20:0183(23)AR - OPM and AFGE, Local 32 -- 1985 FLRAdec AR

20 FLRA No. 23

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 
Agency 

and 

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT 
EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 32, AFL-CIO 
Union

                                      Case No. 0-AR-950

                                DECISION

   This matter is before the Authority on exceptions to the interest
arbitration award of Arbitrator L. Lawrence Schultz filed by the Agency
under section 7122(a) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations
Statute and part 2425 of the Authority's Rules and Regulations.

   The dispute before the Arbitrator concerned a negotiation impasse of
the parties.  The Federal Service Impasses Panel had directed that the
impasse be referred to an arbitrator who shall have the authority to
issue a binding decision resolving the impasse.  As his award pertaining
to union representation at classification desk audits, the Arbitrator
directed that Article 9, Section 4 of the parties' collective bargaining
agreement shall be as follows:

         When an employee believes that his/her position description or
      classification is inaccurate an attempt to resolve the issue will
      be made with the immediate supervisor.  If the difference cannot
      be resolved, OPM procedures for administrative review and
      classification appeal will be explained to the employee.  The
      employee may elect to be accompanied or assisted by a Local 32
      representative in dealings with the Employer concerning such
      administrative review and appeal.  Since a desk audit is a
      fact-finding procedure involving discussion between the employee
      and the classifier on matters specifically related to the job,
      there shall be the right to representation during a desk audit
      should the employee reasonably believe unfavorable action may
      occur.  In discussions with a classifier concerning a
      classification action particular to an employee's job, the
      employee has the right to Union representation.

   In its