The Federal Labor Relations Authority has proposed changes to the way arbitration awards are reviewed to improve and speed up the process. It said the proposal, published in the April 29 Federal Register, is part of a wider effort to revise its arbitration regulations and create an arbitration education program — including training sessions and tools – to make arbitration case processing more effective and efficient.
The proposed revisions include:
Changing the Authority’s existing practice for calculating the date for filing timely exceptions, so that the 30-day period begins on the day after, not the day of, service of the arbitration award;
Adding an option to request an expedited decision from the Authority in certain arbitration cases that do not involve unfair labor practices;
Adding an option to request voluntary alternative dispute resolution services; and,
Providing various methods of resolving unclear disputes or records.
“The proposed regulations represent the first updates to the FLRA’s arbitration regulations in nearly 25 years,” said FLRA chairman Carol Waller Pope.
Comments must be received on or before June 1.
