[ v08 p264 ]
08:0264(60)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
8 FLRA No. 60 THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF FIELD LABOR LOCALS, LOCAL 2513, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (Union) and U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (Agency) Case No. O-AR-344 ORDER DISMISSING EXCEPTIONS THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON EXCEPTIONS TO THE AWARD OF ARBITRATOR GEORGE NICOLAU FILED BY THE UNION PURSUANT TO SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (5 U.S.C. SEC. 7122(A)) AND SECTION 2425.1 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 C.F.R. SEC. 2425.1 (1981)). FOR THE REASONS STATED BELOW, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS MUST BE DISMISSED AS UNTIMELY FILED. SECTION 7122(B) OF THE STATUTE AND SECTION 2425.1(B) OF THE AUTHORITY'S REGULATIONS PROVIDE 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 IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND RECEIVED IN THAT OFFICE BEFORE THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THE LAST DAY OF THE PRESCRIBED TIME PERIOD. THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD IN THIS CASE, AS INCLUDED IN THE UNION'S SUBMISSION, IS DATED NOVEMBER 30, 1981. THEREFORE, UNDER SECTION 2425.1(B) 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 DECEMBER 29, 1981. HOWEVER, THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS, INITIALLY MISFILED WITH THE AUTHORITY'S NEW YORK REGIONAL OFFICE, /1/ WERE NOT PROPERLY FILED IN THE NATIONAL OFFICE UNTIL FEBRUARY 1, 1982. THUS, WITHOUT PASSING UPON WHETHER A WAIVER OR 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 DECEMBER 29, 1981, AS REQUIRED. IN THIS REGARD, THE AUTHORITY IS NOT EMPOWERED TO EXTEND OR WAIVE THE TIME LIMIT FOR FILING EXCEPTIONS TO ARBITRATOR'S AWARDS. ACCORDINGLY, AS THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS WERE UNTIMELY FILED, AND APART FROM OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE EXCEPTIONS ARE HEREBY DISMISSED. FOR THE AUTHORITY. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 24, 1982 JAMES J. SHEPARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR --------------- FOOTNOTES: --------------- /1/ THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS, DATED DECEMBER 30, 1981, WERE ORIGINALLY MAILED TO THE AUTHORITY'S FORMER ADDRESS, 1900 E STREET, NW., WASHINGTON, D.C., AND WERE RETURNED TO THE SENDER, AT WHICH TIME THE UNION MISFILED THE EXCEPTIONS WITH THE AUTHORITY'S NEW YORK REGIONAL OFFICE ON JANUARY 29, 1982.