Supreme Court term begins with case of workers’ rights
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court opened a high-profile term Monday with a case about employees’ rights that could affect an estimated 25 million workers.
Justice Neil Gorsuch, in his first full term on the bench, was silent during an otherwise lively argument in which the justices seemed closely divided.
The case is of considerable importance to employers and their workers because it involves how employees can complain about pay and conditions in the workplace.
The issue is whether businesses can force employees to individually use arbitration to resolve disputes. The case pits labour laws intended to allow workers to band together against an older law encouraging the use of arbitration, instead of the courts.