First Circuit Enforces Arbitration of ERISA Dispute

The First Circuit concluded that, pursuant to the applicable collective bargaining agreement, it was for an arbitrator, not the court, to decide whether the union's claim that the employer failed to properly fund a defined benefit pension plan was preempted by ERISA. The First Circuit explained that the arbitration clause in the CBA clearly applied to the dispute and there is no prohibition on the arbitration of ERISA claims. The case is Prime Healthcare Servs.–Landmark LLC v. United Nurses & Allied...