Wide use found of mandatory arbitration

More than half the nation’s private sector workers are barred from the courthouse if they have disputes over pay, working conditions or discrimination, according to survey of employers about their use of mandatory arbitration contracts.

A report by Alexander J.S. Colvin, professor of conflict resolution at Cornell University, found that 56 percent of private sector nonunion workers are subject to mandatory arbitration, barring them from the courts for a wide variety of legal claims, including overtime and minimum wage violations, retaliation and discrimination for age, sex, race, national origin and disability. The arbitration contracts are typically a condition of employment.