The U.S. Supreme Court on May 28 unanimously ruled that local last-mile delivery drivers, including those who never cross state lines, may qualify for an exemption from mandatory arbitration under a federal law.
A last-mile delivery driver is one who manages the final segment of the shipping process, moving goods from a distribution center directly to a retail store or a customer’s door.
The Federal Arbitration Act requires that arbitration clauses in employment contracts must be enforced unless the worker is a railroad employee, seaman, or any other class of workers participating in interstate commerce.
Companies often prefer arbitration to the courts, saying the process resolves cases with greater speed and reduced expense. Some consumer advocates prefer the courts because, in their view, the judicial system provides private citizens and consumers with more options and is less likely to side with the companies being sued….