Industrial Professional & Technical Workers International Union v. Worldtec Group International

MEMORANDUM *

Worldtec Group International, Inc. (“WGI”) appeals various decisions of the *529 district court confirming arbitration awards granted in favor of the Industrial Professional and Technical Workers International Union, SIUNA, AFL-CIO (“the Union”). We affirm in part and dismiss in part. Because the parties are familiar with the factual and procedural history of the cases, we will not recount it here.

I

WGI’s primary argument in the consolidated appeals is that it was under no obligation to submit to arbitration. WGI argues that the Union had disclaimed its interest in representing WGI employees through a letter the Union’s president sent to a third party indicating that the Union had “decided to have another union come in and take over the contract.”

WGI’s contention is precluded by collateral estoppel. Under the doctrine of collateral estoppel, a court’s decision on an issue of fact or law necessary to its judgment precludes relitigation of that issue in different causes of action filed against the same party. Hydranautics v. FilmTec Corp., 204 F.3d 880, 885 (9th Cir.2000). Federal law governs the collateral estoppel effect of a case decided by a federal court.…