12:0598(109)AR - AFGE Local 1178 and Army Quartermaster Center and Fort Lee, Fort Lee, Virginia -- 1983 FLRAdec AR

 12 FLRA No. 109
 
 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
 GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES,
 LOCAL 1178, AFL-CIO
 (Union)
 
 and
 
 U.S. ARMY QUARTERMASTER
 CENTER AND FORT LEE,
 FORT LEE, VIRGINIA
 (Activity)
 
                                            Case No. O-AR-474
 
                                 DECISION
 
    This matter is before the Authority on exceptions to the award of
 Arbitrator Eckehard Muessig filed by the Union 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 involved the Union's grievance
 concerning the attendance of a labor relations officer at a first step
 grievance meeting held pursuant to the applicable provision of the
 negotiated grievance procedure of the parties' agreement.  The
 Arbitrator found that in the absence of language to the contrary
 personnel office officials such as the labor relations officer could be
 present as advisers at grievance meetings under the parties' agreement.
 
    In its exceptions, the Union contends that the award does not draw
 its essence from the parties' agreement;  (2) is not based on all the
 facts and (3) is biased and partial toward management.
 
    Upon careful consideration of the entire record before the Authority,
 including the parties' contentions, we conclude that the Union has
 failed to establish that the award is deficient.  It is clear that the
 Union is merely attempting to relitigate the merits of the case before
 the Authority and that the thrust of the exceptions constitutes
 disagreement with the Arbitrator's reasoning and conclusions based on
 the evidence before him.  Such disagreement does not provide a basis for
 finding the award deficient.  E.g., Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island,
 Illinois and National Association of Government Employees, Local R7-72,
 7 FLRA No. 124 (1982);  U.S. Army Reserve Components Personnel and
 Administration Center and American Federation of Government Employees,
 AFL-CIO, Local 900, 10 FLRA No. 88 (1982).
 
    Accordingly, the Union's exceptions are denied.  
 
 Issued, Washington, D.C., August 16, 1983
 
                                       Barbara J. Mahone, Chairman
                                       Ronald W. Haughton, Member
                                       Henry B. Frazier III, Member
                                       FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY