestionable principles stare decisis demand respect precedent whether judicial methods interpretation change stay principles fail achieve legal stability seek upon rule law depends cbocs west humphries slip onsiderations stare decisis special force issue statutory interpretation unlike constitutional interpretation owing capacity congress alter reading adopt simply amending statute patterson mclean credit union construed statute stability rule depart without compelling justification hilton south carolina public railways argument abandoning precedent controls ii majority evades precedent long simply ignoring never mentions case concluding adea national labor relations act et yiel straightforward answer question presented ante unions bargain away individual rights federal forum antidiscrimination claims case first impression least possible consider conclusion issue settled time late years make bald assertion othing law suggests distinction status arbitration agreements signed individual employee agreed union representative ante fact recently unanimously said principle federal forum rights waived cbas even waived individually executed contracts assuredly finds support case law wright every appeals save one read decisions holding position air line pilots northwest airlines cadc see clear rule law emerging gilmer lane individual may prospectively waive statutory right judicial forum union may prospectively waive right circuits considered meaning gilmer fourth accord view equally odds existing law majority statement decision fashion cba require arbitration claims different many decisions made parties designing grievance machinery ante simply impossible square conclusion title vii stands plainly different ground statutory rights related collective activity concerns majoritarian processes individual right equal employment opportunities see also atchison buell otwithstanding strong policies encouraging arbitration considerations apply employee claim based rights arising statute designed provide minimum substantive guarantees individual quoting barrentine freight system majority speak misreads case claiming turned solely narrow ground arbitration preclusive agreement cover statutory claims ante however merely one several reasons given support decision see raised explain district made mistake thinking employee lost title vii rights electing pursue contractual arbitration remedy see one need read know narrowly reasoned noted already later cases made abundantly clear barrentine freight system provides testimony disputes employee employer suited binding resolution accordance procedures established collective bargaining courts defer arbitral decision employee claim based rights arising agreement different considerations apply employee claim based rights arising statute designed provide minimum substantive guarantees individual workers considerations basis decision see also gilmer supra important concern tension collective representation individual statutory rights indeed read resting nothing contractual failure reach far statutory claims must think wreaking havoc truth years since noted unanimously described case raising seemingly absolute prohibition union waiver employees federal forum rights wright supra human ingenuity equal task reconciling statements like majority representation held arbitration preclusive agreement cover statutory claims ante finally majority better chance rid another statements supporting rule decision set repeated previous quotations arbitration process union may subordinate interests individual employee collective interests employees bargaining unit ante citing unacceptable result comes individual right equal employment opportunities majority tries diminish reasoning previously stated holding supported making remarkable rejoinder rely judicial policy concern source authority introducing qualification adea found text ante enough recall respondents seeking introduc qualification law justifiably relying precedent decades old never overruled serially reaffirmed years see mcdonald west branch barrentine supra precedent books makes sense majority claim judicial policy concern unions sacrificing individual antidiscrimination rights left congress matter congress unsurprisingly understood way repeatedly explained operated assumption cba waive employees rights judicial forum enforce antidiscrimination statutes see pt stating consistent interpretation title vii agreement submit disputed issues arbitration context collective bargaining agreement preclude affected person seeking relief enforcement provisions title vii congress apparently share demotion holding suspect judicial policy concern congress years corrected decision disagreed chosen accord weight continued acceptance earlier holding hilton see also patterson iii one level majority opinion may little effect explicitly reserves question whether cba waiver judicial forum enforceable union controls access presentation employees claims arbitration ante usually case mcdonald supra treatment precedent statutory interpretation majority opinion reconciled view holding repeated years generally understood respectfully dissent footnotes article establishes grievance process applies claims regardless whether subject arbitration cba article vi establishes procedures arbitration postarbitration judicial review particular provides arbitrator shall decide differences arising parties interpretation application performance part agreement issues parties expressly required arbitrate terms agreement app pet cert respondents also filed hybrid lawsuit union petitioners labor management relations act see also delcostello teamsters alleging union breached duty fair representation nlra withdrawing support claims arbitration petitioners breached cba reassigning respondents respondents later voluntarily dismissed suit prejudice petitioners also filed motion dismiss complaint failure state claim district denied motion holding respondents sufficiently alleged adea claim claiming age reassigned positions led substantial losses income replacements younger less seniority building app pet cert omitted petitioners appealed ruling compare rogers new york per curiam agawam mitchell chapman tice american airlines eastern associated coal massey justice souter claims understanding impossible square conclusion alexander vii stands plainly different ground rights related collective activity concerns majoritarian processes individual right equal employment opportunities post dissenting opinion quoting explained however justice souter repeats key analytical mistake made dicta equating decision arbitrate title vii adea claims decision forgo substantive guarantees workplace discrimination see infra right judicial forum nonwaivable substantive right protected adea see infra thus although title vii adea rights may well stand different ground statutory rights protect majoritarian processes supra voluntary decision collectively bargain arbitration deny statutory antidiscrimination rights full protection due respondents contention civil rights act pub stat note following ed precludes enforcement arbitration agreement also misplaced see brief respondents see also post souter dissenting section expresses congress support alternative dispute resolution appropriate extent authorized law use alternative means dispute resolution including arbitration encouraged resolve disputes arising adea stat note following respondents argue legislative history actually signals congress intent preclude arbitration waivers context particular respondents point house report spite statute plain language interprets support position see pt ny agreement submit disputed issues arbitration context collective bargaining agreement preclude affected person seeking relief enforcement provisions title vii view consistent interpretation title vii alexander legislative history mischaracterizes holding prohibit collective bargaining arbitration adea claims see infra moreover reading legislative history manner suggested respondents create direct conflict statutory text encourages use arbitration dispute resolution without imposing constraints collective bargaining contest text must prevail see ratzlaf resort legislative history cloud statutory text clear justice souter reliance wright universal maritime service support view misplaced see post wright identified tension two lines cases represented gilmer found unnecessary resolve question validity waiver since apparent facts arguments presented waiver occurred although dissent describes wright characterization raising absolute prohibition union waiver employees federal forum rights post quoting wright wrenches statement context although right judicial forum substantive right see gilmer whether seemingly absolute prohibition union waiver employees federal forum rights survives gilmer least stands proposition right federal judicial forum sufficient importance protected union waiver cba emphasis added wright therefore neither endorsed broad language suggested particular result case today decision contradict holding need resolve stare decisis concerns raised dissenting opinions see post opinion souter post opinion stevens given development arbitration jurisprudence intervening years see infra appear strong candidate overruling dissents broad view holding see post opinion souter correct see patterson mclean credit union explaining appropriate overrule decision intervening development law earlier decision irreconcilable competing legal doctrines policies justice stevens suggests displacing earlier determination relevant provisions meaning based preference arbitration post criticism lacks basis revisiting settled issue disregarding earlier determination simply deciding question identified wright unresolved see supra see also infra contrary justice stevens accusation fidelity adea text alleged preference arbitration dictates answer question presented gilmer explained nothing text title vii adea precludes contractual arbitration see supra justice stevens never suggested otherwise rather always contended permitting compulsory arbitration employment discrimination claims conflicts perception congressional purpose animating adea gilmer stevens dissenting see also plainly comport congressional objectives behind statute seeking enforce civil rights protected title vii allow forces practiced discrimination contract away right enforce civil rights courts internal quotation marks omitted gilmer adopt justice stevens personal view purposes underlying adea good reason view embodied within statute text accordingly statutory text justice stevens sought vindicate instead preference mandatory judicial review disguises search congressional purpose empowered incorporate preference text federal statute see infra reason policy favoring arbitration see post stevens dissenting overturned wilko swan disavow antiarbitration dicta progeny today moreover arbitrator decision whether unionized employee discriminated basis age violation adea remains subject judicial review faa lthough judicial scrutiny arbitration awards necessarily limited review sufficient ensure arbitrators comply requirements statute express mcmahon footnotes referring potential conflict individual collective interests asserts rely judicial policy concern source authority introducing qualification adea found text ante potential conflict interests however basis decision several pertinent cases including alexander gilmer lane intervening years congress seen fit correct interpretation derision policy concern particularly disingenuous given subversion holding service extratextual policy favoring arbitration footnotes also contained language seemingly prohibiting even individual prospective waiver federal forum rights see issue revisited gilmer lane disputed majority seems inexplicably think statutory right federal forum right failed recognize substantive ante forbade union waiver employees federal forum rights large part importance rights fear unions easily give benefit many expense far less salient concern economic interests stake see barrentine freight system comfort making one point accord relied part majority describes broad dicta highly critical use arbitration vindication statutory antidiscrimination rights ante agree arbitral process undermined recent arbitration decisions gilmer supra quoting express mcmahon statements dicta obsolescence irrelevant continued vitality currency case holding came acknowledged federal policy favoring arbitration nonetheless held union waive members statutory right federal forum cba majority says particularly inappropriate consider rationale congress made available another avenue protect workers union discrimination namely duty fair representation claim ante answer misunderstands law unions may decline variety reasons pursue potentially meritorious discrimination claims without succumbing member suit failure fair representation see barrentine ven employee claim meritorious union might without breaching duty fair representation reasonably good faith decide support claim vigorously arbitration importantly rejected precisely argument past making yet another occasion majority ignores precedent see ibid supra noting duty fair representation claim often prove difficult establish wise reject construes statutes allow union eliminate statutory right sue favor arbitration union represent employee agreed employer challenged action consoling add employee sue union unfair