Either party, or the parties jointly, may request the Panel to resolve an impasse resulting from an agency determination not to establish or to terminate a flexible or compressed work schedule by filing a request as hereinafter provided. A form is available for use by the parties in filing a request with the Panel. Copies are available on the FLRA's website at www.flra.gov or, with advance permission only, from the Office of the Executive Director, Federal Service Impasses Panel, Suite 300, 1400 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20424-0001. Telephone (771) 444-5762. Fax (202) 482-6674. Use of the form is not required provided that the request includes all of the information set forth in § 2472.4.

(a) A request from a party or parties to the Panel for consideration of an impasse arising from an agency determination not to establish or to terminate a flexible or compressed work schedule under section 6131 (c)(2) or (c)(3) of the Act must be in writing and shall include the following information:

(1) Identification of the parties and individuals authorized to act on their behalf, including their addresses, telephone numbers, and facsimile numbers;

(2) Description of the bargaining unit involved in the dispute and the date recognition was accorded to the exclusive representative;

(3) Number, length, and dates of negotiation sessions held;

(4) A copy of any collective bargaining agreement between the parties and any other agreements concerning flexible and compressed work schedules;

(5) A copy of the schedule or proposed schedule, if any, which is the subject of the agency's determination;

(6) A copy of the agency's written determination and the finding on which the determination is based, including, in a case where the finding is made by a duly authorized delegatee, evidence of a specific delegation of authority to make such a finding; and

(7) A summary of the position of the initiating party or parties with respect to the agency's determination.

Requests to the Panel provided for in this part must either be filed electronically through use of the FLRA's eFiling system on the FLRA's website at www.flra.gov, or be addressed to the Executive Director, Federal Service Impasses Panel, Suite 300, 1400 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20424-0001. All inquiries or correspondence on the status of impasses or other related matters must be submitted by regular mail to the street address above, by using the telephone number (771) 444-5762, or by using the facsimile number (202) 482-6674.

(a) Filing and service of request. (1) Any party submitting a request for Panel consideration of an impasse filed pursuant to § 2472.3 of these rules shall file an original and one copy with the Panel unless the request is filed electronically as discussed below. A clean copy may be submitted for the original. Requests may be submitted electronically through use of the eFiling system on the FLRA's website at www.flra.gov, or by registered mail, certified mail, regular mail, or commercial delivery. Requests also may be accepted by the Panel if transmitted to the facsimile machine of its office, the number of which is (202) 482-6674. A party submitting a request by facsimile shall also file an original for the Panel's records, but failure to do so shall not affect the validity of the filing by facsimile, if otherwise proper. While requests may also be submitted by in-person delivery to the FSIP, you must first obtain permission, by calling (771) 444-5762, and then schedule an appointment at least one business day in advance of submission. In-person delivery is accepted with permission, and by appointment only, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays).

(2) The party submitting the request shall serve a copy of such request upon all counsel of record or other designated representative(s) of parties, and upon parties not so represented. Service upon such counsel or representative shall constitute service upon the party, but a copy also shall be transmitted to the party. Service of a request may be made in person or by registered mail, certified mail, regular mail, or commercial delivery. With the permission of the person receiving the request, service may be made by facsimile or electronic transmission, or by any other agreed-upon method.

(b) Filing and service of other documents. (1) Any party submitting a response to, or other document in connection with, a request for Panel consideration of an impasse filed pursuant to § 2472.3 shall file an original and one copy with the Panel, with the exception of responses or documents that are filed simultaneously with the electronic filing of a request for Panel consideration. A clean copy may be submitted for the original. Responses or documents may be submitted electronically through use of the eFiling system on the FLRA's website at www.flra.gov, or by registered mail, certified mail, regular mail, or commercial delivery. Responses or documents also may be accepted by the Panel if transmitted to the facsimile machine of its office, the number of which is (202) 482-6674. A party submitting a response or document by facsimile shall also file an original for the Panel's records, but failure to do so shall not affect the validity of the filing by facsimile, if otherwise proper. While responses or documents may also be submitted by in-person delivery to the FSIP, you must first obtain permission, by calling (771) 444-5762, and then schedule an appointment at least one business day in advance of submission. In-person delivery is accepted with permission, and by appointment only, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays).

(2) The party submitting the document shall serve a copy of such request upon all counsel of record or other designated representative(s) of parties, or upon parties not so represented. Service of a document may be made in person or by registered mail, certified mail, regular mail, or commercial delivery. With the permission of the person receiving the document, service may be made by electronic or facsimile transmission, or by any other agreed-upon method.

(c) A signed and dated statement of service shall accompany each document submitted to the Panel, unless the document is a request under § 2472.3 that is filed electronically. For requests under § 2472.3 that are filed electronically, the filing party shall certify, in the FLRA's eFiling system and at the time of filing, that copies of the request and any supporting documents have been served as required. The statement of service, however filed, shall include the names of the parties and persons served, their addresses, the date of service, the nature of the document served, and the manner in which service was made.

(d) The date of service or date served shall be the day when the matter served, if properly addressed, is deposited in the U.S. mail, deposited with a commercial-delivery service that will provide a record showing the date the document was tendered to the delivery service, or delivered in person after permission to do so is granted. Where service is made by electronic or facsimile transmission, the date of service shall be the date of transmission.

(e) Unless otherwise provided by the Panel or its designated representatives, any document or paper filed with the Panel under this part, together with any enclosure filed therewith, shall be typewritten on 8 1/2 × 11 inch plain white paper, shall have margins no less than 1 inch on each side, shall be in typeface no smaller than 10 characters per inch, and shall be numbered consecutively. Nonconforming papers may, at the Panel's discretion, be rejected.

(f) An impasse arising pursuant to section 6131(c) (2) or (3) of the Act will not be considered to be filed, and no Panel action will be taken, until the party initiating the request has complied with § 2472.4, 2472.5, and 2472.6 of these regulations.

(a) Upon receipt of a request for consideration of an impasse filed in accordance with these rules, the Panel or its designee shall promptly conduct an investigation, consulting when necessary with the parties. After due consideration, the Panel shall determine the procedures by which the impasse shall be resolved and shall notify the parties of its determination.

(b) The procedures utilized by the Panel shall afford the parties an opportunity to present their positions, including supporting evidence and arguments orally and/or in writing. They include, but are not limited to: informal conferences with a Panel designee; factfinding (by a Panel designee or a private factfinder); written submissions; show cause orders; and oral presentations to the Panel.

When the Panel determines that a hearing shall be held, and it appoints one or more of its designees to conduct such a hearing, it will issue and serve upon each of the parties a notice of hearing and a notice of prehearing conference, if any. The notice will state:

(a) The names of the parties to the dispute;

(b) The date, time, place, type, and purpose of the hearing;

(c) The date, time, place, and purpose of the prehearing conference, if any;

(d) The name of the designated representative(s) appointed by the Panel;

(e) The issue(s) to be resolved; and

(f) The method, if any, by which the hearing shall be transcribed.

(a) A designated representative of the Panel, when so appointed to conduct a hearing, shall have the authority on behalf of the Panel to:

(1) Administer oaths, take the testimony or deposition of any person under oath, receive other evidence, and issue subpoenas;

(2) Conduct the hearing in open or in closed session at the discretion of the designated representative for good cause shown;

(3) Rule on motions and requests for appearance of witnesses and the production of records;

(4) Designate the date on which posthearing briefs, if any, shall be submitted; and

(5) Determine all procedural matters concerning the hearing, including the length of sessions, conduct of persons in attendance, recesses, continuances, and adjournments; and take any other action which, in the judgment of the designated representative, will promote the purpose and objectives of the hearing.

(b) A prehearing conference may be conducted by the designated representative of the Panel to:

(1) Inform the parties of the purpose of the hearing and the procedures under which it will take place;

(2) Explore the possibilities of obtaining stipulations of fact;

(3) Clarify the positions of the parties with respect to the issues to be heard; and

(4) Discuss any other relevant matters which will assist the parties in the resolution of the dispute.

When a report is issued after a hearing conducted pursuant to § 2472.8 and 2472.9, it normally shall be in writing and shall be submitted to the Panel, with a copy to each party, within a period normally not to exceed 30 calendar days after the close of the hearing and receipt of briefs, if any.

(a) After due consideration of the parties' positions, evidence, and arguments, including any report submitted in accordance with § 2472.10, the Panel shall take final action in favor of the agency's determination if:

(1) The finding on which a determination under 5 U.S.C. 6131(c)(2) not to establish a flexible or compressed work schedule is based is supported by evidence that the schedule is likely to cause an adverse agency impact; or

(2) The finding on which a determination under 5 U.S.C. 6131(c)(3) to terminate a flexible or compressed work schedule is based is supported by evidence that the schedule has caused an adverse agency impact.

(b) If the finding on which an agency determination under 5 U.S.C. 6131(c)(2) or (c)(3) is based is not supported by evidence that the schedule is likely to cause or has caused an adverse agency impact, the Panel shall take whatever final action is appropriate.

(c) In preparation for taking such final action, the Panel may hold hearings, administer oaths, take the testimony or deposition of any person under oath, and issue subpoenas, or it may appoint one or more individuals to exercise such authority on its behalf. Such action may be taken without regard to procedures previously authorized by the Panel.

(d) Notice of any final action of the Panel shall be promptly served upon the parties.