The House federal workforce subcommittee held a hearing recently about a proposal to create a study commission on consolidating employee appeals routes.
Under the subcommittee’s proposal, the commission would determine subject areas within the jurisdiction of the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Federal Labor Relations Authority. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Office of Special Counsel.
Within a year of its first meeting, it would have to recommend changes to the appeals system, whether consolidations of any parts of two or more agencies are necessary, how to increase the use of alternative dispute resolution, as well as recommend appropriate legislative or administrative actions for implementing those recommendations.
There was general agreement at the hearing that overlapping jurisdiction is a problem because employees can file claims in different bodies stemming from the same matter.
However, chairman of the Federal Labor Relations Authority, Dale Cabaniss said overlapping jurisdictions has not been a significant issue at that agency.
Instead of establishing a commission, Cabaniss recommended considering the assistance of an independent entity such as the National Academy of Public Administration in order to ensure objectivity and full stakeholder participation.
