09:0171(24)AR - Elmendorf AFB and AFGE Local 1668 -- 1982 FLRAdec AR

 9 FLRA No. 24
 
 ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE
 Activity
 
 and
 
 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT
 EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1668
 Union
 
                                            Case No. 0-AR-281
 
                                 DECISION
 
    THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON AN EXCEPTION TO THE AWARD OF
 ARBITRATOR CORNELIUS J. PECK FILED BY THE UNION UNDER SECTION 7122(A) OF
 THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE) AND
 PART 2425 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS.  THE AGENCY FILED AN
 OPPOSITION.
 
    THIS MATTER CONCERNS THE REMOVAL OF THE GRIEVANT DURING HIS
 PROBATIONARY PERIOD.  A GRIEVANCE WAS FILED PROTESTING THE REMOVAL AND
 THE GRIEVANCE WAS ULTIMATELY SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION WITH A THRESHOLD
 ISSUE THAT QUESTIONED:  "DOES APPLICABLE LAW EXCLUDE GRIEVANCES
 CONCERNING REMOVALS OF PROBATIONARY CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES?"
 
    IN THIS REGARD THE ARBITRATOR EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS
 QUESTION HID ALREADY BEEN DECIDED IN THE NEGATIVE BY THE AUTHORITY IN
 NATIONAL COUNCIL OF FIELD LABOR LOCALS OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
 GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, 4
 FLRA NO. 51 (1980).  HOWEVER, ON THE URGING OF THE ACTIVITY AND
 RECOGNIZING A SUBSTANTIAL CHANCE THAT AN AWARD SUSTAINING THE ACTIVITY'S
 CLAIM THAT SUCH GRIEVANCES ARE EXCLUDED BY LAW FROM THE PERMISSIBLE
 COVERAGE OF A GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE NEGOTIATED UNDER THE STATUTE WOULD BE
 FOUND DEFICIENT BY THE AUTHORITY, THE ARBITRATOR DECIDED TO GIVE "FRESH
 CONSIDERATION TO THE ARGUMENTS PRESENTED BY THE (ACTIVITY)."
 ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THESE ARGUMENTS PRESENTED BY THE ACTIVITY WERE
 IDENTICAL TO THOSE THAT HAD BEEN CONSIDERED AND REJECTED BY THE
 AUTHORITY IN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF FIELD LABOR LOCALS, THE ARBITRATOR
 NEVERTHELESS DETERMINED THAT THE "ANALYSIS (OF THE AUTHORITY) IS
 UNPERSUASIVE." CONSEQUENTLY, ON THE BASIS OF THESE ARGUMENTS, THE
 ARBITRATOR HELD CONTR