[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 29, Volume 4] [Revised as of July 1, 2004] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 29CFR1404.5] [Page 49-50] TITLE 29--LABOR AND CONCILIATION SERVICE PART 1404_ARBITRATION SERVICES--Table of Contents Subpart B_Roster of Arbitrators; Admission and Retention Sec. 1404.5 Listing on the roster; criteria for listing and retention. Persons seeking to be listed on the Roster must complete and submit an application form which may be obtained from OAS. Upon receipt of an executed application, OAS will review the application, assure that it is complete, make such inquiries as are necessary, and submit the application to the Arbitrator Review Board. The Board will review the completed application under the criteria in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section, and will forward to the FMCS Director its recommendation as to whether or not the applicant meets the criteria for listing on the Roster. The Director shall make all final decisions as to whether an applicant may be listed on the Roster. Each applicant shall be notified in writing of the Director's decision and the reasons therefor. (a) General criteria. Applicants for the Roster will be listed on the Roster upon a determination that they are experienced, competent, and acceptable in decision-making roles in the resolution of labor relations disputes. (b) Proof of qualification. Qualifications for listing on the Roster may be demonstrated by submission of five (5) arbitration awards prepared by the applicant while serving as an impartial arbitrator of record chosen by the parties to labor disputes arising under collective bargaining agreements. The Board will consider experience in relevant positions in collective bargaining or as a judge or hearing examiner in labor relations controversies as a substitute for such awards. (c) Advocacy. Any person who at the time of application is an advocate as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, must agree to cease such activity before being recommended for listing on the Roster by the Board. Except in the case of persons listed on the Roster as advocates before November 17, 1996, any person who did not divulge his or her advocacy at the time of listing or who becomes an advocate while listed on the Roster, shall be recommended for removal by the Board after the fact of advocacy is revealed. (1) Definition of advocacy. An advocate is a person who represents employers, labor organizations, or individuals as an employee, attorney, or consultant, in matters of labor relations, including but not limited to the subjects of union representation and recognition matters, collective bargaining, arbitration, unfair labor practices, equal employment opportunity, and other areas generally recognized as constituting labor relations. The definition includes representatives of employers or employees in individual cases or controversies involving worker's compensation, occupational health or safety, minimum wage, or other labor standards matters. This definition of advocate also includes a person who is directly associated with an advocate in a business or professional relationship, as for example, partners or employees of a law firm. Consultants engage only in joint education or training or other non-adversarial activities will not be deemed as advocates. (2) [Reserved] (d) Duration of listing, retention. Listing on the Roster shall be by decision of the Director of FMCS based upon the recommendations of the Arbitrator Review Board. The Board may recommend, and the Director may remove, any person listed on the Roster, for violation of this part and/or the Code of Professional Responsibility. Notice of cancellation or suspension shall be given to a person listed on the Roster whenever a Roster member: (1) No longer meets the criteria for admission; (2) Has become an advocate as defined in paragraph (c) of this section; (3) Has been repeatedly or flagrantly delinquent in submitting awards; (4) Has refused to make reasonable and periodic reports in a timely manner to FMCS, as required in subpart C of this part, concerning activities pertaining to arbitration; (5) Has been the subject of complaints by parties who use FMCS services, and the Board after appropriate inquiry, concludes that just cause for cancellation has been shown; (6) Is determined by the Director to be unacceptable to the parties who use FMCS arbitration services; the Director may base a determination of unacceptability on FMCS records which show the number of times the arbitrator's name has been proposed to [[Page 50]] the parties and the number of times it has been selected. Such cases will be reviewed for extenuating circumstances, such as length of time on the Roster or prior history. (e) The Board may, at its discretion, conduct an inquiry into the facts of any proposed removal from the Roster. An arbitrator listed on the Roster may only be removed after 60-day notice and an opportunity to submit a response or information showing why the listing should not be canceled. The Board may recommend to the Director whether to remove an arbitrator from the Roster. All determinations to remove an arbitrator from the Roster shall be made by the Director. Removals may be for a period of up to two (2) years, after which the arbitrator may seek reinstatement. (f) The Director of OAS may suspend for a period not to exceed 180 days any person listed on the Roster who has violated any of the criteria in paragraph (d) of this section. Arbitrators shall be promptly notified of a suspension. They may appeal a suspension to the Arbitrator Review Board, which shall make a recommendation to the Director of FMCS. The decision of the Director of FMCS shall constitute the final action of the agency.