[ v06 p706 ]
06:0706(123)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
6 FLRA No. 123 MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE, BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA (Activity) and AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 1482 (Union) Case No. O-AR-274 ORDER DISMISSING EXCEPTIONS THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON EXCEPTIONS TO THE AWARD OF ARBITRATOR JOSEPH F. GENTILE FILED BY THE UNION PURSUANT TO SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS, STATUTE (5 C.F.R. 7122(A)) AND SECTION 2425.1 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 C.F.R. 2425.1). FOR THE REASONS STATED BELOW, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS MUST BE DISMISSED AS UNTIMELY FILED. SECTION 2425.1(B) OF THE AUTHORITY'S REGULATIONS, IMPLEMENTING SECTION 7122(B) OF THE STATUTE, PROVIDES THAT THE TIME LIMIT FOR FILING AN EXCEPTION TO AN ARBITRATION AWARD IS THIRTY DAYS BEGINNING ON AND INCLUDING THE DATE OF THE AWARD. ADDITIONALLY, UNDER SECTIONS 2429.21 AND 2429.24(B) AND APPENDIX A OF THE REGULATIONS, ANY SUCH EXCEPTION MUST BE FILED WITH THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF THE AUTHORITY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND RECEIVED IN THAT OFFICE BEFORE THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THE LAST DAY OF THE PRESCRIBED TIME LIMIT. THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD IN THIS CASE, AS INCLUDED WITH THE UNION'S SUBMISSION, IS DATED JULY 15, 1981. THEREFORE, UNDER THE ABOVE-CITED PROVISIONS OF THE AUTHORITY'S REGULATIONS, THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS WERE DUE IN THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF THE AUTHORITY, IN WASHINGTON, D.C., BEFORE THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON AUGUST 13, 1981. HOWEVER, THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS, INITIALLY MISFILED WITH THE AUTHORITY'S LOS ANGELES REGIONAL OFFICE ON AUGUST 18, 1981, WERE NOT PROPERLY FILED IN THE NATIONAL OFFICE UNTIL AUGUST 24, 1981. THUS, WITHOUT PASSING UPON WHETHER A WAIVER OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR FILING IN THE NATIONAL OFFICE MIGHT BE WARRANTED IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS WERE NOT TIMELY FILED BY AUGUST 13, 1981, AS REQUIRED. IN THIS REGARD, THE AUTHORITY IS NOT EMPOWERED TO EXTEND OR WAIVE THE TIME LIMIT FOR FILING EXCEPTIONS TO ARBITRATORS' AWARDS. ACCORDINGLY AS THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS WERE UNTIMELY FILED, AND APART FROM OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE UNION'S APPEAL IS HEREBY DISMISSED. FOR THE AUTHORITY. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPTEMBER 29, 1981 JAMES J. SHEPARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR