Arbitrator Letter of January 10 2003

Friday January 10, 2003

After fighting since the summer of 2002 to get the Agency to act on the outstanding Fair Labor Standards Act grievances, AFGE has convinced Arbitrator Vitaro that the Agency's delay tactics have stretched from the absurd to the obscene. Despite innumerable attempts to set up conference calls with the Agency and the arbitrator the Agency has simply refused to cooperate. Your union has repeatedly brought this Agency intransigence to the Arbitrator's attention.

Now the Arbitrator has acted. In both his recent award of December 14, 2002, and a letter to the parties dated January 10, 2002, the Arbitrator gave the Agency notice that this case will proceed either with the Agency or without it. In his letter of January 10th the Arbitrator, upon the request of the Union, ordered a conference call to take place on January 17, 2003, to move this case forward. This conference call will take place regardless of the presence of the Agency.

The Union continues to press this case with the utmost vigor and we look forward to proceeding despite the Agency's attempts at stalling the process.

Please refer back to this site for the latest news on the INS FLSA fight. If you don't read it here, it isn't truth, it's rumor.

Remember, this case is being financed by your fellow union members. Join AFGE today and help us help you.

Should you have any questions concerning this case, please contact Randy Callahan (Randy_Callahan@yahoo.com) of the NINSC who is acting as my liaison with NINSC bargaining unit members in this case.

Arbitrator Vitaro's Letter to the Parties Dated January 10, 2002 (PDF).

Letter from AFGE to Arbitrator Vitaro Dated January 9, 2003 (PDF)