Plain-English summary
Court rules airline cargo loaders and ramp supervisors are exempt from FAA mandatory-arbitration rules
The Supreme Court held that airplane cargo loaders and ramp supervisors fall within the Federal Arbitration Act’s Section 1 exemption for "a class of workers engaged in foreign or interstate commerce." The decision means these employees cannot be compelled into arbitration under the FAA for certain workplace claims.
Why this matters
The ruling limits employers’ ability to use the FAA to enforce mandatory arbitration agreements against a category of airline workers. It affects how workplace disputes for those workers — including wage, safety, or discrimination claims — may proceed in court rather than being sent to arbitration under the FAA.
Who may feel it
- Airline cargo loaders and ramp supervisors
- Other airport workers with duties tied to moving aircraft or cargo across state or national lines
- Airlines and aviation employers who use arbitration agreements
- Employees and unions who challenge mandatory arbitration for similar worker categories
- Employers who rely on the FAA to enforce arbitration clauses
Key questions
- Does Section 1 of the Federal Arbitration Act exempt airline ramp and cargo workers from the FAA because they are a "class of workers engaged in foreign or interstate commerce"?