Federal Sector Arbitration - Arbitration and MSPB (Merit Systems Protection Board) Appeals Procedures (From Ethical Issues in Dispute Resolution, P 100-112, Charlotte Gold, ed. - See NCJ-97691)

• NCJ Number: 97697
• Author(s): P E Trayers; F D Ferris; R P Sanders
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This workshop summary reports on the preliminary results of the Merit System Protection Board's (MPSB) appeals arbitration process, explains that the process is of no value to unions, provides an overview of arbitration and MSPB, and describes the competition for collective bargaining.

Abstract

The five regions where appeals arbitration is available include Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, and San Francisco. Preliminary results of this pilot project have been positive. Disadvantages to MSPB arbitration for unions include greater costs, the board's sole goal of upholding the agency's actions, and the lack of a right to select the arbitrator. MSPB should be abolished, but if this is impossible, the MSPB should contract out the hearing officer's role to professionally accredited arbitrators. The discussion includes a review of the complex relationship between the Merit Systems Protection Board and Federal labor arbitration, a look at two troubling aspects on the board's appeals arbitration (economic constraints and fair representation), and costs. Nine notes are provided.