Air Line Pilots Association International v. Federal Express Corporation , 139 F. Supp. 3d 320 ( 2015 )


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  • UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
    FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
    .)
    AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION, INT’L, )
    Petitioner, )
    )
    Ve‘ ) Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-00944-RDM
    )
    FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION, )
    Respondent. )
    L ____ _ _ ____ L -_ _ J
    ,me
    In this case, plaintiff, Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (“ALPA”), brings an action
    against Federal Express Corporation (“FedEx”)lseeking to compel FedEx’s compliance with an
    arbitration award issued by a System Board of Adjustment (“System Board” or “Board”).
    Compl. 1. FedEx responds with a counterclaim against ALPA, seeking a declaratory judgment
    that its current dispute with ALPA qualifies as a “minor dispute” under the Railway Labor Act
    (“RLA”), 45 U.S.C. § 151 et"seq., which the System Board has exclusive jurisdiction to resolve
    under Section 204 of the RLA, 45 U.S.C. § 184. This matter is before the Court on plaintiff’s
    motion for judgment on the pleadings, or for summary judgment in the alternative, and on
    defendant’s motion for summary judgment.
    For the following reasons and after consideration of the parties’ briefing and relevant
    legal standards, ALPA’S motion for judgment on the pleadings or, in the alternative, motion for
    summary judgment will be DENIED, and FedEX’s motion for summary judgment will be
    GRANTED.
    I. BACKGROUND
    Defendant FedEx is a corporation engaged in the business of worldwide package delivery
    and is considered a “common carrier by air” engaged in the business of providing air services in
    interstate commerce under the RLA, 45 U.S.C. § 181. Compl. 1—2; Answer 5.
    Plaintiff ALPA is an unincorporated labor organization and is the exclusive bargaining
    representative of pilots employed by FedEx. Compl. 1; Answer 5. ALPA and FedEx are parties
    to a collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”), effective 2011, which establishes the wages,
    benefits, and working conditions of FedEx pilots. Compl. 3; Answer 2. The CBA specifically
    governs the assignment of flying duties to all active pilots at FedEx. Def.’s SOMF 1, 11 2.
    In furtherance of Section 204 of the RLA, Section 21 of the CBA establishes an
    arbitration panel—the System Board—to issue final and binding decisions regarding disputes
    “growing out of grievances, or out of the interpretation or application of agreements concerning
    rates of pay, rules, or working conditions.” P1.’s SOMF 2, 11 6.
    FedEx hired Captain Patricia Ahneman as a pilot in 1990 and terminated her employment
    in June 2013 for (1) “operating FedEx aircraft without being in possession of a valid medical
    certificate during 2008 and 2009” in a manner “‘without justification, inexcusable and
    constituted intentional or reckless disregard’ of FAA regulations, FedEx rules and the CBA,” and
    (2) providing “dishonest testimony” in the internal hearing prior to her termination. Def.’s
    SOMF 2, 117.
    Ahneman challenged her termination, and the System Board heard the dispute in
    September 2013. Compl. 4, 11 14; Answer 8, 11 14. The Board issued a final Decision and Award
    (“Award”) in November 2013 and sustained Ahneman’s grievance. Compl. 4, 11 15; Answer 6, 11
    7. It held that “[t]he grievant shall forthwith, no later than 10 days from the date of this decision,
    be reinstated to her former position and made whole.” Id.
    or application of agreements concerning rates of pay, rules, or working conditions” to be “minor
    disputes.” 45 U.S.C. §§ 153 First(i) & 184.
    Minor disputes are within the exclusive jurisdiction of system boards. See Consol. Rail
    Corp. v. Ry. Labor Execs. Ass ’17 (“Conrail”), 
    491 U.S. 299
    , 303—04 (1989) (“A minor dispute in
    the railroad industry is subject to compulsory and binding arbitration before the National
    Railroad Adjustment Board, § 3, or before an adjustment board established by the employer and
    the unions representing the employees. . . . The Board . . . has exclusive jurisdiction over minor"
    disputes”).
    The Supreme Court of the United States has established a “relatively light burden” on a
    party asserting a “minor dispute” and thus claiming the exclusive arbitral jurisdiction under the
    RLA. See id at 307 (“Where an employer asserts a contractual right to take a contested action,
    the ensuing dispute is minor if the action is arguably justified by the terms of the parties’
    collective—bargaining agreement”). According to the Court in Conrail, a minor dispute “relates
    either to the meaning or proper application of a particular provision with reference to a specific
    situation or to an omitted case.” Id. at 303.
    “If the disputed action of one of the parties can arguably be justified by the existing
    agreement . . . the controversy is a minor dispute within the exclusive province of the National
    Railroad Adjustment Board.” Id. at 306 (internal citation and quotations omitted). Additionally,
    “[C]ollective-bargaining agreements may include implied, as well as express, terms,” and “it is
    well established that the parties’ ‘practice, usage and custom’ is of significance in interpreting
    their agreement.” Id. at 311.
    Specifically, “If an arbitral award raises bona fide interpretation questions in the wake of
    post arbitration conduct, those inquiries must be satisfied by the appropriate adjustment board,
    11
    not by a district court.” Am. Train Dispatchers Dep ’t, 857 F. Supp. at 1280—82. It is not the duty
    of district courts to define the scope of an arbitration award when doing so involves
    interpretation of the parties’ collective bargaining agreement. Id. at 1282. For when there is a
    genuine disagreement regarding the meaning of an award, and such a disagreement involves
    interpretation of the agreement, then “such disagreement amounts to a minor dispute” that must
    “be resolved by arbitration, not by judicial interpretation.” Id.; 4'5 U.S.C. § 153 First(i); see also
    Belt R.""C0., 658 F. Supp. at 139 (“The court can and should resolve any issues of lack of clarity
    or ambiguity unless those issues implicate an area which is within the special expertise of the
    Board, such as interpretation of the collective bargaining agreement or the actual merits of the
    claim”).
    ii. Analysis
    In this case, FedEx has met the “relatively light burden” established by the Supreme
    Court and has demonstrated the existence of a minor dispute between the parties. FedEx
    contends that it has discretion to withhold a pilot from training and flight assignments with pay.
    It bases this claim on the parties’ CBA and past practices. Maxwell Decl. 5—6. FedEx also asserts
    that it is “aware of no situation where ALPA challenged FedEx’s discretion in this area” prior to
    the current litigation. Def.’s Mot. Summ. J. 24.
    ALPA, on the other hand, disputes the contractual authority of FedEx to withhold a pilot
    from training. Pl.’s Answer CC 6, 1] 13. It additionally claims that “[a]ny ambiguity about the
    meaning of ‘reinstatement’ has been ‘manufactured’ by FedEx solely to delay relief and to
    undermine the statutory dispute resolution process established by the RLA.” Pl.’s Mot. J.
    Av
    Pleadings 19. But there is no evidence that the defendant has “manufactured” the ambiguities in
    12
    this case to delay relief. As previously discussed, FedEx complied with the Board’s decision to
    the extent that the award was unambiguous.
    Unlike in cases cited by the plaintiff, ALPA has not pointed to any proof that FedEx is
    attempting to circumvent the Board’s decision or is refusing to comply with the order. Bhd. of
    Locomotive Eng ’rs & Trainmen v. Union Pac. RR. C0,, 
    500 F.3d 591
    , 593 (7th Cir. 2007); Bhd.
    of Locomotive Eng ’rs v. Union Pac. RR, 
    822 F. Supp. 2d 793
    , 799 (N .D. Ill. 2011). Rather,
    there is an obvious disagreement at hand regarding the meaning of “reinstate” with regard to
    FedEx’s decision not to retrain Ahneman—a dispute necessarily involving interpretation of the
    CBA.
    Conversations between representatives of FedEx and ALPA demonstrate that they did not
    agree on whether flight assignments were mandated by the Board’s award. Def.’s Memo. Supp.
    Mot. Summ. J. 6—7. FedEx did not promise at any point that the grievant would be retrained.
    Rather, it made the decision to not train her based on reasons independent from the issues
    previously before the Board. Id. at 11. FedEx believed that under the CEA, no pilot is entitled to
    training or flights assignments when FedEx has safety concerns. Maxwell Decl. 5—6. This
    indicates FedEx’s sincere belief that this decision was within its professional discretion, based on
    the Agreement and past business practices.
    Thus, FedEx could not have known to ask the Board for clarification of the Award
    because it believed that it did reinstate Ahneman and made a separate decision within its
    contractual rights to not schedule her flights. Def.’s Memo. Supp. Mot. Summ. J. 11. If ALPA
    believed this decision by FedEx was a disciplinary action, as it seems to suggest, then it should
    have brought this grievance before a new arbitration board pursuant to CBA proceedings. Pl.’s
    Opp’n Def.’s Mot. Summ. J. 10—1 1; CBA § 19. Even if the current dispute involves a
    13
    disciplinary matter, this Court does not have jurisdiction to determine a minor disciplinary
    dispute between the parties.
    In conclusion, interpretation of the Award in question amounts to a “minor dispute.” The
    specific issue at hand—whether Ahneman must be trained and assigned flying duties—was not
    before the Board in any manner. It was not brought to the Board’s attention by the plaintiff and
    was not explicitly considered in the Board’s decision. The present dispute, therefore, falls under
    the exclusive jurisdiction of the System Board. This Court may not “enforce” the Award—even
    if it was able to—without infringing on the Board’s jurisdiction under the RLA.
    Though dealt with at length by the parties, the Court need not consider whether the
    Award qualifies for the “public policy” exception to enforcement. Def.’s Memo. Supp. Mot.
    S.umm. J. 28—29. This point is moot because the issue at hand is a minor dispute, involving
    interpretation of the Agreement not addressed by the awarding Board. The Award, therefore,
    cannot be enforced by this Court with regard to plaintiff’ s complaint.
    Also, the issue of additional compensation raised in later pleadings hinges on the training
    and flight assignment dispute and, consequently, is also outside the realm of this Court’s
    jurisdiction.
    ALPA’s complaint asks this Court to exceed its jurisdictional boundaries and decide a
    minor dispute amongst the parties. If ALPA wishes to challenge FedEx’s refusal to train
    Ahneman and assign flight duties to her, it must do so in the proper forum—before a system
    advisory board. "
    .- CONCLUSION
    For the foregoing reasons, petitioner’s motion for judgment on the pleadings or, in the
    alternative, summary judgment will be DENIED, respondent’s motion for summary judgment
    14
    will be GRANTED, and petitioner’s claim will be DISMISSED. A separate order consistent with
    this Memorandum Opinion shall issue this date, September 28, 2015.
    .. -;§,.C.'LA1\EERTH
    United States District Judge
    15
    Within the 10-day period, FedEx presented Ahneman with a baseline payment and
    reinstated her to her former position: an active pilot in not operationally qualified (“NOQ”)
    status, under which pilots are paid but not assigned flying duties. Def.’s SOMF 3—4. Ahneman
    had entered NOQ paid status in December 2012 after failing a line check and remained in this
    position until her termination in June 2013. Id.
    Since the Board’s Award, FedEx has also allowed Ahneman to bid for and be awarded
    “pay only” schedules that provide around $20,000 in wage-based compensation each month. Id.
    at 5, 1[2. In sum, as of the initiation of this litigation, Ahneman has received over $100,000 in
    backpay and over $250,000 in ongoing compensation. She has also received all benefits to which
    active pilots are entitled. Id. at 6, 1] 23.
    Around two months after the Board issued the Award, an ALPA representative asked
    FedEx when Ahneman could enter a training program and exit paid NOQ status. Id. at 6, 11 27.
    FedEx promptly responded that the issue was “still under review” (Tice Supp. Dec. 1] 10) and
    later informed ALPA that FedEx was discussing whether it would be willing to assign Ahneman
    flight duties due to safety concerns. Id. 1] 11.
    In late February 2014, FedEx made the decision not to retrain Ahneman or assign her
    flight duties for the remainder of her career because of safety and operational concerns. Id 11 15;
    see also id fl 20 (noting that Ahneman will turn sixty-five in October 2016 and thus will become
    legally ineligible to pilot the aircraft used in FedEx’s operations). FedEx asserts that these
    concerns were based on Ahneman’s “employment and training record” and were “distinct from
    the basis of her June 2013 termination and the System Board Award.” Def.’s SOMF 7, 11 33.
    The current dispute between ALPA and FedEx arose from this decision by FedEx to not
    assign Ahneman flying duties and to leave Ahneman in her former position of paid NOQ status.
    ALPA contends that Ahneman has not been fully reinstated because she has not been permitted
    to fly. In later memoranda before this Court, ALPA also argues that Ahneman has not been
    “made whole” because FedEx’s refusal to assign her flights duties has supposedly caused a
    diminution of her potential earnings. See Pl.’s Opp’n Def.’s Mot. Summ. J. 6 (“As a FedEx pilot
    flying its aircraft, Captain Ahneman could have earned additional compensation under various
    provisions of the CBA.”).
    After FedEx informed ALPA of its decision to not assign Ahneman flying duties, the
    parties engaged in a settlement discussion in attempt to resolve all claims and issues. Tice Supp.
    Dec. 1] 19. No agreement was reached, however, and ALPA initiated this litigation in June 2014.
    II. JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS
    Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c) provides that “[a]fter the pleadings are closed . . . a
    party may move for judgment on the pleadings.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(0). A motion for judgment on
    the pleadings should only be granted “where it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove
    no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Schuchart v. La
    T aberna Del Alabardero, Inc, 
    365 F.3d 33
    , 35 (DC. Cir. 2004) (internal citation omitted); see
    also Konah v. District ofColumbia, 
    915 F. Supp. 2d 7
    , 18 (D.D.C. 2013) (“A motion for
    judgment on the pleadings will be granted if the movant shows, at the close of the pleadings, that
    no issue of material fact remains to be resolved, and that he or she is entitled to judgment as a
    matter of law.”).
    Similar to the Rule 12(b)(6) standard, see Robinson-Reeder v. Am. Council on Educ, 532
    F'. Supp. 2d 6, 12 (D.D.C. 2008), aff’d, 417 F. App’x 4 (DC. Cir. 2011) (“The appropriate
    standard for reviewing a motion for judgment on the pleadings is the same as that applied to a
    motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be
    granted.”), this Court will dismiss a complaint under Rule 12(c) if the complaint does not contain
    sufficient factual allegations to “state a claim that relief is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp.
    v. Twombly, 
    550 U.S. 544
    , 570 (2007). A complaint is considered “plausible on its face” if it
    “pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant
    is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 
    556 U.S. 662
    , 663 (2009) (internal
    quotations omitted). The facts alleged “must be enough to raise a right to relief above the
    speculative level.” T wombly, 550 U.S. at 555.
    In evaluating a party’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(c), a court must accept all
    factual allegations contained in the complaint as true. Id. The court may not rely on facts outside
    of the pleadings and must construe all facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party.
    Barr v. Clinton, 
    370 F.3d 1196
    , 1199 (DC. Cir. 2004); Peters v. Nat ’l R. R. Passenger Corp, 
    966 F.2d 1483
    , 1485 (DC. Cir. 1992). “The court is limited to considering facts alleged in the
    complaint, any documents attached to or incorporated in the complaint, matters of which the
    court may take judicial notice, and matters of public record.” Robinson v. District of Columbia,
    
    403 F. Supp. 2d 39
    , 47 (D.D.C.‘2005) (citing EEOC v. St. Francis Xavier Parochial Sch, 
    117 F.3d 621
    , 624 (DC. Cir. 1997)).
    Accepting all facts pleaded as true, and viewing all inferences in a light most favorable to
    FedEx as the non-moving party, the Court finds that FedEx’s counterclaim presents sufficient
    factual allegations to raise the right to relief above the speculative level. Thus, ALPA’s motion
    for judgment on the pleadings with respect to FedEx’s counterclaim will be DENIED.
    Also, the Court finds that ALPA’s complaint does not demonstrate that it is entitled to
    judgment as a matter of law. ALPA’s motion for judgment on the pleadings with respect to its
    claims against FedEx will be DENIED.
    III. SUMMARY JUDGMENT
    A. Legal Standard
    According to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, a court shall grant a motion for
    summary judgment when “there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is
    entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c).
    In determining whether a genuine issue of fact exists, the court must view all inferences
    in favor of the non—moving party. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp, 475 US.
    574, 587 (1986). Facts are considered “material” if they might affect the outcome of the case,
    Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc, 477 US. 242, 247 (1986), and factual disputes are “genuine” if
    a reasonable jury could potentially return a verdict for the non-moving party. Id. at 248.
    A party  opposition to a motion for summary judgment must present more than “the
    mere existence of a scintilla of evidence,” Konab, 915 F. Supp. 2d at 18, and “may not rest upon
    the mere allegation or denials of the adverse party’s pleading,” but must present “specific facts
    showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Anderson, 477 US. at 248; Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e).
    ; The opposing party must point to “affirmative evidence” that demonstrates the existence of
    disputed material facts in order to avoid summary judgment. Anderson, 477 US. at 256—67.
    B. ALPA’s Claim
    i. Legal Standard
    Under the RLA, a‘winning party at arbitration can seek enforcement of the award if the
    losing party does not comply with the award’s terms. 45 U.S.C. § 153 First(p). The scope of
    judicial review of RLA system board awards, however, is “amongst the narrowest known to
    law.” NorthwestAirlines, Inc. v. ALPA, 
    808 F.2d 76
    , 80 (DC. Cir. 1987).
    The RLA provides three specific grounds for refusal to enforce such awards: (1) failure
    by the system board to comply with RLA requirements; (2) failure by the system board to
    confine itself to matters within the scope of its jurisdiction; and (3) fraud or corruption by a
    member. of the system board. 45 U.S.C. § 153 First(p). If a party fails to comply with a system
    board decision that does not fall under one of the three preceding categories, district courts are
    authorized to enforce the decision and compel the party’s compliance. Id.
    Under specific circumstances, however, courts cannot “enforce” an arbitration award due‘
    to a lack of jurisdiction. First, district courts do not possess subject matter jurisdiction to enforce
    an ambiguous system board award. See Bhd. Ry. Carmen v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry.
    C0,, 
    956 F.2d 156
    , 160 (7th Cir. 1992) (“[T]he judicial duty to enforce an arbitration award . . . is
    neither a duty nor a license to interpret [the award].”); Air Line Pilots Ass ’n v. Trans World
    Airlines, Inc., 
    966 F. Supp. 870
    , 872—73 (E.D. Mo. 1997) (“If ALPA is seeking an interpretation
    of the Award, the Court agrees with [the defendant] that [the court] is without subject matter
    jurisdiction. The proper forum for such an interpretation is undoubtedly the System Board”). If
    an arbitration award is so “vague and indefinite that [it] cannot reasonably be enforced,” then the
    award must be remanded to the Board for clarification. Bha’. R. Carmen v. Belt R. Co., 658 F.
    Supp. 136, 138 (ND. 111. 1987).
    The RLA provides a mechanism for parties to return to the system board that issued an
    award for interpretation when disputes arise. See 45 U.S.C. § 153 First(m) (“In case a dispute
    arises involving an interpretation of the [system board] award, the division of the board upon
    request of either party shall interpret the award in light of the dispute”). Thus, the original
    system board that issued the decision, not a district court, is the proper forum for parties seeking
    interpretation of an ambiguous award.
    Also, district courts may not “enforce” an arbitration award if in doing so it would be
    required to interpret the parties’ collective bargaining agreement or past business practices. See
    Am. Train Dispatchers Dep’t v. Norfolk S. Ry. C0., 
    857 F. Supp. 1276
    , 1280—82 (ND. 111. 1994)
    (“If an arbitral award raises bonalflde interpretation questions in the wake of post arbitration
    conduct, those inquiries must be satisfied by the appropriate adjustment board, not by a district
    court”). This issue would amount to a “minor dispute” under the RLA, and thus fall within the
    exclusive jurisdiction of the system board. 45 U.S.C. §§ 153, 184.
    ii. Analysis
    ALPA and FedEx agree that the three statutory grounds for not enforcing a board award
    do not apply here. Pl.’s Mot. J. Pleadings 9; Def.’s Mem. Supp. Summ. J. 27. The Board
    complied with RLA requirements, had jurisdiction to issue its decision and award, and was not
    tainted by fraud or corruption. Id.
    The Board’s award—that the grievant be “reinstated to her former position and made:
    whole”—is, however, arguably ambiguous with respect to Ahneman’s future training and flight
    assignments. Though ALPA claims that the award is “unambiguous and clear on its face,” CC
    Answer W 18—19, the parties unmistakably do not agree on the meaning of “reinstate,” and the
    Board does not define “reinstate” in its opinion. FedEx claims that it has fully “reinstated”
    Ahneman because it returned Ahneman to her former position as an active pilot in paid NOQ
    status and provided her with all required backpay, benefits, and ongoing compensation. Def.’s
    Mem. Supp. Summ. J. 13—16. ALPA, in contrast, claims that FedEx has not “reinstated”
    Ahneman because it refuses to retrain her and assign her flight duties. Pl.’s Opp’n Def.’s Mot.
    Summ. J. 4—5.
    The plaintiff concedes that this dispute “concerns the meaning of the word
    ‘reinstatement.”’ Id. at 4. The plaintiff also defines “reinstate” as “to put someone back in a job
    or position that had been taken away”—exactly what FedEx purports to have done. Pl.’s Mot. J.
    Pleadings 11. Under the RLA procedure outlined in Section 153, ALPA could have remanded
    the interpretation issue to the Board, yet it chose not to do so. 45 U.S.C. § 153; Answer 8, 11 18. It
    now asks this Court to enforce a seemingly ambiguous award with respect to its requested relief,
    which the Court cannot do.
    ALPA also urges this Court to “fill in the details” of the Board’s “general principle of
    relief.” Pl.’s Mot. J. Pleadings 18. But this Court cannot “fill in the details” or “make ordinary
    interpretations of the award” in this instance without interpreting the Agreement and the parties’
    prior practices. Unlike in cases referenced by ALPA, the dispute at hand involves new factual
    issues and requires interpretation of the CBA. See Bhd. of Locomotive Eng ’rs & Trainmen v.
    BNSF Ry. C0. , 549 Fed. Appx. 780 (10th Cir. 2013) (enforcing an award that required no
    additional interpretation of the parties’ agreement); Continental Airlines, Inc. v. Air Line Pilots
    Ass ’n, Int ’1, 
    555 F.3d 399
     (5th Cir. 2009) (addressing the same issues previously presented to the
    arbitration board); NorthwestAirlines, Inc., 
    808 F.2d 76
     (same); Belt R. Co., 
    658 F. Supp. 136
    (same).
    In contrast with the cases cited by ALPA, FedEx did not challenge the award or refuse to
    abide by it. Pl.’s Mot. J. Pleadings 12—17 (citing Cont ’1 Airlines, Inc., 555 F.3d at 399; NetJets
    Aviation, Inc. v. Int ’1 Bhd. of Teamsters, Airline Div., 
    486 F.3d 935
     (6th Cir. 2007); Northwest
    Airlines, Inc., 808 F.2d at 76). FedEx reinstated Anheman to the extent that the Board’s decision
    unambiguously mandated it: FedEx returned the pilot to her former position and has continued to
    pay her accordingly.
    Furthermore, unlike in the cases cited by ALPA, the specific disputed issue—Ahneman’s
    flight assignment and training—was not before the original Board. Def.’s Memo. Supp. Mot.
    Summ. J. 18—19. Consequently, the Board’s decision is silent as to whether Ahneman is entitled
    to retraining and flight assignments. See FOP Metro Transit Police Labor Comm, Inc. v. Wash.
    Metro. Area Transit Audi, 
    780 F.3d 23
     8, 243 (4th Cir. 2015) (finding the arbitration award silent
    on the issue before the court because the issue was never before the arbitrators). This factor—the
    Board’s silence on the disputed issue—transforms interpretation of the arguably ambiguous
    award into a “minor dispute” under the RLA.
    In sum, this particular dispute regarding the meaning of “reinstate” and whether FedEx
    must assign flight duties to Ahneman unavoidably involves interpretation of the CBA and the
    parties’ prior practices, which qualifies the dispute as “minor” according to the RLA and pushes
    the disagreement outside the realm of this Court’s jurisdiction. The issue of Ahneman’s possible
    retraining and flight duty assignments was not before the Board and involves interpretation of the
    parties’ CBA. Therefore, the issue before this Court is a “minor dispute,” which precludes
    “enforcement” of the Award as requested by plaintiff. Further implications of the issue’s
    classification as a minor dispute are discussed in the following sections.
    C. FedEx’s Claim
    i. Legal Standard
    Congress enacted the RLA in order to promote efficiency and stability amongst carriers
    and employees. 45 U.S.C. § 151a. In furtherance of this goal, the RLA requires parties to resolve
    “minor disputes” through arbitration. Kulavic v. Chicago & Ill. Midland Ry. Ca, 
    1 F.3d 507
    , 512
    (7th Cir.1993). The FLA deems disputes “growing out of grievances, or out of the interpretation
    10