County College of Morris Staff Association and Victor Muller, Plaintiffs-Respondents v. County College of Morris…

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey reversed the Appellate Division and reinstated the Chancery Division's judgment that the employee Victor Muller was properly discharged for cause. The Court held that the arbitrator exceeded his contractual authority by imposing a progressive‑discipline requirement not found in the collective bargaining agreement and by reducing the penalty from discharge to suspension. The Court emphasized that an arbitrator must not add, alter, or modify the parties' agreement. Justice Wilentz, dissenting, argued that the arbitrator's determination of just cause should control and that the award should be affirmed.