[ v03 p260 ]
03:0260(40)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
3 FLRA No. 40 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEPENDENTS SCHOOL Activity and OVERSEAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, INC. Union Case No. 0-AR-28 DECISION THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF THE AWARD OF ARBITRATOR HOWARD KLEEB FILED BY THE UNION UNDER SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (5 U.S.C. 7122(A)). ACCORDING TO THE ENTIRE RECORD BEFORE THE AUTHORITY, THE DISPUTE IN THIS CASE AROSE WHEN THE AGENCY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF ACTUAL WORK DAYS IN A SCHOOL YEAR FOR OVERSEAS TEACHERS FROM 187 TO 190 STARTING WITH THE 1976-77 SCHOOL YEAR. THEREAFTER, THE GRIEVANT FILED A GRIEVANCE SEEKING TO "BE FINANCIALLY COMPENSATED FOR THESE THREE EXTRA WORK DAYS." THE GRIEVANCE COULD NOT BE RESOLVED AND WAS, THEREFORE, SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION. NOTING THAT THE PARTIES WERE UNABLE TO AGREE ON THE ISSUE, THE ARBITRATOR FOUND THE "REAL ISSUE" TO BE "(W)HEHTER MANAGEMENT HAS PAID THE GRIEVANT PROPERLY UNDER PUBLIC LAW 86-91." /1/ ON THIS ISSUE, THE ARBITRATOR RENDERED AN INITIAL AWARD ON MARCH 29, 1979. THEREIN, THE ARBITRATOR, IN GRANTING THE GRIEVANCE, HELD THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFICE OF DEPENDENTS SCHOOLS (DODDS) HAD NOT BEEN PAYING THE GRIEVANT THE PROPER DAILY RATE AND, APPLYING THE DAILY RATE AS HE COMPUTED IT TO A 190 DAY SCHOOL YEAR, THE ARBITRATOR DIRECTED DODDS TO PAY THE GRIEVANT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NEWLY COMPUTED SALARY AND THE SALARY THE GRIEVANT WAS ORIGINALLY PAID. HOWEVER, IN ARRIVING AT THIS AWARD, THE ARBITRATOR STATED: BECAUSE I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE GRIEVANCE IS A CONTINUING GRIEVANCE AND BECAUSE I AM GRANTING THE GRIEVANCE I RECOGNIZE THAT THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF MY DECISION WILL UNDOUBTEDLY OPEN THE DOOR FOR THE ASSOCIATION TO FILE ADDITIONAL GRIEVANCES OR PERHAPS A CLASS GRIEVANCE WHICH WILL INVOLVE ALL OF THE TEACHERS COVERED BY THE AGREEMENT. THEREFORE, I WILL RETAIN JURISDICTION OF THE GRIEVANCE IN ORDER TO GIVE EITHER PARTY A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ARGUE THEIR POSITIONS AFTER HAVING REVIEWED MY DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS, BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL MAGNITUDE OF THE AWARD IF IT IS SUSTAINED. THEREFORE, THE ARBITRATOR RETAINED JURISDICTION UNTIL MAY 1, 1979, TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTES OR TO IMPLEMENT THE AWARD, AND TO HEAR ANY MOTIONS INVOLVING THE AWARD. FINALLY, THE ARBITRATOR DENIED THE UNION'S REQUEST FOR ATTORNEY FEES, SUBJECT TO FURTHER CONSIDERATION. THEREAFTER, IN RESPONSE TO MOTIONS FILED BY THE PARTIES, THE ARBITRATOR ISSUED A "SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION AND AWARD" ON MAY 29, 1979. IN THAT AWARD HE HELD IN PART: 1. DOD'S MOTION TO RECONVENE THE HEARING IS GRANTED. . . . . 4. OEA'S MOTION FOR THE PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY'S FEES IS DENIED. AS I READ THE AUTHORITIES CITED BY OEA IN ITS MOTION I DO NOT FIND THEM APPLICABLE TO AN ARBITRATION PROCEEDING UNDER THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES. ARTICLE 13, GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE, MAKES NO REFERENCE TO THE PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES BY EITHER PARTY. SECTION 10, ARBITRATION, PARAGRAPH J LIMITS THE COST OF ARBITRATION TO THE ARBITRATOR'S FEE, TRAVEL, PER DIEM, AND COST OF THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE HEARING. THE COST IS TO BE BORNE EQUALLY BY THE PARTIES. THEREFORE I FIND NO AUTHORITY FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF LEGAL FEES AGAINST DODDS. FOLLOWING THAT SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION AND AWARD AND PRIOR TO THE RECONVENED HEARING ORDERED BY THE ARBITRATOR, THE UNION FILED THE PETITION FOR REVIEW INVOLVED HEREIN, TAKING EXCEPTION TO THE ARBITRATOR'S DENIAL OF THE UNION'S REQUEST FOR ATTORNEY FEES. THE AGENCY FILED AN OPPOSITION. AS A RESULT OF THE RECONVENED HEARING, THE ARBITRATOR ISSUED A "SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION AND AWARD" ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1979. THEREIN THE ARBITRATOR STATED THAT "(U)PON RECONSIDERATION (HE WAS) OF THE OPINION THAT MANAGEMENT DID PROPERLY PAY THE GRIEVANT FOR THE YEARS 1976-77 AND 1977-78 WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT THAT WAS SIGNED ON MARCH 4, 1977 TO REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL MARCH 4, 1980." THEREFORE, HE DENIED THE GRIEVANCE. /2/ THE UNION'S PETITION FOR REVIEW IN THIS CASE, TAKING EXCEPTION TO THE ARBITRATOR'S DENIAL OF THE UNION'S REQUEST FOR ATTORNEY FEES, WAS FILED PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE SET FORTH IN 5 C.F.R.PART 7122(A) OF THE STATUTE AND AS AMENDED BY SECTION 2400.5 OF THE TRANSITION RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, 44 F.R. 44741, REMAIN OPERATIVE WITH RESPECT TO THIS CASE. THE UNION SEEKS AUTHORITY ACCEPTANCE OF ITS PETITION ON THE BASIS OF THE EXCEPTION DISCUSSED BELOW. PURSUANT TO SECTION 2411.32 OF THE AMENDED RULES AND SECTION 7122(A) OF THE STATUTE, THE AUTHORITY WILL GRANT A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF AN ARBITRATOR'S AWARD WHERE IT APPEARS, BASED UPON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE PETITION, THAT THE AWARD IS DEFICIENT BECAUSE IT IS CONTRARY TO LAW, RULE, OR REGULATION, OR ON OTHER GROUNDS SIMILAR TO THOSE APPLIED BY FEDERAL COURTS IN PRIVATE SECTOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS CASES. IN ITS EXCEPTION THE UNION CONTENDS THAT THE ARBITRATOR'S DENIAL OF THE UNION'S REQUEST FOR ATTORNEY FEES VIOLATES THE BACK PAY ACT OF 1966, 5 U.S.C. 5596, AS AMENDED BY SECTION 702 OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978. /3/ IN SUPPORT OF ITS EXCEPTION, THE UNION STATES THAT AS A RESULT OF THE AMENDMENTS MADE TO THE BACK PAY ACT "(THE GRIEVANT) IS ENTITLED TO AN AWARD OF REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES . . . " THE AUTHORITY WILL GRANT A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF AN ARBITRATION AWARD WHERE IT APPEARS, BASED ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE PETITION, THAT THE AWARD VIOLATES LAW. HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE THE UNION HAS NOT PRESENTED SUFFICIENT FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES TO SUPPORT ITS EXCEPTION. THE BACK PAY ACT OF 1966, AS AMENDED, PROVIDES THAT AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY AN UNJUSTIFIED OR UNWARRANTED PERSONNEL ACTION WHICH HAS RESULTED IN THE WITHDRAWAL OR REDUCTION OF THE EMPLOYEE'S PAY, IS ENTITLED, ON CORRECTION OF THE ACTION, TO REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES RELATED TO THE ACTION AND AWARDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRESCRIBED STANDARDS. IN THIS CASE, HOWEVER, IT IS NOTED THAT THE ARBITRATOR'S FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE MATTER BEFORE HIM WAS TO DENY THE GRIEVANCE, FINDING THAT THE AGENCY HAD PROPERLY PAID THE GRIEVANT. THUS, THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION IN THIS CASE THAT AN UNJUSTIFIED OR UNWARRANTED PERSONNEL ACTION HAS RESULTED IN THE WITHDRAWAL OR REDUCTION OF THE GRIEVANT'S PAY, A NECESSARY THRESHOLD DETERMINATION FOR ENTITLEMENT TO ATTORNEY FEES UNDER THE BACK PAY ACT, AS AMENDED. THEREFORE, THE UNION'S EXCEPTION PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF ITS PETITION UNDER SECTION 2411.32 OF THE AMENDED RULES. ACCORDINGLY, THE UNION'S PETITION FOR REVIEW OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD IS DENIED BECAUSE IT FAILS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 2411.32 OF THE AMENDED RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE BY THE AUTHORITY OF A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF AN ARBITRATOR'S AWARD. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 23, 1980 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS DECISION /1/ DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OVERSEAS TEACHERS PAY AND PERSONNEL PRACTICES ACT, PUB. L. NO. 86-91, 73 STAT. 213(1959). /2/ THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS TO THE ARBITRATOR'S ULTIMATE DENIAL OF THE GRIEVANCE HAVE BEEN DISMISSED THIS DATE AS UNTIMELY FILED. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEPENDENTS SCHOOLS AND OVERSEAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, INC., CASE NO. O-AR-51, 3 FLRA NO. 39. /3/ THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978, PUB. L. NO. 95-454, SEC. 702, 92 STAT. 1216, PROVIDES, IN RELEVANT PART: BACKPAY IN CASE OF UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES AND GRIEVANCES SEC. 702. SECTION 5596(B) OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: (B)(1) AN EMPLOYEE OF AN AGENCY WHO, ON THE BASIS OF A TIMELY APPEAL OR AN ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION (INCLUDING A DECISION RELATING TO AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE OR A GRIEVANCE) IS FOUND BY APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, RULE, REGULATION, OR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY AN UNJUSTIFIED OR UNWARRANTED PERSONNEL ACTION WHICH HAS RESULTED IN THE WITHDRAWAL OR REDUCTION OF ALL OR PART OF THE PAY, ALLOWANCES, OR DIFFERENTIALS OF THE EMPLOYEE-- (A) IS ENTITLED, ON CORRECTION OF THE PERSONNEL ACTION, TO RECEIVE FOR THE PERIOD FOR WHICH THE PERSONNEL ACTION WAS IN EFFECT-- . . . . (II) REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES RELATED TO THE PERSONNEL ACTION WHICH, WITH RESPECT TO ANY DECISION RELATING TO AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE OR A GRIEVANCE PROCESSED UNDER A PROCEDURE NEGOTIATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 71 OF THIS TITLE, SHALL BE AWARDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARDS ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 7701(G) OF THIS TITLE(.) 5 U.S.C. 7701, RELATING TO APPELLATE PROCEDURES BEFORE THE MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD, PROVIDES IN RELEVANT PART: SEC. 7701. APPELLATE PROCEDURES . . . . (G)(1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE BOARD, OR AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE OR OTHER EMPLOYEE OF THE BOARD DESIGNATED TO HEAR A CASE, MAY REQUIRE PAYMENT BY THE AGENCY INVOLVED OF REASONABLE ATTORNEY FEES INCURRED BY AN EMPLOYEE OR APPLICANT FOR EMPLOYMENT IF THE EMPLOYEE OR APPLICANT IS THE PREVAILING PARTY AND THE BOARD, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE, OR OTHER EMPLOYEE, AS THE CASE MAY BE, DETERMINES THAT PAYMENT BY THE AGENCY IS WARRANTED IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE, INCLUDING ANY CASE IN WHICH A PROHIBITED PERSONNEL PRACTICE WAS ENGAGED IN BY THE AGENCY OR ANY CASE IN WHICH THE AGENCY'S ACTION WAS CLEARLY WITHOUT MERIT. (2) IF AN EMPLOYEE OR APPLICANT FOR EMPLOYMENT IS THE PREVAILING PARTY AND THE DECISION IS BASED ON A FINDING OF DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED UNDER SECTION 2302(B)(1) OF THIS TITLE, THE PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 706(K) OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964(42 U.S.C. 2000E-5(K)).