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# Negotiability

## Negotiability disputes

Negotiability disputes occur when a union and an agency disagree over the legality of contract ***proposals***or ***provisions***. 

### Proposal Cases

A negotiability dispute may occur when a union and an agency involved in collective bargaining disagree about whether the agency is required, or permitted, to negotiate over a matter proposed by the union.  The union may file a petition for review with the Authority if the agency alleges that its duty to bargain does not extend to the proposed matter because:
                          - it conflicts with federal law, a government-wide rule or regulation, or an agency regulation for which there is a compelling need; or
                          - it concerns a matter that the agency may elect, but is not required, to negotiate under  § 7106(b)(1) of the Statute .

### Provision Cases

A negotiability dispute may also occur when an agency head, conducting agency-head review under § 7114(c) of the Statute, disapproves a contract provision that the union and the agency at the local level agreed upon.  The union may file a petition for review with the Authority if the agency head alleges that the provision is not in accordance with law.

### Bargaining-Obligation Disputes

Generally, unions may not use the negotiability-appeals procedure to resolve bargaining-obligation disputes, which differ from negotiability disputes.  A bargaining-obligation dispute arises when an agency alleges that there is no obligation to bargain over a matter because:
                          - the proposed contract language is already "covered by" or included in an existing collective-bargaining agreement;
                          - the union has waived its right to bargain;
                          - an agency-initiated change is too minor to require bargaining (de minimis); or
                          - the matter does not pertain to the conditions of employment of bargaining-unit employees.

A union seeking to resolve a bargaining-obligation dispute should file an unfair-labor-practice charge.

## Filing a negotiability appeal

A union may file a ***petition for review***with the Authority if the parties are involved in a negotiability dispute.  In most cases, the agency’s ***statement of position***is due after the post-petition conference, which the Authority schedules ;to gather information regarding the proposals or provisions in dispute.  After the union receives a copy of the statement of position, the union must file a ***response***to the statement.  And after the agency receives the union's response, the agency may file a ***reply**.*

### Time Limits for Filing

                          - Petition for Review:   The union must file its petition for review within 15 days after the date of an agency's allegation of nonnegotiability.  But if the agency fails to respond to a union's request for an allegation of nonnegotiability, then the union must wait at least 10 days after its request, and then it can file its petition for review at any time. 
                          - Agency's Statement of Position:   The agency must file its statement with the Authority within 30 days from when the agency receives the union’s petition for review.
                          - Union's Response:   If the union wants to dispute any of the claims in the agency’s statement of position, then the union must file a response within 15 days of receiving the agency’s statement.
                          - Agency's Reply:   The agency may file a reply to the union’s response within 15 days after the agency receives a copy of the response.

You can find these time limits, as well as additional information about the procedural requirements for filings in a negotiability dispute, in the Authority's Regulations.

### How to File

The Authority prefers that parties use the FLRA's eFiling system.  However, copies of the standard negotiability-proceeding forms are available here for parties wishing to file by mail.

## Additional resources

For a more detailed explanation of negotiability disputes, see the Authority's Guide to Negotiability or the Authority's Regulations.

 

### In This Section

              - File a Case
              - Unfair Labor Practice
              - Representation
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              - Negotiability                 - Negotiability Forms
              - Negotiation Impasse
              - Other Types

### Resources

                    - Guide to Negotiability
                    - Alternative Dispute Resolution 
                    - Negotiability-Proceeding Regulations

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