The author presents data revealing that current labor arbitration procedures derive not from statutes, court decisions or the common agreement of the parties, but from (1) the arbitrators before whom the cases were presented; (2) the World War II-era War Labor Board; (3) the National Academy of Arbitrators (NAA); (4) the publication of proceedings of the NAA, procedural guide-lines, and arbitration awards; (5) the power of the American Arbitration Association (AAA); and (6) the influence of lawyer advocates.