alexander argued november decided february following discharge employer respondent company petitioner black filed grievance agreement respondent petitioner union contained broad arbitration clause petitioner ultimately claiming discharge resulted racial discrimination upon rejection company petitioner claims arbitration hearing held prior petitioner filed colorado civil rights commission racial discrimination complaint referred equal employment opportunity commission eeoc arbitrator ruled petitioner discharge cause following eeoc subsequent determination reasonable ground believe violation title vii civil rights act occurred petitioner brought action district alleging discharge resulted racially discriminatory employment practice violation act district granted respondent motion summary judgment holding petitioner bound prior arbitral decision right sue title vii appeals affirmed held employee statutory right trial de novo title vii civil rights act foreclosed prior submission claim final arbitration nondiscrimination clause agreement pp title vii designed supplement rather supplant existing laws institutions relating employment discrimination may inferred legislative history title vii manifests congressional intent allow individual pursue rights title vii applicable state federal statutes pp doctrine election remedies inapplicable present context involves statutory rights distinctly separate employee contractual rights regardless fact violation rights may resulted factual occurrence pp merely resorting arbitral forum petitioner waive cause action title vii rights conferred thereby prospectively waived form part process pp arbitrator authority confined resolution questions contractual rights regardless whether resemble duplicate title vii rights pp instituting title vii action employee seeking review arbitrator decision thus getting district put two strings bow employer one asserting right independent arbitration process statute gives employees possible victims discriminatory employment practices permitting employee resort judicial forum arbitration procedures followed undermine employer incentive arbitrate employers regard benefits pledge arbitration agreement outweighing costs resulting giving employees arbitral antidiscrimination remedy addition title vii judicial remedy pp policy deferral federal courts arbitral decisions opposed adoption preclusion rule comport congressional objective federal courts exercise final responsibility enforcement title vii lead arbitrator emphasis law shop rather law land factfinding procedures less complete followed judicial forum perhaps employees bypassing arbitration favor litigation pp considering employee claim federal may admit arbitral decision evidence accord weight may appropriate facts circumstances case pp powell delivered opinion unanimous paul spiegelman argued cause petitioner brief russell specter robert good argued cause filed brief respondent deputy solicitor general wallace argued cause amicus curiae urging reversal brief solicitor general bork assistant attorney general pottinger keith jones denis gordon eileen stein joseph eddins beatrice rosenberg briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed milton smith jay siegel chamber commerce gerard smetana lawrence cohen alan raywid american retail federation justice powell delivered opinion case concerns proper relationship federal courts machinery agreements resolution enforcement individual rights equal employment opportunities title vii civil rights act stat et seq specifically must decide circumstances employee statutory right trial de novo title vii may foreclosed prior submission claim final arbitration nondiscrimination clause agreement may petitioner harrell alexander black hired respondent company perform maintenance work company plant denver colorado june petitioner awarded trainee position drill operator remained job discharge employment september company informed petitioner discharged producing many defective unusable parts scrapped october petitioner filed grievance agreement force company petitioner union local steelworkers america union grievance stated feel unjustly discharged ask reinstated full seniority pay explicit claim racial discrimination made art agreement company retained right hire suspend discharge employees proper cause article provided however shall discrimination employee account race color religion sex national origin ancestry art stated employee discharged suspended given written warning notice except cause agreement also contained broad arbitration clause covering differences aris ing company union meaning application provisions agreement trouble aris ing plant disputes submitted multistep grievance procedure first four steps involved negotiations company union dispute remained unresolved remitted compulsory arbitration company union select pay arbitrator decision final binding upon company union employee employees involved agreement provided arbitrator shall amend take away add change provisions agreement arbitrator decision must based solely upon interpretation provisions agreement parties also agreed shall suspension work disputes covered clause union processed petitioner grievance machinery final step petitioner raised apparently first time claim discharge resulted racial discrimination company rejected petitioner claims grievance proceeded arbitration prior arbitration hearing however petitioner filed charge racial discrimination colorado civil rights commission referred complaint equal employment opportunity commission november arbitration hearing november petitioner testified discharge result racial discrimination informed arbitrator filed charge colorado commission rely union union introduced letter petitioner stated knowledgeable plant others scrapped equal amount sometimes excess logical reasoning target preferential discriminatory treatment union representative also testified company usual practice transfer unsatisfactory trainee drill operators back former positions december arbitrator ruled petitioner discharged cause made reference petitioner claim racial discrimination arbitrator stated union failed produce evidence practice transferring rather discharging trainee drill operators accumulated excessive scrap suggested company union confer whether arrangement feasible present case july equal employment opportunity commission determined reasonable cause believe violation title vii civil rights act et occurred commission later notified petitioner right institute civil action federal within days petitioner filed present action district district colorado alleging discharge resulted racially discriminatory employment practice violation act district granted respondent motion summary judgment dismissed action supp found claim racial discrimination submitted arbitrator resolved adversely petitioner held petitioner voluntarily elected pursue grievance final arbitration nondiscrimination clause agreement bound arbitral decision thereby precluded suing employer title vii appeals tenth circuit affirmed per curiam basis district opinion granted petitioner application certiorari reverse ii congress enacted title vii civil rights act et assure equality employment opportunities eliminating practices devices discriminate basis race color religion sex national origin mcdonnell douglas green griggs duke power cooperation voluntary compliance selected preferred means achieving goal end congress created equal employment opportunity commission established procedure whereby existing state local equal employment opportunity agencies well commission opportunity settle disputes conference conciliation persuasion aggrieved party permitted file lawsuit equal employment opportunity act pub stat congress amended title vii provide commission authority investigate individual charges discrimination promote voluntary compliance requirements title vii institute civil actions employers unions named discrimination charge even amended form however title vii provide commission direct powers enforcement commission adjudicate claims impose administrative sanctions rather final responsibility enforcement title vii vested federal courts act authorizes courts issue injunctive relief order affirmative action may appropriate remedy effects unlawful employment practices supp ii courts retain broad remedial powers despite commission finding reasonable cause believe act violated mcdonnell douglas green supra taken together provisions make plain federal courts assigned plenary powers secure compliance title vii addition reposing ultimate authority federal courts congress gave private individuals significant role enforcement process title vii individual grievants usually initiate commission investigatory conciliatory procedures although amendment title vii empowers commission bring actions private right action remains essential means obtaining judicial enforcement title vii supp ii cases private litigant redresses injury also vindicates important congressional policy discriminatory employment practices hutchings industries bowe jenkins gas see also newman piggie park enterprises pursuant statutory scheme petitioner initiated present action judicial consideration rights title vii district appeals held however petitioner bound prior arbitral decision right sue title vii courts evidently thought result dictated notions election remedies waiver federal policy favoring arbitration labor disputes enunciated textile workers union lincoln mills steelworkers trilogy see also boys markets retail clerks union gateway coal mine workers america disagree iii title vii speak expressly relationship federal courts machinery agreements however vest federal courts plenary powers enforce statutory requirements specifies precision jurisdictional prerequisites individual must satisfy entitled institute lawsuit present case prerequisites met petitioner filed timely charge employment discrimination commission received acted upon commission statutory notice right sue see mcdonnell douglas green supra suggestion statutory scheme prior arbitral decision either forecloses individual right sue divests federal courts jurisdiction addition legislative enactments area long evinced general intent accord parallel overlapping remedies discrimination civil rights act et congress indicated considered policy discrimination highest priority newman piggie park enterprises supra consistent view title vii provides consideration claims several forums see supp ii eeoc supp ii state local agencies supp ii federal courts general submission claim one forum preclude later submission another moreover legislative history title vii manifests congressional intent allow individual pursue independently rights title vii applicable state federal statutes clear inference title vii designed supplement rather supplant existing laws institutions relating employment discrimination sum title vii purpose procedures strongly suggest individual forfeit private cause action first pursues grievance final arbitration nondiscrimination clause agreement reaching opposite conclusion district relied part doctrine election remedies doctrine refers situations individual pursues remedies legally factually inconsistent application present context submitting grievance arbitration employee seeks vindicate contractual right agreement contrast filing lawsuit title vii employee asserts independent statutory rights accorded congress distinctly separate nature contractual statutory rights vitiated merely violated result factual occurrence certainly inconsistency results permitting rights enforced respectively appropriate forums resulting scheme somewhat analogous procedure national labor relations act amended disputed transactions may implicate contractual statutory rights statutory right underlying particular claim may abridged contractual agreement recognized consideration claim arbitrator contractual dispute agreement preclude subsequent consideration claim national labor relations board unfair labor practice charge petition clarification union representation certificate act carey westinghouse cf smith evening news relationship forums complementary since consideration claim forums may promote policies underlying thus rationale behind doctrine support decision also unable accept proposition petitioner waived cause action title vii begin think clear prospective waiver employee rights title vii true course union may waive certain statutory rights related collective activity right strike mastro plastics nlrb boys markets retail clerks union rights conferred employees collectively foster processes bargaining properly may exercised relinquished union agent obtain economic benefits union members title vii hand stands plainly different ground concerns majoritarian processes individual right equal employment opportunities title vii strictures absolute represent congressional command employee free discriminatory practices necessity rights conferred form part process since waiver rights defeat paramount congressional purpose behind title vii circumstances employee rights title vii susceptible prospective waiver see wilko swan actual submission petitioner grievance arbitration present case alter situation although presumably employee may waive cause action title vii part voluntary settlement mere resort arbitral forum enforce contractual rights constitutes waiver since employee rights title vii may waived prospectively existing contractual rights remedies discrimination must result concessions already made union part economic bargain struck employer settled law additional concession may exacted employee price enforcing rights case nlrb moreover contractual right submit claim arbitration displaced simply congress also provided statutory right discrimination rights legally independent origins equally available aggrieved employee point becomes apparent consideration role arbitrator system industrial proctor bargain arbitrator task effectuate intent parties source authority agreement must interpret apply agreement accordance industrial common law shop various needs desires parties arbitrator however general authority invoke public laws conflict bargain parties arbitrator confined interpretation application collective bargaining agreement sit dispense brand industrial justice may course look guidance many sources yet award legitimate long draws essence collective bargaining agreement arbitrator words manifest infidelity obligation courts choice refuse enforcement award steelworkers america enterprise wheel car iv district appeals reasoned permit employee claim considered arbitral judicial forums unfair since mean employer employee bound arbitral award district words accept philosophy gives employee two strings bow employer one argument mistakes effect title vii steelworkers trilogy arbitral decision final binding employer employee judicial review limited instituting action title vii employee seeking review arbitrator decision rather asserting statutory right independent arbitration process employer two strings bow respect arbitral decision simple reason title vii provide employers cause action employees employer victim discriminatory employment practices oubichon north american rockwell district appeals also thought permit later resort judicial forum undermine substantially employer incentive arbitrate sound death knell arbitration clauses labor contracts disagree primary incentive employer enter arbitration agreement union reciprocal promise strike stated boys markets retail clerks union obligation express implied quid pro quo undertaking employer submit grievance disputes process arbitration unreasonable assume employers regard benefits derived pledge outweighing whatever costs may result according employees arbitral remedy discrimination addition judicial remedy title vii indeed severe consequences strike may make arbitration clause almost essential employees employer perspective moreover machinery agreement remains relatively inexpensive expeditious means resolving wide range disputes including claims discriminatory employment practices agreement contains nondiscrimination clause similar title vii arbitral procedures fair regular arbitration may well produce settlement satisfactory employer employee employer thus incentive make available conciliatory therapeutic processes arbitration may satisfy employee perceived need resort judicial forum thus saving employer expense aggravation associated lawsuit similar reasons employee also strong incentive arbitrate grievances arbitration may often eliminate misunderstandings discriminatory practices might otherwise precipitate resort judicial forum respondent contends even preclusion rule adopted federal courts defer arbitral decisions discrimination claims claim arbitrator ii agreement prohibited form discrimination charged suit title vii iii arbitrator authority rule claim fashion remedy respondent proposed rule grant summary judgment dismiss employee action conditions met rule obvious consequence present case deprive petitioner statutory right attempt establish claim federal outset apparent deferral rule subject many objections applicable preclusion rule purpose procedures title vii indicate congress intended federal courts exercise final responsibility enforcement title vii deferral arbitral decisions inconsistent goal furthermore long recognized choice forums inevitably affects scope substantive right vindicated bulk carriers arguelles harlan concurring respondent deferral rule necessarily premised assumption arbitral processes commensurate judicial processes congress impliedly intended federal courts defer arbitral decisions title vii issues deem supposition unlikely arbitral procedures well suited resolution contractual disputes make arbitration comparatively inappropriate forum final resolution rights created title vii conclusion rests first special role arbitrator whose task effectuate intent parties rather requirements enacted legislation agreement conflicts title vii arbitrator must follow agreement sure tension contractual statutory objectives may mitigated agreement contains provisions facially similar title vii facts may still render arbitral processes comparatively inferior judicial processes protection title vii rights among fact specialized competence arbitrators pertains primarily law shop law land steelworkers america warrior gulf navigation parties usually choose arbitrator trust knowledge judgment concerning demands norms industrial relations hand 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 moreover factfinding process arbitration usually equivalent judicial factfinding record arbitration proceedings complete usual rules evidence apply rights procedures common civil trials discovery compulsory process testimony oath often severely limited unavailable see bernhardt polygraphic wilko swan recognized rbitrators obligation give reasons award steelworkers america enterprise wheel car indeed informality arbitral procedure enables function efficient inexpensive expeditious means dispute resolution characteristic however makes arbitration less appropriate forum final resolution title vii issues federal courts evident respondent proposed rule allay concerns convinced solution lies applying demanding deferral standard adopted fifth circuit rios reynolds metals respondent points standard adequately insured effectuation title vii rights arbitral forum tend make arbitration procedurally complex expensive process judicial enforcement standard almost require courts make de novo determinations employees claims uncertain whether minimal savings judicial time expense justify risk vindication title vii rights deferral rule also might adversely affect arbitration system well enforcement scheme title vii fearing arbitral forum adequately protect rights title vii employees may elect bypass arbitration institute lawsuit possibility voluntary compliance settlement title vii claims thus reduced result well litigation less think therefore federal policy favoring arbitration labor disputes federal policy discriminatory employment practices best accommodated permitting employee pursue fully remedy clause agreement cause action title vii federal consider employee claim de novo arbitral decision may admitted evidence accorded weight deems appropriate judgment appeals reversed footnotes management union recognizes rights manage plant determine products manufactured methods manufacturing assembling scheduling production control raw materials direct working forces including right hire suspend discharge proper cause right relieve employees duty lack work legitimate reasons right maintain order efficiency vested exclusively company understood parties rights recognized article subject terms agreement article agreement provided mutual responsibility section parties agree term agreement shall strike interruption production period shall lockout subject provisions article term agreement section company union agree shall discrimination employee account race color religion sex national origin ancestry company union approves discrimination shall practiced applicant employment article containing procedures agreement provided relevant part section differences arise company union meaning application provisions agreement trouble arise plant shall suspension work earnest effort shall made company union settle differences promptly grievances must presented within five working days date occurrence giving rise grievance shall considered waived grievances shall taken following manner except grievance filed local union shall submitted writing step grievance procedure set forth herein step attempt shall first made employee without assistant grievance committeeman employee option employee foreman settle grievance foreman shall submit answer within one working day grievance settled shall reduced writing signed employee assistant grievance committeeman foreman shall submit signed answer grievance step grievance settled step shall presented superintendent representative within two working days union received foreman answer step superintendent representative shall submit signed answer two working days receiving grievance step grievance settled step shall presented manager manufacturing representative within five working days union received superintendent answer step manager manufacturing representative shall meet representatives union attempt resolve grievance within five working days following presentation grievance manager manufacturing representative shall submit signed answer within three working days date meeting step grievance settled step shall referred personnel manager representatives international representative chairman grievance committee within five working days union received step answer within ten working days grievance referred step mentioned parties shall meet purpose discussing grievance within five working days following meeting company representatives shall submit signed answer union union representatives shall signify concurrence affix signatures grievance step grievances settled foregoing procedure may referred arbitration notice writing within ten calendar days date company final answer step within five days receipt referral arbitration parties shall select impartial arbitrator parties unable agree upon arbitrator selection shall made senior judge circuit appeals tenth circuit decision arbitrator shall final binding upon company union employee employees involved expenses fee arbitrator shall divided equally company union arbitrator shall amend take away add change provisions agreement arbitrator decision must based solely upon interpretation provisions agreement section employee discharged suspended given written warning notice except cause determined employee unjustly suspended discharged company shall reinstate employee pay full compensation employee basic hourly rate earned rate whichever higher time lost reaching conclusion district relied petitioner deposition acknowledging raised racial discrimination claim arbitration hearing district recognized conflict authorities existed issue chose rely dewey reynolds metals affirmed equally divided sixth circuit held prior submission employee claim arbitration agreement precluded later suit title vii sixth circuit appears since retreated part dewey suggesting preclusion arbitration agency processes pursued simultaneously see spann kaywood division joanna western mills fifth seventh ninth circuits squarely rejected preclusion rule see hutchings industries bowe oubichon north american rockwell steelworkers america american mfg steelworkers america warrior gulf navigation steelworkers america enterprise wheel car textile workers union lincoln mills held provision agreement enforced unions employers labor management relations act stat noted congressional policy embodied lmra stat promote industrial peace provision collective agreement major factor achieving goal steelworkers trilogy advanced policy declaring order arbitrate denied unless may said positive assurance arbitration clause susceptible interpretation covers asserted dispute steelworkers america warrior gulf navigation supra also stated far arbitrator decision concerns construction contract courts business overruling interpretation contract different steelworkers america enterprise wheel car supra republic steel maddox held procedures agreement must exhausted employee may file suit enforce contractual rights reasons stated parts iii iv opinion hold federal policy favoring arbitration establish arbitrator resolution contractual claim dispositive statutory claim title vii see civil rights act civil rights act example commission action barred findings orders state local agencies see supp ii similarly individual cause action barred commission finding reasonable cause believe act violated see supp ii mcdonnell douglas green example senator joseph clark one sponsors bill introduced interpretive memorandum stated nothing title vii anywhere else bill affects rights obligations nlra railway labor act itle vii intended deny individual rights remedies may pursue federal state statutes given action violate title vii national labor relations act national labor relations board deprived jurisdiction cong rec moreover senate defeated amendment made title vii exclusive federal remedy unlawful employment practices cong rec similar amendment rejected connection equal employment opportunity act see sess see also code cong ad news report senate committee responsible act explained neither provisions regarding individual right sue title vii provisions bill meant affect existing rights granted laws detailed discussion legislative history act see sape hart title vii reconsidered equal opportunity act geo rev district adopted reasoning sixth circuit dewey reynolds metals affirmed equally divided apparently based part doctrine election remedies see supra sixth circuit however later described dewey resting instead doctrine equitable estoppel themes res judicata collateral estoppel newman avco whatever doctrinal label used essence holdings remains policy reasons rejecting doctrines election remedies waiver context title vii equally applicable doctrines res judicata collateral estoppel see generally corbin contracts ed supp courts recognized doctrine election remedies apply suits title vii see bowe hutchings industries macklin spector freight systems app voutsis union carbide cert denied newman avco supra oubichon north american rockwell stat et seq noted carey allowing dispute go arbitration conciliatory measures congress deemed vital industrial peace may dispositive entire dispute encouraged superior authority board may invoked time meanwhile therapy arbitration brought bear complicated troubled area maintained election remedies required possibility unjust enrichment duplicative recoveries employer prevailed arbitration course duplicative recovery even cases employee first prevailed judicial relief structured avoid windfall gains see oubichon north american rockwell supra bowe supra furthermore relief obtained employee arbitration fully equivalent obtainable title vii relief grant hence need employee institute suit case petitioner respondent enter voluntary settlement expressly conditioned waiver petitioner cause action title vii determining effectiveness waiver determine outset employee consent settlement voluntary knowing event submission arbitration claim nondiscrimination clause agreement constitute binding waiver respect employee rights title vii see meltzer labor arbitration overlapping conflicting remedies employment discrimination chi rev meltzer ruminations ideology law labor arbitration chi rev late dean shulman stated proper conception arbitrator function basic public tribunal imposed upon parties superior authority parties obliged accept general charter administer justice community transcends parties rather part system created confined parties serves pleasure administer rule law established collective agreement shulman reason contract law labor relations harv rev brief respondent respondent proposed rule analogous nlrb policy deferring arbitral decisions statutory issues certain cases see spielberg mfg see also gould labor arbitration grievances involving racial discrimination rev platt relationship arbitration title vii civil rights act rev significantly substantial proportion labor arbitrators lawyers see note nlrb deference arbitration yale suggest course arbitrators possess high degree competence respect vital role implementing federal policy favoring arbitration labor disputes concern union exclusive control manner extent individual grievance presented see vaca sipes republic steel maddox arbitration process interests individual employee may subordinated collective interests employees bargaining unit see case nlrb moreover harmony interest union individual employee always presumed especially claim racial discrimination made see steele louisville tunstall brotherhood locomotive firemen breach union duty fair representation may prove difficult establish see vaca sipes supra humphrey moore respect noteworthy congress thought necessary afford protections title vii unions well employers see rios set forth following deferral standard first may deference decision arbitrator unless contractual right coincides rights title vii second must plain arbitrator decision way violative private rights guaranteed title vii public policy inheres title vii addition deferring district must satisfied factual issues identical decided arbitrator arbitrator power collective agreement decide ultimate issue discrimination evidence presented arbitral hearing dealt adequately factual issues arbitrator actually decided factual issues presented arbitration proceeding fair regular free procedural infirmities burden proof establishing conditions limitation upon respondent distinguished claimant discussion problems posed application rios standard see note judicial deference arbitrators decisions title vii cases stan rev adopt standards weight accorded arbitral decision since must determined discretion regard facts circumstances case relevant factors include existence provisions agreement conform substantially title vii degree procedural fairness arbitral forum adequacy record respect issue discrimination special competence particular arbitrators arbitral determination gives full consideration employee title vii rights may properly accord great weight especially true issue solely one fact specifically addressed parties decided arbitrator basis adequate record courts ever mindful congress enacting title vii thought necessary provide judicial forum ultimate resolution discriminatory employment claims duty courts assure full availability forum