Why are labour arbitration decisions rarely reviewed by courts?

Labour arbitration decisions are rarely reviewed by courts primarily because the awards rendered by arbitrators are typically fully complied with by both parties involved in the collective-bargaining agreement.1

Because labour arbitration serves as the final step in a grievance procedure designed to resolve disputes over the application of an existing contract, it functions as a definitive mechanism for industrial peace rather than as a substitute for ordinary court litigation. Arbitrators are granted the authority to render binding decisions without being constrained by the strict rules of court procedure regarding evidence or the burden of proof. While courts retain the authority to determine whether a specific dispute falls within the scope of the collective-bargaining agreement, they generally respect the arbitrator's role in interpreting the contract and resolving the underlying grievance.12