Salary Policy Employee Panel v. Tennessee Valley Authority

Plaintiff-appellee Salary Policy Employee Panel, an association of labor organizations representing employees of the Tennessee Valley Authority, filed a "class action grievance" with TVA objecting to the agencys unilateral determination that it was legally bound to implement certain regulations of the United States Office of Personnel Management governing reductions in force. TVA rejected the grievance, and the Panel requested arbitration. TVA denied the request, taking the position that an arbitrator would have no authority to decide either the underlying dispute or the arbitrability of the dispute.