Veterans Administration Medical Center, New York, NY (Activity) and American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2094 (Union)
[ v07 p788 ]
07:0788(134)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
7 FLRA No. 134 VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER, NEW YORK, N.Y. (ACTIVITY) and LOCAL NO. 2094, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (UNION) Case No. O-AR-238 ORDER DISMISSING EXCEPTIONS THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON EXCEPTIONS TO THE AWARD OF ARBITRATOR WILLIAM W. WAITE FILED BY THE UNION UNDER SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (5 U.S.C. 7122(A)). IN HIS AWARD, THE ARBITRATOR FOUND THAT THE ACTIVITY DID NOT VIOLATE THE PARTIES' AGREEMENT WHEN IT REMOVED THE GRIEVANT FROM THE FEDERAL SERVICE FOR BEING ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE. FOR THE REASONS THAT FOLLOW, THE AUTHORITY IS WITHOUT JURISDICTION TO REVIEW THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS AND THE EXCEPTIONS THEREFORE MUST BE DISMISSED. SECTION 7122(A) OF THE STATUTE PROVIDES, IN PERTINENT PART: EITHER PARTY TO ARBITRATION UNDER THIS CHAPTER MAY FILE WITH THE AUTHORITY AN EXCEPTION TO ANY ARBITRATOR'S AWARD PURSUANT TO THE ARBITRATION (OTHER THAN AN AWARD RELATING TO A MATTER DESCRIBED IN SECTION 7121(F) OF THIS TITLE). AS RELEVANT TO THIS CASE, THE MATTERS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 7121(F) OF THE STATUTE INCLUDE THOSE COVERED UNDER 5 U.S.C. 7512 WHICH, IN TURN, APPLIES TO SPECIFIED ADVERSE ACTIONS INCLUDING REMOVALS. REVIEW OF AN ARBITRATION AWARD RELATING TO SUCH MATTERS MUST BE OBTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 5 U.S.C. 7703, I.E., IN THE SAME MANNER AND UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS AS IF THE MATTER INVOLVED HAD BEEN DECIDED BY THE MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD. (5 U.S.C. 7703 PROVIDES FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW OF FINAL DECISIONS OF THE MSPB.) SINCE THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD RELATES TO A MATTER COVERED BY 5 U.S.C. 7512, I.E., THE REMOVAL OF THE GRIEVANT, UNDER SECTION 7122(A) OF THE STATUTE, EXCEPTIONS TO THE AWARD MAY NOT BE FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY. CONSEQUENTLY, THE AUTHORITY IS WITHOUT JURISDICTION TO REVIEW THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS. RATHER, THE GRIEVANT MAY SEEK JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD PURSUANT TO 5 U.S.C. 7703. ACCORDINGLY, AND APART FROM OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, IT IS ORDERED THAT THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS BE, AND THEY HEREBY ARE, DISMISSED. FOR THE AUTHORITY. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY 29, 1982 JAMES J. SHEPARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR