71 FLRA No. 181

 

AMERICAN FEDERATION

OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

LOCAL 2206

(Union)

and

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

SOUTHEAST PROGRAM SERVICE CENTER
(Agency)

 

0-AR-5629

 

_____

 

ORDER DISMISSING EXCEPTIONS

 

August 31, 2020

 

_____

 

Before the Authority:  Colleen Duffy Kiko, Chairman, and Ernest DuBester and James T. Abbott, Members

 

This matter is before the Authority on exceptions to an award of Arbitrator Mark C. Travis filed by the grievant under § 7122(a) of the Federal Service Labor‑Management Relations Statute (the Statute)^[1] and part 2425 of the Authority’s Regulations.^[2]  In the award, the Arbitrator sustained certain disciplinary charges against the grievant, found that the Agency’s removal of the grievant was reasonable, and denied the grievance.  The Agency filed an opposition to the grievant’s exceptions.

 

Under § 7122(a) of the Statute and § 2425.2(a) of the Authority’s Regulations, “[e]ither party to arbitration under [the Statute] may file with the Authority an exception to any arbitrator’s award.”^[3]  The Authority’s Regulations define “party” to include any person who “participated as a party” in a matter where an arbitration award was issued.^[4] Generally, an agency and a union are the only parties to an arbitration proceeding.  Thus, a grievant cannot file exceptions to an arbitration award unless authorized by his or her union to do so.^[5]

 

Furthermore, pursuant to § 7122(a) of the Statute, the Authority lacks jurisdiction to review exceptions to an arbitration award “relating to a matter described in [§] 7121(f)” of the Statute.^[6]  The matters described in § 7121(f) include adverse actions, such as removals, which are covered under 5 U.S.C. §§ 4303 or 7512.^[7]  In determining whether an award resolves – or is inextricably intertwined with – a matter covered under § 7512, the Authority looks not to the outcome of the award, but whether the claim advanced in arbitration is reviewable by the Merit System Protection Board (MSPB), and on appeal, by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit).^[8]  Arbitration awards resolving these matters are reviewable by the Federal Circuit, rather than the Authority.^[9]

 

                Consequently, the Authority issued a           show-cause order (order) directing the Union to show cause why its exceptions should not be dismissed for lack of standing and for lack of jurisdiction.^[10]  In its timely response to the order, the Union argued that the grievant has standing to file his exceptions because the Union authorized him to do so.^[11]  Because the Union authorized the grievant to file his exceptions, we find that the grievant has standing.^[12]

The Union also argued that the Authority has jurisdiction over the exceptions because the exceptions concern credibility determinations and the denial of an information request, and these issues are not inextricably intertwined with the issue of removal.^[13]

               

                We have determined that this case is appropriate for issuance as an expedited, abbreviated decision under § 2425.7 of the Authority’s Regulations.^[14]

 

                The Arbitrator framed the issue, in part, as “whether [the] [g]rievant’s removal was reasonable.”^[15]  Because the issue advanced at arbitration is a removal claim, and the Arbitrator’s determination is dispositive of the removal claim, the award relates to a matter described in § 7121(f).^[16] 

 

Upon full consideration of the circumstances of this case, including the case’s similarity to other fully detailed decisions involving the same or similar issues,^[17] we conclude that the Union’s exceptions are not within the Authority’s jurisdiction and we dismiss the Union’s exceptions on that ground.

 

Accordingly, we dismiss the Union’s exceptions.