47:1246(115)AR - - AFGE Local 96 and VA Medical Center, St. Louis, MO - - 1993 FLRAdec AR - - v47 p1246

47 FLRA No. 115

Before Chairman McKee and Members Talkin and Armendariz.

I. Statement of the Case

This matter is before the Authority on the Union's request for reconsideration of the Authority's decision in 47 FLRA No. 87 (1993). The Agency did not file an opposition to the request. We conclude that the Union has failed to establish that extraordinary circumstances exist which warrant reconsideration of our decision. Accordingly, we will deny the Union's request for reconsideration.

II. Arbitrator's Award and the Decision in 47 FLRA No. 87

As set forth in more detail in 47 FLRA No. 87, the Arbitrator sustained an Agency grievance alleging that the Union violated the parties' collective bargaining agreement when it posted and distributed throughout Agency facilities a newsletter containing an article criticizing a particular supervisor. Among other things, the article referred to a probationary employee who had been recently terminated, and noted that