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57 FLRA No. 5
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Government Coordinating Council No. 1 and U.S. Department of Energy, Western Area Power Administration, Folsom, California (Buckmaster, Arbitrator), 0-AR-3331 (Decided March 15, 2001)
The Arbitrator resolved a negotiation impasse concerning whether the establishment of regional rates of pay, as opposed to a national rate of pay, was appropriate for the Agency's prevailing rate employees. The Arbitrator rejected the Union's argument that a national rate was appropriate and instead imposed separate pay rates for each of the Agency's four regions.
The Authority remanded the award to the parties for resubmission to the Arbitrator for clarification of the basis of the award. Specifically, the award was remanded in order for the Arbitrator to clarify whether his award was based on § 5343(d) or whether, as required by § 704, the award was based on current prevailing rates and pay practices in the industry.