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Below is our language to fix Title 49 currently in the house version (HR915) of FAA Reauthorization.
TITLE VI--FAA EMPLOYEES AND ORGANIZATION SEC. 601. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. (a) Dispute Resolution- Section 40122(a) is amended-- (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and (2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: ‘(2) DISPUTE RESOLUTION- ‘(A) MEDIATION- If the Administrator does not reach an agreement under paragraph (1) or the provisions referred to in subsection (g)(2)(C) with the exclusive bargaining representative of the employees, the Administrator and the bargaining representative-- ‘(i) shall use the services of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to attempt to reach such agreement in accordance with part 1425 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009); or ‘(ii) may by mutual agreement adopt alternative procedures for the resolution of disputes or impasses arising in the negotiation of the collective-bargaining agreement. ‘(B) BINDING ARBITRATION- ‘(i) ASSISTANCE FROM FEDERAL SERVICE IMPASSES PANEL- If the services of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service under subparagraph (A)(i) do not lead to an agreement, the Administrator and the exclusive bargaining representative of the employees (in this subparagraph referred to as the ‘parties') shall submit their issues in controversy to the Federal Service Impasses Panel. The Panel shall assist the parties in resolving the impasse by asserting jurisdiction and ordering binding arbitration by a private arbitration board consisting of 3 members. ‘(ii) APPOINTMENT OF ARBITRATION BOARD- The Executive Director of the Panel shall provide for the appointment of the 3 members of a private arbitration board under clause (i) by requesting the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to prepare a list of not less than 15 names of arbitrators with Federal sector experience and by providing the list to the parties. Within 10 days of receiving the list, the parties shall each select one person from the list. The 2 arbitrators selected by the parties shall then select a third person from the list within 7 days. If either of the parties fails to select a person or if the 2 arbitrators are unable to agree on the third person within 7 days, the parties shall make the selection by alternately striking names on the list until one arbitrator remains. ‘(iii) FRAMING ISSUES IN CONTROVERSY- If the parties do not agree on the framing of the issues to be submitted for arbitration, the arbitration board shall frame the issues. ‘(iv) HEARINGS- The arbitration board shall give the parties a full and fair hearing, including an opportunity to present evidence in support of their claims and an opportunity to present their case in person, by counsel, or by other representative as they may elect. ‘(v) DECISIONS- The arbitration board shall render its decision within 90 days after the date of its appointment. Decisions of the arbitration board shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties. ‘(vi) COSTS- The parties shall share costs of the arbitration equally. ‘(3) RATIFICATION OF AGREEMENTS- Upon reaching a voluntary agreement or at the conclusion of the binding arbitration under paragraph (2)(B), the final agreement, except for those matters decided by an arbitration board, shall be subject to ratification by the exclusive bargaining representative of the employees, if so requested by the bargaining representative, and approval by the head of the agency in accordance with the provisions referred to in subsection (g)(2)(C). ‘(4) ENFORCEMENT- ‘(A) ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS IN UNITED STATES COURTS- Each United States district court and each United States court of a place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States shall have jurisdiction of enforcement actions brought under this section. Such an action may be brought in any judicial district in the State in which the violation of this section is alleged to have been committed, the judicial district in which the Federal Aviation Administration has its principal office, or the District of Columbia. ‘(B) ATTORNEY FEES- The court may assess against the Federal Aviation Administration reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this section in which the complainant has substantially prevailed.'. (b) Application- On and after the date of enactment of this Act, any changes implemented by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration on and after July 10, 2005, under section 40122(a) of title 49, United States Code (as in effect on the day before such date of enactment), without the agreement of the exclusive bargaining representative of the employees of the Administration certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code, shall be null and void and the parties shall be governed by their last mutual agreement before the implementation of such changes. The Administrator and the bargaining representative shall resume negotiations promptly, and, subject to subsection (c), their last mutual agreement shall be in effect until a new contract is adopted by the Administrator and the bargaining representative. If an agreement is not reached within 45 days after the date on which negotiations resume, the Administrator and the bargaining representative shall submit their issues in controversy to the Federal Service Impasses Panel in accordance with section 7119 of title 5, United States Code, for binding arbitration in accordance with paragraphs (2)(B), (3), and (4) of section 40122(a) of title 49, United States Code (as amended by subsection (a) of this section). (c) Savings Clause- All cost of living adjustments and other pay increases, lump sum payments to employees, and leave and other benefit accruals implemented as part of the changes referred to in subsection (b) may not be reversed unless such reversal is part of the calculation of back pay under subsection (d). The Administrator shall waive any overpayment paid to, and not collect any funds for such overpayment, from former employees of the Administration who received lump sum payments prior to their separation from the Administration. (d) Back Pay- (1) IN GENERAL- Employees subject to changes referred to in subsection (b) that are determined to be null and void under subsection (b) shall be eligible for pay that the employees would have received under the last mutual agreement between the Administrator and the exclusive bargaining representative of such employees before the date of enactment of this Act and any changes were implemented without agreement of the bargaining representative. The Administrator shall pay the employees such pay subject to the availability of amounts appropriated to carry out this subsection. If the appropriated funds do not cover all claims of the employees for such pay, the Administrator and the bargaining representative, pursuant to negotiations conducted in accordance with section 40122(a) of title 49, United States Code (as amended by subsection (a) of this section), shall determine the allocation of the appropriated funds among the employees on a pro rata basis. (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 to carry out this subsection. (e) Interim Agreement- If the Administrator and the exclusive bargaining representative of the employees subject to the changes referred to in subsection (b) reach a final and binding agreement with respect to such changes before the date of enactment of this Act, such agreement shall supersede any changes implemented by the Administrator under section 40122(a) of title 49, United States Code (as in effect on the day before such date of enactment), without the agreement of the bargaining representative, and subsections (b) and (c) shall not take effect.
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