What types of documents can I file with CIP?

You must file all documents that you wish to, or must, serve on the Authority – the FLRA's three-Member quasi-judicial adjudicative body – with CIP.  

The four main types of documents that initiate an Authority case are:

• Exceptions to an arbitration award;
• Exceptions to an FLRA Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ's) recommended decision in an unfair-labor-practice (ULP) proceeding;
• An application for review of an FLRA Regional Director's Decision and Order in a representation proceeding; and 
• A petition for review in a negotiability proceeding.

You can also file the responsive filings to these four documents:

• An opposition to exceptions to an arbitration award;
• Cross-exceptions to an FLRA ALJ's decision in a ULP proceeding;
• An opposition to exceptions to an FLRA ALJ's decision in a ULP proceeding;
• An opposition to an application for review of an FLRA Regional Director's Decision and Order in a representation proceeding; and 
• An agency statement of position in a negotiability proceeding, as well as any response to such a statement, and any reply to such a response.   

You also file with CIP any motions, responses to motions, and responses to Authority orders with CIP.  Refer to our Guides & Manuals page for additional information, or call us at (771) 444-5805.

Can I file ULP charges with CIP?

No.  You must file ULP charges with the FLRA's Regional Offices.  Please contact the FLRA Regional Office with jurisdiction over your geographic location for more information.

Can Postal employees file a complaint with CIP?

No.  The FLRA does not have jurisdiction over the U.S. Postal Service or its employees.  You should direct complaints regarding the U.S. Postal Service to the National Labor Relations Board.  

Is this the Department of Labor?

No.  The FLRA is not part of the Department of Labor.  The FLRA is an independent federal agency that administers the labor-management relations program for 2.1 million non-Postal federal employees worldwide, approximately 1.2 million of whom are exclusively represented in more than 2,200 bargaining units.

What is the due date for filing exceptions to an award?

A party has 30 days beginning after the date of service of the award to file an exception with the Authority.

The date of service is NOT the date the party receives the award, but the date that the arbitrator does one of the following with the award:  deposits it in the U.S. mail; deposits it with a commercial-delivery service that will provide a record showing the date the document was tendered to the delivery service; emails it; or delivers it in person.  

• For service by mail, the date of service is the postmark date.  If there is no legible postmark, then the date of the award is the date of service.  
• For service by commercial delivery, the date of service is the date the arbitrator deposited the award with the commercial-delivery service.  If that date is not indicated, then the date of the award is the date of service.  
• For service by mail or commercial delivery ONLY, parties receive five additional days to file exceptions.  
• For service by email or fax, the date of transmission is the date of service.  
• For service by personal delivery, the date of delivery is the date of service. 

If the arbitrator serves the award by more than one method, then the first method of service is controlling when determining the date of service.  But if the arbitrator serves the award by email, fax, or personal delivery on one day, and by mail or commercial delivery on the same day, the excepting party will NOT receive an additional five days for filing the exceptions.

You can find these requirements in Part 2425 and Part 2429 of the Authority's Regulations.  Also see the Guide to Arbitration.

How can I determine the "filing date" for a document?

• Filed by Mail?

If there is a legible postmark, then the Authority considers a document submitted by mail filed on that date.  But if there is no legible postmark, then the Authority considers the document filed five days prior to receipt by the Authority.

• Filed by Commercial Delivery?

A document submitted by commercial delivery (e.g., Fed Ex, UPS) is considered filed on the date of deposit with a commercial-delivery service that will provide a record showing the date the document was tendered to the delivery service.

• Filed by Personal Delivery or Fax?

Documents filed by personal delivery or fax are considered filed on the date of receipt by the Authority.  But documents must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET to be considered filed on a given day.  

• Filed electronically through use of the FLRA's eFiling system?

For documents filed electronically through use of the FLRA's eFiling system, the date of filing is the calendar day (including Saturdays, Sundays, and federal legal holidays) on which the document is transmitted in the eFiling system.  Documents must be transmitted no later than midnight ET to be considered filed on a particular day.

Which documents can be faxed to CIP?

You can fax ONLY the following documents to CIP at (202) 482-6657:

• Motions (e.g., requests for extension of time)
• Information pertaining to conferences (e.g., post-petition conferences in negotiability cases)
• Other similar matters, provided that the entire filing does not exceed 10 pages with normal margins and font sizes

If you wish to file a document by fax, but you are not sure whether filing that document by fax is permitted, then contact CIP for assistance at (771) 444-5805.

How many copies do I need to file?

With the exception of documents that you file electronically through the FLRA's eFiling system, you must provide the Authority with an original and four complete copies, including all attachments, of any documents that you file.  See § 2429.25 of the Authority's Regulations for further details.

How can I get an extension of time to file?

As explained in § 2429.23 of the Authority's Regulations, the Authority may extend certain – but not all – filing time limits.  The Authority must receive any request for an extension of time five days before the date on which the document is due.  The requesting party must show "good cause" for the request and state the position of the other party.  

If a party submits an untimely request for an extension of time – that is,  within five days of the date a document is due or after the due date of the document – the Authority will grant the request only if the requesting party can establish "extraordinary circumstances" for the late request, as well as "good cause" for extension of the deadline.  Both (1) the request for waiving the deadline for requesting an extension of time itself and (2) the request for an extension of time must be in writing, include the positions of the other parties, and be served on the other parties.

How can I find out the status of my Authority case?

You can obtain information about the status of your case by contacting CIP at (771) 444-5805, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET.