American Federation of Government Employees, Local 515 and United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami VA Medical Center, Miami, Florida (agency decision, October 13, 2022)

Final FLRA decision. This is a final order of the Federal Labor Relations Authority involving an arbitral award under 5 U.S.C. § 7122. Judicial review under 5 U.S.C. § 7123(a) generally does not extend to such an order unless the order involves an unfair labor practice under 5 U.S.C. § 7116. This abbreviated decision does not state that it involves an unfair labor practice.

Plain-English summary

AFGE Local 515 filed exceptions to an arbitration award involving the Miami VA Medical Center. The Authority chose its expedited, abbreviated format and did not describe the underlying dispute or award. After reviewing the record and governing precedent, it found that the Union had not established any defect under 5 U.S.C. § 7122(a), including the cited bias and contract-essence standards. The Authority denied the exceptions and left the award in place.

Decision snapshot

• Authority: 5 U.S.C. §§ 7122(a) and 7123(a)(1); 5 C.F.R. § 2425.7
• Outcome: The Authority denied the Union's exceptions and left the arbitration award in place.
• Key point: The abbreviated release provides no facts about the underlying dispute and finds no supported bias, essence, or other § 7122(a) defect.

Full text (FLRA public release)

73 FLRA No. 59

AMERICAN FEDERATION

OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

LOCAL 515

(Union)

and

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

MIAMI VA MEDICAL CENTER

MIAMI, FLORIDA

(Agency)

0-AR-5770

DECISION

October 13, 2022

Before the Authority: Ernest DuBester, Chairman, and

Colleen Duffy Kiko and Susan Tsui Grundmann, Members

This matter is before the Authority on exceptions to an award of Arbitrator J. J. Pierson filed by the Union under § 7122(a) of the Federal Service Labor‑Management Relations Statute (the Statute)[1] and part 2425 of the Authority’s Regulations.[2] The Agency filed an opposition to the Union’s exceptions.[3]

We have determined that this case is appropriate for issuance as an expedited, abbreviated decision under § 2425.7 of the Authority’s Regulations.[4]

Under § 7122(a) of the Statute,[5] an award is deficient if it is contrary to any law, rule, or regulation, or it is deficient on other grounds similar to those applied by federal courts in private-sector labor-management relations. Upon careful consideration of the entire record in this case and Authority precedent, we conclude that the award is not deficient on any of the grounds raised in the exceptions and set forth in § 7122(a).[6]

Accordingly, we deny the Union’s exceptions.

[1] 5 U.S.C. § 7122(a).

[2] 5 C.F.R. pt. 2425.

[3] On December 14, 2021, the Authority’s Office of Case Intake and Publication issued a procedural‑deficiency order directing the Union to file a statement of service by December 28, showing service of the exceptions on two Agency representatives that did not originally receive them. On December 17, the Union served the exceptions and filed the statement showing that it cured the deficiency. On December 29, the Agency timely filed a second opposition in response.

[4] 5 C.F.R. § 2425.7 (“Even absent a [party’s] request, the Authority may issue expedited, abbreviated decisions in appropriate cases.”).

[5] 5 U.S.C. § 7122.

[6] U.S. Dep’t of VA, Med. Ctr., N. Chi., Ill., 52 FLRA 387, 398 (1996) (award not deficient because of bias on the part of an arbitrator where excepting party fails to demonstrate that the award was procured by improper means, that there was partiality or corruption on the part of the arbitrator, or that the arbitrator engaged in misconduct that prejudiced the rights of the party); U.S. DOL (OSHA), 34 FLRA 573, 575 (1990) (award not deficient as failing to draw its essence from the parties’ collective‑bargaining agreement where excepting party fails to establish that the award cannot in any rational way be derived from the agreement; is so unfounded in reason and fact and so unconnected to the wording and purposes of the agreement as to manifest an infidelity to the obligation of the arbitrator; does not represent a plausible interpretation of the agreement; or evidences a manifest disregard of the agreement).