73 FLRA No. 63

 

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

OF INDEPENDENT LABOR

LOCAL 11
(Union)

 

and

 

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS

FORT EUSTIS, VIRGINIA

(Agency)

 

0‑AR‑5808

 

_____

 

DECISION

 

October 18, 2022

 

_____

 

Before the Authority:  Ernest DuBester, Chairman, and

Colleen Duffy Kiko and Susan Tsui Grundmann, Members

 

1. Statement of the Case

 

Arbitrator Richard R. Giacolone found that the Agency did not violate the parties’ collective‑bargaining agreement by awarding different pay increases to bargaining-unit and non-bargaining-unit employees.  The Union filed exceptions challenging the award on essence and nonfact grounds.  Because the Union does not demonstrate that the award is deficient on either ground, we deny the exceptions.

 

1. Background and Arbitrator’s Award

 

As relevant here, the Union filed a grievance alleging that the Agency violated the parties’ agreement by failing to award pay increases in a “fair and equitable manner.”[1]  Specifically, the Union asserted that the Agency awarded bargaining-unit employees                      (unit employees) a lesser increase than non‑unit employees.  The dispute proceeded to arbitration, where the parties stipulated the issues as whether “the Agency follow[ed] the terms of the [parties’] agreement in determining performance-based pay increases for covered bargaining[‑]unit employees” and “[i]f not, what shall be the remedy?”[2]

 

The Arbitrator found that the Union “established” that, for at least six years, the Agency awarded unit employees 1% increases for satisfactory appraisals and 2% for outstanding appraisals, but awarded non-unit employees 2% and 4% increases for the same ratings, respectively.[3]  

 

Article 2 of the parties’ agreement defines an “employee” as a “bargaining[-]unit member described in Article 1.”^[4]  Article 26 guarantees unit employees who receive an “outstanding” performance rating an increase of no less than 2% of their annual salary or gross income earned during the rating period, and guarantees those who receive a “satisfactory” rating an increase of no less than 1%.[5]  Additionally, Article 6 provides that the Agency “agrees to treat all employees in a fair and equitable manner.”[6] 

 

The Arbitrator rejected the Union’s argument that Article 6 means that the Agency was required to award unit and non-unit employees the same percentage of increases.  On this point, the Arbitrator determined that Article 2’s definition of employee means that the agreement only applies to unit employees.  Further, the Arbitrator found that Article 26 “states clearly” that the Agency must award unit employees “who receive[d] a rating of outstanding         . . . [no less than a] 2% pay increase and [no less than] 1% if rated satisfactory.”[7] 

 

The Arbitrator also rejected the Union’s argument that the Agency violated the parties’ agreement by treating the “no-less-than” language “as a ceiling and not a floor for awarding salary increases.”[8]  The Arbitrator found that the Agency awarded unit employees higher increases after the Union filed its grievance.  However, the Arbitrator credited testimony from the Agency Director that the higher increases were temporary and were “directly attributed” to funding received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act[9] (CARES Act) “to reward employees for service to the Agency during the [COVID-19] pandemic.”[10]  Therefore, the Arbitrator found that the Union had not demonstrated that the Agency “failed to follow the terms of the [parties’] agreement in determining performance-based pay increases for covered . . . unit employees.”[11]  Consequently, the Arbitrator denied the grievance.

 

On April 26, 2022, the Union filed exceptions to the award.  On May 27, 2022, the Agency filed an opposition to the Union’s exceptions.[12] 

 

1. Analysis and Conclusions

    

1. The award is not based on a nonfact.

    

The Union argues that the award is based on nonfacts.[13]  To establish that an award is based on a nonfact, the excepting party must demonstrate that a central fact underlying the award is clearly erroneous, but for which the arbitrator would have reached a different result.[14]  As relevant here, disagreement with an arbitrator’s evaluation of evidence, including the weight to be accorded such evidence, does not establish that an award is based on a nonfact.[15]

 

First, the Union notes that the Arbitrator credited testimony that the Agency began awarding unit employees higher increases due to its receipt of the CARES Act funding, but contends that the Agency presented no evidence to support that testimony.[16]  The Union’s contention disagrees with the Arbitrator’s evaluation of the evidence.  Therefore, it does not provide a basis for finding the award is based on a nonfact.[17]

 

Second, the Union asserts that the Arbitrator erroneously found that unit employees’ performance system “differed significantly” from non-unit employees’ performance system.[18]  The Union maintains that, while the Arbitrator does not appear to have relied on the differences between the performance systems to conclude that the Agency did not violate the agreement, “it is unclear what exactly the [A]rbitrator’s decision and award is based on.”[19]  Although the Arbitrator discussed testimony regarding differences between the performance systems, the Arbitrator relied on provisions in the parties’ agreement to resolve the issues[20] – and found that the pay increases were consistent with Article 26’s requirements.[21]  Therefore, the Union’s argument does not demonstrate that a central fact underlying the award is clearly erroneous, but for which the Arbitrator would have reached a different result.[22]

 

1. The award draws its essence from the parties’ agreement.

    

The Union asserts that the award fails to draw its essence from the agreement because the Arbitrator “declin[ed] to apply the undisputed facts” that the Agency did not treat unit employees fairly and equitably as compared to non-unit employees, and improperly capped the pay increases available to unit members.[23]  The Authority will find that an award fails to draw its essence from an agreement when the appealing party establishes that the award:  (1) cannot in any rational way be derived from the agreement; (2) is so unfounded in reason and fact and so unconnected with the wording and purposes of the agreement as to manifest an infidelity to the obligation of the arbitrator; (3) does not represent a plausible interpretation of the agreement; or (4) evidences a manifest disregard of the agreement.[24]

 

Here, the Arbitrator found that, because Article 2 defines employees as unit employees, Article 6 only applied to how the Agency treated unit employees.[25]  The Arbitrator also found that the increases awarded to unit employees complied with the percentages established in Article 26.[26]  These conclusions are consistent with the relevant provisions’ wording.  Therefore, the Union’s argument does not demonstrate that the Arbitrator’s interpretation of any of these provisions is irrational, unfounded, implausible, or in manifest disregard of the agreement.[27]

 

1. Decision

 

We deny the Union’s exceptions.