February 8, 2011

At the end of January, NTEU and the FDIC met with the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP) to request that it assert jurisdiction over a term bargaining impasse. Both parties also asked the FSIP to submit the contract dispute to an independent, neutral arbitrator of their choice for a binding decision. This issue was taken to the FSIP because all voluntary efforts to reach agreement with a mediator’s assistance have been exhausted. NTEU and the FDIC held a final contract mediation session last fall. While the parties have tentatively agreed to 32 of the more than 50 opened articles, they remain far apart on others, including articles involving merit promotions, work details, telework, personnel records, performance evaluations and training. If the Panel does assert jurisdiction, the arbitrator's decision will be final and binding. On the other hand, both parties could reach an agreement on the articles at impasse and the arbitrator would not have to rule on the dispute. We expect the Panel to soon decide whether to assert jurisdiction.