13:0046(8)AR - Holston Army Ammunition Plant, Kingsport, TN and AFGE Local 2659 -- 1983 FLRAdec AR

 13 FLRA No. 8
 
 HOLSTON ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT
 KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE
 (Activity)
 
 and
 
 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT
 EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 2659
 (Union)
 
                                            Case No. O-AR-336
 
                                 DECISION
 
    This matter is before the Authority on exceptions to the award of
 Arbitrator E. H. Rayson 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 concerns the selection of a particular employee for the
 position of Traffic Manager.  A grievance filed on behalf of a number of
 other employees contending that the selection should be set aside was
 ultimately submitted to arbitration.  The Arbitrator denied the
 grievance after considering and rejecting the Union's contentions that
 (1) the selectee was preselected;  (2) the selectee was not qualified;
 and (3) the asserted preselection of the unqualified employee violated
 the parties' agreement and agency regulations.
 
    In its exceptions, the Union essentially reiterates the contentions
 made before the Arbitrator.  Upon careful consideration of the entire
 record before the Authority, including the Union's contentions, the
 Authority concludes that the Union's exceptions do not provide any basis
 for finding the award deficient.  It is clear that the Union is merely
 attempting to relitigate the merits of the case before the Authority
 since the thrust of the Union's exceptions constitutes disagreement with
 the Arbitrator's reasoning and conclusions based on the evidence and
 testimony presented him.  Such disagreement does not provide a basis for
 finding the award deficient.  E.g., American Federation of Government
 Employees, Local 2327 and Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
 Social Security Administration, 5 FLRA No. 23 (1981);  Supervisor of
 Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, United States Navy and Local R4-2,
 National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), 5 FLRA No. 29
 (1981).
 
    Accordingly, the Union's exceptions are denied.  Issued, Washington,
 D.C., September 19, 1983
                                       Barbara J. Mahone, Chairman
                                       Ronald W. Haughton, Member
                                       Henry B. Frazier III, Member
                                       FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY