[ v10 p507 ]
10:0507(88)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
10 FLRA No. 88 U.S. ARMY RESERVE COMPONENTS PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATION CENTER Activity and AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 900 Union Case No. O-AR-384 DECISION THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON AN EXCEPTION TO THE AWARD OF ARBITRATOR GERALD COHEN FILED BY THE UNION UNDER SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE) AND PART 2425 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS. THE AGENCY FILED AN OPPOSITION. THE DISPUTE IN THIS MATTER CONCERNS THE DENIAL OF EIGHT HOURS OF OVERTIME WORK TO THE GRIEVANT. THE GRIEVANT WAS EMPLOYED IN THE DATA MANAGEMENT SECTION, AND ON THE DAY IN DISPUTE EIGHT HOURS OF OVERTIME WERE AVAILABLE IN THE DATA MANAGEMENT SECTION, BUT REQUESTED THE OVERTIME IN THE CODING SECTION. BECAUSE SHE HAD REFUSED THE OVERTIME IN HER OWN SECTION, SHE WAS NOT PERMITTED TO WORK OVERTIME IN THE CODING SECTION. A GRIEVANCE WAS FILED AND SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION PROTESTING THE DENIAL OF OVERTIME WORK. THE ARBITRATOR STATED THE ISSUE TO BE WHETHER THE ACTIVITY VIOLATED THE PARTIES' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. THE ARBITRATOR DETERMINED THAT MANAGEMENT'S ACTIONS IN DENYING THE OVERTIME TO THE GRIEVANT WERE FULLY CONSISTENT WITH ARTICLE XII OF THE AGREEMENT RELATING TO OVERTIME. IN ADDITION, THE ARBITRATOR CONCLUDED THAT NO PAST PRACTICE IN FAVOR OF THE GRIEVANT'S CLAIM HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED. ACCORDINGLY, AS HIS AWARD THE ARBITRATOR DENIED THE GRIEVANCE. IN ITS EXCEPTION THE UNION CONTENDS THAT THE ARBITRATOR FAILED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE SUBMITTED OF THE INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THE OVERTIME ARTICLE OF THE PARTIES' AGREEMENT AND ERRED IN NOT FINDING THAT A PAST PRACTICE IN FAVOR OF THE GRIEVANCE HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED. HOWEVER, THE EXCEPTION DOES NOT DEMONSTRATE THAT THE AWARD IS DEFICIENT. AS NOTED, THE ARBITRATOR RESOLVED PRECISELY THE ISSUE OF THE INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF ARTICLE XII OF THE AGREEMENT RELATING TO OVERTIME WHEN HE EXPRESSLY DETERMINED THAT MANAGEMENT'S ACTIONS WERE FULLY CONSISTENT WITH THAT PROVISION OF THE AGREEMENT. FURTHERMORE, DISAGREEMENT WITH THE ARBITRATOR'S REJECTION OF A CLAIMED PAST PRACTICE PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. E.G., INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL OFFICE AND NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, CHAPTER 22, 8 FLRA NO. 58(1982). ACCORDINGLY, THE UNION'S EXCEPTION IS DENIED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., NOVEMBER 23, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY