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60 FLRA No. 28
U. S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Veterans Integrated Service Network 7, Network Business Office, Duluth, Georgia and AFGE, Local 217 (Howell, Arbitrator) 0-AR- 3825 (Decided August 10, 2004)
The Arbitrator found that the Agency violated the parties' collective bargaining agreement by failing to create a panel for determining performance awards. As a remedy, the Arbitrator ordered the Agency to comply with the parties' agreement and he awarded the Union attorney fees. The Authority set aside the Arbitrator's award of attorney fees holding that because a collective bargaining agreement, standing alone, did not provide the necessary statutory authorization for an award of attorney fees, the award of attorney fees was contrary to law.