Once an arbitrator issues an award, either an agency or a union may appeal the arbitrator's award by filing an exception with the Authority within 30 days after the date on which the Arbitrator served the award on the parties.  You must file exceptions or any opposition to exceptions with CIP.  The Authority's review of an arbitrator's award is very limited.  The Authority's Regulations and the Guide to Arbitration specify the grounds for appeal. 

In addition, you can find the information necessary for filing exceptions in the Checklist for Filing an Arbitration Appeal (Exceptions).  For additional information on the procedural requirements for filing arbitration exceptions, see Part 2425 and Part 2429 of the Authority's Regulations.  For more information on how the Authority has resolved particular kinds of arbitration exceptions, consult the Guide to Arbitration and review Authority Decisions.  

You can find more detailed information about the time limits for filing the various arbitration pleadings and how to file them here.  

If the information contained in these pages does not answer all of your questions, you may direct specific inquiries by phone to CIP at (771) 444-5805.

A union may file a petition for review with the Authority if the parties are involved in a negotiability dispute.  In most cases, the agency’s statement of position is due after the post-petition conference, which the Authority schedules to gather information regarding the proposals or provisions in dispute.  After the union receives a copy of the statement of position, the union must file a response to the statement.  And after the agency receives the union's response, the agency may file a reply.  You must file all of these filings with CIP.  

For a detailed explanation of negotiability disputes, see the Guide to Negotiability and Part 2424 of the Authority's Regulations.  

You can find more detailed information about the time limits for filing the various negotiability pleadings and how to file them here.  

Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (ADR)

Through our association with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), we will soon be able to offer Alternative Dispute Resolution services to assist parties in the resolution of their negotiability disputes.

Under the pilot program, before a negotiability petition for review is considered by the Authority’s Members for a decision, the Authority may refer such matters to the FMCS either on the Authority’s own initiative or based upon a request from the parties.  

Upon referring a negotiability appeal to FMCS, the Authority will inform the parties that it is placing the case in abeyance and will defer further processing of the case. 

The ADR procedure is expected to take between 30 to 60 days.

If the parties settle their entire dispute, FMCS will request that the parties notify the Authority in writing in order to enable the Authority to dismiss the negotiability appeal.  

If the parties do not settle their entire dispute, the Authority will resume processing of the negotiability petition for review.

Email the Case Intake and Publication Office at exloreadr@flra.gov or call (771) 444-5805 to request assistance or more information. 

If the information contained in these pages does not answer all of your questions, you may direct specific inquiries by phone to CIP at (771) 444-5805.

Parties can appeal an FLRA Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ's) recommended decision in an unfair-labor-practice (ULP) proceeding by filing exceptions with the Authority.  You must file exceptions or cross-exceptions to a recommended ALJ Decision, an opposition to such exceptions or cross-exceptions, or a related pleading, with CIP, preferably through the eFiling system.   

For more information on how to file ULP exceptions, cross-exceptions, oppositions, or other related pleadings, see Part 2423 of the Authority's Regulations.  

If the information contained in these pages does not answer all of your questions, you may direct specific inquiries by phone to CIP at (771) 444-5805.

A party who wants to appeal a Regional Director’s decision and order in a representation proceeding may file an application for review of a Decision and Order with the Authority, within 60 days of issuance of the Decision and Order.  You should file such an application for review of a Decision and Order, an opposition to an application for review, or related pleading, with CIP, preferably through the eFiling system.  

For more information on how to file an application for review or an opposition to an application for review, see Part 2422 of the Authority's Regulations.  

If the information contained in these pages does not answer all of your questions, you may direct specific inquiries by phone to CIP at (771) 444-5805.