[ v06 p395 ]
06:0395(69)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
6 FLRA No. 69 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 2006 (Union) and SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (Activity) Case No. O-AR-237 ORDER DISMISSING EXCEPTIONS ON MAY 15, 1981, THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 2006 (THE UNION) MAILED EXCEPTIONS TO THE AWARD OF ARBITRATOR WALTER H. POWELL IN THE INSTANT CASE TO THE AUTHORITY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2425.1 OF THE AUTHORITY'S REGULATIONS (5 C.F.R. 2425.1(1980)). FOR THE REASONS INDICATED BELOW, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE SUBJECT EXCEPTIONS WERE UNTIMELY FILED AND CANNOT BE ACCEPTED FOR REVIEW. SECTION 2425.1(B) OF THE AUTHORITY'S REGULATIONS (5 C.F.R. 2425.1(B)(1980)) PROVIDES: THE TIME LIMIT FOR FILING AN EXCEPTION TO AN ARBITRATION AWARD IS THIRTY (30) DAYS BEGINNING ON THE DATE OF THE AWARD. THE SUBJECT ARBITRATION AWARD, AS INDICATED IN THE UNION'S SUBMISSION, IS DATED APRIL 16, 1981. THEREFORE, UNDER SECTION 2425.1(B) OF THE AUTHORITY'S REGULATIONS, THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS WERE DUE IN THE OFFICE OF THE AUTHORITY, IN WASHINGTON, D.C., NO LATER THAN MAY 15, 1981. THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE POSTMARK ON THE ENVELOPE IN WHICH THE EXCEPTIONS WERE FILED INDICATES THAT THE EXCEPTIONS WERE MAILED IN PHILADELPHIA ON THE DUE DATE, MAY 15, 1981. THE EXCEPTIONS, MISFILED INITIALLY WITH THE WASHINGTON REGIONAL OFFICE, WERE NOT FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY UNTIL MAY 26, 1981. THUS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS WERE NOT PROPERLY FILED IN THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF THE AUTHORITY BY MAY 15, 1981, AS REQUIRED. IN THIS REGARD, THE AUTHORITY IS NOT EMPOWERED TO EXTEND OR WAIVE THE TIME LIMIT FOR FILING EXCEPTIONS TO ARBITRATORS' AWARDS. ACCORDINGLY, AS THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS WERE UNTIMELY FILED, AND APART FROM OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE UNION'S APPEAL IS HEREBY DISMISSED. FOR THE AUTHORITY. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 12, 1981 JAMES J. SHEPARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR