[ v08 p387 ]
08:0387(77)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
8 FLRA No. 77 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, WATERVLIET ARSENAL (Activity) and NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL R2-98 (Union) Case No. O-AR-338 ORDER DISMISSING EXCEPTIONS THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON EXCEPTIONS TO THE AWARD OF ARBITRATOR DANA E. EISCHEN FILED BY THE ACTIVITY PURSUANT TO SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE AND SECTION 2425.1 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS. FOR THE REASONS STATED BELOW, THE ACTIVITY'S EXCEPTIONS MUST BE DISMISSED AS UNTIMELY FILED. UNDER SECTION 7122(B) OF THE STATUTE AND SECTION 2425.1(B) OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS, THE TIME LIMIT FOR FILING AN EXCEPTION TO AN ARBITRATION AWARD IS THIRTY DAYS BEGINNING ON AND INCLUDING THE DATE ON THE AWARD. ADDITIONALLY, UNDER SECTION 2429.21 OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS, WHENEVER THE REGULATIONS REQUIRE THE FILING OF A DOCUMENT, SUCH DOCUMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE AUTHORITY BEFORE THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THE LAST DAY OF THE TIME LIMIT. THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD IN THIS CASE, AS INCLUDED IN THE ACTIVITY'S SUBMISSION, IS DATED DECEMBER 15, 1981. THEREFORE, UNDER THE ABOVE-CITED PROVISIONS, THE ACTIVITY'S EXCEPTIONS WERE DUE IN THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF THE AUTHORITY NO LATER THAN JANUARY 13, 1982. WHILE IT APPEARS THAT THE ACTIVITY SOUGHT TO ACCOMPLISH TIMELY FILING BY CONTRACTING WITH A COMMERCIAL COURIER ON JANUARY 12, 1982, FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY TO THE AUTHORITY, DUE TO A NUMBER OF CIRCUMSTANCES THE EXCEPTIONS WERE NOT ACTUALLY DELIVERED TO THE AUTHORITY UNTIL JANUARY 20, 1982. IN THAT REGARD, THE AUTHORITY IS NOT EMPOWERED TO WAIVE OR EXTEND THE TIME LIMITS FOR FILING EXCEPTIONS TO ARBITRATION AWARDS. ACCORDINGLY, AS THE ACTIVITY'S EXCEPTIONS WERE UNTIMELY FILED, THE EXCEPTIONS ARE HEREBY DISMISSED. FOR THE AUTHORITY. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 8, 1982 JAMES J. SHEPARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR