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08:0107(21)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
8 FLRA No. 21 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, OFFICE OF DEPENDENTS SCHOOLS Agency and OVERSEAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Union Case No. 0-AR-153 DECISION THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON EXCEPTIONS TO THE AWARD OF ARBITRATOR J. HARVEY DALY FILED BY THE UNION UNDER SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE) (5 U.S.C. 7122(A)) AND PART 2425 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 CFR PART 2425). /1/1 THE AGENCY FILED AN OPPOSITION. ACCORDING TO THE ARBITRATOR THE ISSUE SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION QUESTIONED WHETHER THE GRIEVANT HAD BEEN UNJUSTLY DENIED A PROMOTION AND WHETHER THE GRIEVANCE HAD BEEN TIMELY FILED. THE ARBITRATOR DETERMINED UNDER THE PARTIES' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT THE GRIEVANCE WAS UNTIMELY BECAUSE IT DID NOT MEET THE 10-DAY FILING REQUIREMENT AND BECAUSE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DELAY DID NOT QUALIFY FOR AN EXCEPTION TO THAT 10-DAY REQUIREMENT. CONCLUDING THAT THE GRIEVANT HAD ACCORDINGLY RELINQUISHED HIS RIGHTS UNDER THE AGREEMENT AND THAT THEREFORE IT COULD NOT BE FOUND THAT THE GRIEVANT HAD BEEN UNJUSTLY DENIED A PROMOTION, THE ARBITRATOR DENIED THE GRIEVANCE. IN ITS EXCEPTIONS TO THE AWARD, THE UNION CONTENDS THAT THE AWARD IS DEFICIENT BECAUSE THE ARBITRATOR'S DETERMINATION THAT THE GRIEVANCE WAS NOT TIMELY FILED FAILS TO DRAW ITS ESSENCE FROM THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AND IS BASED ON A NONFACT. HOWEVER, THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS CONSTITUTE NOTHING MORE THAN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE ARBITRATOR'S FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE GRIEVANT'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE PARTIES' AGREEMENT AND CONSEQUENTLY PROVIDE NO BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. SEE, E.G., AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 169 AND TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, AIR LOGISTICS CENTER, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, 7 FLRA NO. 8(1981); U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY SERVICE AND NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF FOOD INSPECTION LOCALS, AFGE, AFL-CIO, 6 FLRA NO. 48(1981). ACCORDINGLY, THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS ARE DENIED. /2/ ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., FEBRUARY 11, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES: --------------- /1/ THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS WERE INITIALLY ORDERED DISMISSED AS UNTIMELY FILED (4 FLRA NO. 74(1980)), AN ORDER SUBSEQUENTLY RESCINDED BY AN ORDER DATED JUNE 15, 1981 (FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY REPORT OF CASE DECISIONS NO. 85, JUNE 18, 1981). /2/ IN ITS EXCEPTIONS THE UNION ALSO SOUGHT REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES FOR THE GRIEVANT. HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD AND THIS DECISION OF THE AUTHORITY, THERE IS NO BASIS FOR AN AWARD OF ATTORNEY FEES TO THE GRIEVANT.