Opinion
March 23, 1959
In an action to oust a trustee of a local union appointed by the international union, which action was settled by stipulation in open court before a Special Referee, the appeal is from an order of the Special Referee designating, on respondent's motion to resolve a dispute between the parties, a person to conduct, as to the local, referendums regarding proposed amendments of shipping rules, constitution and by-laws. Order affirmed, with $10 costs and disbursements. On the refusal of the agency, agreed upon by the parties, to serve, a dispute ensued as to the identity of the replacement. It was within the power of the Special Referee to make the designation. It had been stipulated that the Special Referee may make a final and binding disposition in the event of any dispute between the parties.
I am of the opinion that the parties did not intend that the Referee should have the power to make a new agreement of settlement for them. Their stipulation was that disputes between them should be submitted to the Referee for disposition. They did not agree that such disputes should be disposed of by an arbitrator designated by the Referee.