Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit January 23, 1984, 83-5519 (Santiago Amaro v. The Continental Can Company)

SKOPIL, Circuit Judge:

INTRODUCTION

In this case we are confronted with the competing tensions of access to the courts and arbitration. The issue presented is whether an arbitration award on a grievance under a collective bargaining agreement is res judicata of an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) claim arising out of the same facts.