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  • American Federation of Government Employees, Local 131 (Union) and United States, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Agency)

American Federation of Government Employees, Local 131 (Union) and United States, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Agency)

[ v60 p999 ]

60 FLRA No. 179

AMERICAN FEDERATION
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
LOCAL 131
(Union)

and

UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
MEDICAL CENTER
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA
(Agency)

0-AR-3949

_____

DECISION

May 31, 2005

_____

Before the Authority: Dale Cabaniss, Chairman, and
Carol Waller Pope and Tony Armendariz, Members

      This matter is before the Authority on exceptions to an award of Arbitrator Cary J. Williams filed by the Union under § 7122(a) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute) and part 2425 of the Authority's Regulations. The Agency filed an opposition to the Union's exceptions. [*] 

      Under § 7122(a) of the Statute, an award is deficient if it is contrary to any law, rule, or regulation; or it is deficient on other grounds similar to those applied by federal courts in private sector labor-management relations. Upon careful consideration of the entire record in this case, and Authority precedent, the Authority concludes that the award is not deficient on the grounds raised in the exceptions and set forth in § 7122(a). See United States Dep't of Veterans Affairs, Med. Ctr., N. Chi., Ill., 52 FLRA 387, 398 (1996) (award not deficient because of bias on the part of an arbitrator where excepting party fails to demonstrate that the award was procured by improper means, that there was partiality or corruption on the part of the arbitrator, or that the arbitrator engaged in misconduct that prejudiced the rights of the party); United States Dep't of the Navy, Naval Base, Norfolk, Va., 51 FLRA 305, 307-08 (1995) (award not deficient on ground that arbitrator exceeded his authority where excepting party does not establish that arbitrator failed to resolve an issue submitted to arbitration, disregarded specific limitations on his authority, or awarded relief to persons who were not encompassed within the grievance); and AFGE, Local 1668, 50 FLRA 124, 126 (1995) (award not deficient on ground that arbitrator failed to provide a fair hearing where excepting party fails to demonstrate that the arbitrator refused to hear or consider pertinent and material evidence, or that other actions in conducting the proceeding so prejudiced a party so as to affect the fairness of the proceeding as a whole).

      Accordingly, the Union's exceptions are denied.

Footnote * for 60 FLRA No. 179 - Authority's Decision

   We note that there is a procedural issue regarding the timeliness of the Agency's opposition. We have not considered that opposition in reaching our decision in this case. Because we find that the Union has failed to establish that the award is deficient, we find it unnecessary to reach the question of whether the opposition was timely filed. See AFGE, Local 3599, 53 FLRA 1267, 1267 n.* (1998).