Any member of a labor organization whose rights under the provisions of § 458.2 or § 458.37 are alleged to have been infringed or violated, may file a complaint in accordance with § 458.53: Provided, however, That such member may be required to exhaust reasonable hearing procedures (but not to exceed a 4-month lapse of time) within such organization.

(a) The complaint shall contain appropriate identifying information and a clear and concise statement of the facts constituting the alleged violation.

(b) The complainant shall submit with his complaint a statement setting forth the procedures, if any, invoked to remedy the alleged violation, including the dates when such procedures were invoked and copies of any written ruling or decision which he has received.

Upon the filing of a complaint, a copy of the complaint shall be served upon the respondent, and a written statement of such service shall be furnished to the District Director.

Upon the filing of a complaint pursuant to §§ 458.54 through 458.56, the District Director shall obtain such additional information as he deems necessary, including the positions of the parties and any offers of settlement.

If the District Director determines that a reasonable basis for the complaint has not been established, or that an offer of settlement satisfactory to the complainant has been made, he may dismiss the complaint. If he dismisses the complaint, he shall furnish the complainant with a written statement of the grounds for dismissal, sending a copy of the statement to the respondent.

The complainant may obtain a review of a dismissal by filing a request for review with the Director within fifteen (15) days of service of the notice of dismissal. A copy of such request shall be served on the District Director and the respondent, and a statement of service shall be filed with the Director. The request for review shall contain a complete statement of the facts and reasons upon which a request is based.

If it appears to the District Director that there is a reasonable basis for the complaint, and that no offer of settlement satisfactory to the complainant has been made, he shall refer the matter to the Chief Administrative Law Judge, U.S. Department of Labor, for the issuance of a notice of hearing as set forth in § 458.69.

In any matter arising pursuant to the regulations in this subchapter, whenever it appears necessary in order to effectuate the purposes of the CSRA or FSA or to avoid unnecessary costs or delay, the District Director may consolidate cases within his own area or may transfer such cases to any other area, for the purpose of consolidation with any proceedings which may have been instituted in, or transferred to, such area.

The proceedings following issuance of the notice of hearing shall be as provided in §§ 458.69 through 458.92 of this part.

(a) When he believes it necessary in order to determine whether any person has violated or is about to violate any provision of §§ 458.26 through 458.30, the Chief, DOE may cause an investigation to be conducted.

(b) When he believes it necessary in order to determine whether any person has violated or is about to violate any provision of this part (other than §§ 458.2, 458.26 through 458.30 or 458.37), a District Director may conduct an investigation.

(c) The authority to investigate possible violations of this part (other than § 458.2 or 458.37) shall not be contingent upon receipt of a complaint.

In connection with such investigation the Chief, DOE or a District Director or his representative may inspect such records and question such persons as he may deem necessary to enable him to determine the relevant facts. Every labor organization, its officers, employees, agents, or representatives shall cooperate fully in any investigation and shall testify and produce the records or other documents requested in connection with the investigation. This section shall be enforced in accordance with the procedures in §§ 458.66 through 458.92.

The Chief, DOE may report to interested persons concerning any matter which he deems to be appropriate as a result of an investigation of possible violations of §§ 458.26 through 458.30. The District Director may report to interested persons concerning any matter which he deems to be appropriate as a result of an investigation of possible violations of any provision of this part (other than §§ 458.2, 458.26 through 458.30 and 458.37).

A complaint alleging violations of this part may be filed with any district office, or any other office of the Office of Labor-Management Standards.

(a) A member of a labor organization may file a complaint alleging violations of § 458.29 within 1 calendar month after he has (1) exhausted the remedies available under the constitution and bylaws of the labor organization and of any parent body, or (2) invoked such available remedies without obtaining a final decision within 3 calendar months of such invocation.

(b) The complaint shall contain a clear and concise statement of the facts constituting the alleged violation(s), the remedies which have been invoked under the constitution and bylaws of the labor organization and when such remedies were invoked.

(c) The complainant shall submit with his complaint a copy of any ruling or decision he has received in connection with the subject matter of his complaint.

(a) If it is determined after preliminary inquiry that a complaint is deficient in any of the following respects, the District Director shall conduct no investigation:

(1) The complainant is not a member of the labor organization which conducted the election being challenged;

(2) The labor organization is not subject to the CSRA or FSA;

(3) The election was not a regular periodic election of officers;

(4) The allegations, if true, do not constitute a violation or violations of § 458.29;

(5) The complainant has not complied with the requirements of § 458.63(a).

(b) If investigation discloses (1) that there has been no violation or (2) that a violation has occurred but could not have affected the outcome or (3) that a violation has occurred but has been remedied, the Chief, DOE shall issue a determination dismissing the complaint and stating the reasons for his action.

(c) A determination dismissing the complaint may be reviewed by the Director, but only on the basis of deciding whether the Chief, DOE's decision was arbitrary and capricious. The request for review must be made within fifteen (15) days after service of notice of dismissal.

(a) If the Chief, DOE concludes that there is probable cause to believe that a violation has occurred which may have affected the outcome and which has not been remedied, he shall proceed in accordance with §§ 458.66 through 458.92.

(b) The challenged election shall be presumed valid pending a final decision thereon as hereinafter provided in §§ 458.66 through 458.92, and in the interim the affairs of the organization shall be conducted by the officers elected or in such other manner as its constitution and bylaws may provide.

(c) When the Chief, DOE supervises an election pursuant to an order of the Administrative Review Board issued under § 458.70 or § 458.91, he shall certify to the Administrative Review Board the names of the persons elected. The Administrative Review Board shall thereupon issue an order declaring such persons to be the officers of the labor organization.

(a) Whenever it appears to the Chief, DOE that a violation of any provision of §§ 458.26 through 458.30 has occurred and has not been remedied, he shall immediately notify any appropriate person and labor organization. Within fifteen (15) days following receipt of such notification, any such person or labor organization may request a conference with the Chief, DOE or his representative concerning such alleged violation.

(b) Whenever it appears to a District Director that a violation of this part (other than § 458.2, §§ 458.26-458.30, or § 458.37) has occurred and has not been remedied, he shall immediately notify any appropriate person and labor organization. Within fifteen (15) days following receipt of such notification, any such person or labor organization may request a conference with the District Director or his representative concerning such alleged violation.

(c) At any conference held pursuant to this section, the Chief, DOE or District Director may enter into an agreement providing for appropriate remedial action. If no person or labor organization requests such a conference, or upon failure to reach agreement following any such conference, the Chief, DOE or District Director shall institute enforcement proceedings by filing a complaint with the Chief Administrative Law Judge, U.S. Department of Labor, and shall cause a copy of the complaint to be served on each respondent named therein. If an agreement is reached and the Chief, DOE or District Director concludes that there has not been compliance with all the terms of the agreement, he may refer the matter to the Director for appropriate enforcement action or file a complaint with the Chief Administrative Law Judge.

A complaint filed under § 458.66 shall constitute the institution of a formal enforcement proceeding in the name of the Chief, DOE or District Director, who shall be the only complaining party in the proceeding and shall, where he believes it appropriate, refrain from disclosing the identity of any person who called the violation to his attention (except in proceedings involving violations of § 458.29, Election of officers). The complaint shall include the following:

(a) The name and identity of each respondent.

(b) A clear and concise statement of the facts alleged to constitute violations of the CSRA or FSA or of this part.

(c) A statement of the relief requested.

(d) In any complaint filed by the Chief, DOE on the basis of a complaint received from a member of a labor organization pursuant to § 458.63, a statement setting forth the procedures, if any, followed to invoke available remedies, including the dates when such procedures were invoked, and the substance of any ruling or decision received by the complaining member from the labor organization or any parent body.

(a) Within twenty (20) days from the service of the complaint the respondent shall file an answer thereto with the Chief Administrative Law Judge and shall serve a copy on all parties. The answer shall be signed by the respondent or his attorney or other agent or representative.

(b) The answer (1) shall contain a statement of the facts which constitute the grounds of defense, and shall specifically admit, explain, or deny each of the allegations of the complaint unless the respondent is without knowledge, in which case the answer shall so state; or (2) shall state that the respondent admits all of the allegations in the complaint. Failure to file an answer to or plead specifically to any allegation in the complaint shall constitute an admission of such allegation.