The Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico has confirmed an arbitration ruling regarding the conduct of an employee of the Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA). This decision affects labor relations and arbitration processes within the public sector in Puerto Rico.
The case, Hermandad Independiente De Empleados Profesionales De La AAA (HIEPAAA) v. Autoridad De Acueductos Y Alcantarillados (AAA), was filed under docket number TA2026CE01016. The court issued its ruling on August 24, 2026, following a request for certiorari from the Hermandad Independiente de Empleados Profesionales de la AAA. The union sought to challenge a lower court's decision that upheld an arbitration ruling regarding the dismissal of an employee, José E. González Ortiz.
The dispute arose after González was accused of inappropriate conduct in the workplace, leading to an investigation by the AAA’s Human Resources department. The investigation concluded that González violated conduct rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement. Following this, the AAA decided to terminate his employment, prompting the union to seek arbitration.
Background
The Hermandad Independiente de Empleados Profesionales de la AAA (HIEPAAA) represents employees of the AAA, a public corporation responsible for water services in Puerto Rico. The union filed a petition for arbitration after the AAA terminated González for allegedly disrespectful and aggressive behavior toward a supervisor.
On June 10, 2022, González reportedly raised his voice and made threatening gestures toward his supervisor, which led to an investigation. The investigation found sufficient evidence to support the AAA's decision to terminate him. The union argued that the termination process violated the collective bargaining agreement, claiming that the AAA failed to follow proper procedures.
After the union filed for arbitration, the arbitrator, José F. Pueyo Font, ruled that the AAA had followed the agreed-upon procedures and that the case was arbitrable. The union subsequently challenged this ruling in the Tribunal de Primera Instancia, which upheld the arbitrator's decision, leading to the current appeal.
The Ruling
The Court of Appeals of Puerto Rico ruled against the union's request for certiorari, thereby affirming the lower court's decision to uphold the arbitration ruling. The court stated, "The matter to be resolved in this case pertains to procedural arbitrability, which is within the jurisdiction of the arbitrator and not the judicial forum."
In its decision, the court emphasized the importance of respecting the arbitration process and the limited grounds for judicial review of arbitration awards. The judges on the panel included President Judge Lebrón Nieves, Judge Rivera Torres, and Judge Cruz Hiraldo. The court found no evidence of fraud, improper conduct by the arbitrator, or violation of due process that would warrant overturning the arbitration ruling.
Impact
This ruling has significant implications for labor relations in Puerto Rico, particularly regarding how disputes are handled between public sector employees and their employers. By upholding the arbitration ruling, the court reinforced the authority of arbitrators in resolving workplace disputes and the importance of following established procedures in the arbitration process.
The decision also serves as a reminder to unions and employers about the binding nature of arbitration agreements and the limited scope for judicial intervention. It underscores the need for both parties to adhere to the terms of their collective bargaining agreements and the arbitration process.
What's Next
While the union can no longer appeal this ruling, it may seek to address the underlying issues through other means, such as negotiating changes to the collective bargaining agreement or pursuing other grievances related to employee conduct and discipline. Details were not available in the court filing regarding any related cases pending.