[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2529-2530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-997]


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FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 269a

[Docket No. R-1056]


Labor Relations for the Federal Reserve System

AGENCY:  Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

ACTION:  Interim rule with request for comments; policy statement.

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SUMMARY:  The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the 
Board) has an internal ``Policy on Labor Relations for the Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System,'' which was revised in 1983 
through notice and comment. The Board has determined that its 
regulation entitled ``Policy on Labor Relations for the Federal Reserve 
Banks'' should be applied to the Board policy insofar as that 
regulation provides procedures for processing charges of unfair labor 
practices. In addition, the Board is amending the references in its 
policy to the ``Federal Reserve System Labor Relations Panel'' to read 
``Federal Reserve Board Labor Relations Panel'' which is the correct 
name of this panel. Further, the Board is also amending part 269a by 
correcting cross-references to another Board regulation.

DATES:  This interim rule is effective January 19, 2000. Submit 
comments on or before March 20, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Comments, which should refer to Docket No. R-1056, may be 
mailed to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th 
and C Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20551; Attention: Ms. Jennifer J. 
Johnson, Secretary, or may be delivered to the Board's mail room 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. All comments received may be inspected in 
Room MP-500 of the Martin Building between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except as provided in 12 CFR 261.11(a) of the Board's 
Rules Regarding Availability of Information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Richard M. Ashton, Associate General 
Counsel (202-452-3750), Legal Division, Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System. For the hearing impaired only, 
Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD), Diane Jenkins (202-452-
3544), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority provided in the Federal 
Reserve Act, the Board has recognized the rights of its employees to 
organize and bargain collectively through recognized representatives 
and to be free from unfair labor practices. See Sections 10(4) and 
11(l) (providing the Board exclusive authority over employment at the 
Board). The Board has adopted a ``Policy on Labor Relations for the 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System'' which prohibits 
unfair labor practices and sets up the Federal Reserve Board Labor 
Relations Panel (Board Panel) to adjudicate charges of unfair labor 
practices. The policy authorizes the Board to issue rules to remedy 
unfair labor practices listed in the policy. The policy provides that 
the Board Panel will adhere to the rules and regulations promulgated by 
the Board for this purpose.
    The Board has also adopted a ``Policy on Labor Relations for the 
Reserve Banks,'' which is very similar in many respects to the Board 
Policy. 12 CFR part 269. The Board policy, like the Reserve Bank 
policy, prohibits certain unfair labor practices. The Bank policy, 
which establishes a Federal Reserve System Labor Relations Panel, also 
contains procedures for presenting and remedying unfair labor 
practices. Like the Board policy, the Bank policy, including the unfair 
labor practice procedures, was adopted after public notice and 
opportunity for comment. 48 FR 18820 (April 26, 1983); 48 FR 32331 
(July 15, 1983).
    An unfair labor practice charge under the Board policy has recently 
been filed. The Board has determined that the procedures for 
adjudicating unfair labor practice claims and other matters provided in 
its ``Policy on Labor Relations for the Reserve Banks'' should be 
applied to the processing of charges of unfair labor practice filed 
under the Board policy.
    Accordingly, the Board is amending the Board policy to provide that 
in processing charges of unfair labor practices under that policy, 12 
CFR part 269a and 269b of the Bank policy will govern. Thus, where the 
Bank policy refers to ``bank,'' the reference will be read as referring 
to the ``Board'' and where it refers to the ``Federal Reserve System 
Labor Relations Panel,'' the reference will be read as referring to the 
Board Panel. In addition, the Board is correcting all references in its 
policy to the ``Federal Reserve System Labor Relations Panel'' to read 
``Federal Reserve Board Labor Relations Panel'' which is the correct 
name of this panel. Further, references in part 269a to part 292, which 
was removed and redesignated in 1983 into part 269b after notice and 
public comment, will be revised to refer to the correct sections in 
part 269b.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Board has determined that it is 
unnecessary, and would be impracticable, to defer the effective date of 
this action until after public comments have been received and 
considered, although the Board will consider all public comments 
received and make changes in its procedures based on those comments 
where appropriate. The Board has also determined, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3), that good cause exists to make this action effective 
immediately rather than to defer its effective date for 30 days. The 
procedures here adopted for use by the Board Panel were issued for the 
System Panel in 1983 following notice and public comment and the 
substance of the unfair labor practice provisions in the Board and the 
Reserve Bank policies are essentially the same. 48 FR 32331 (July 15, 
1983). A pending matter under the Board policy requires that those 
procedures be used by the Board Panel without delay in the interest of 
fairness.
    The Board is amending its ``Policy on Labor Relations for the Board 
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System'' published on July 15, 1983 
(48 FR 32334) as set forth below:

Policy on Labor Relations for the Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System

    1. Section 6, paragraph (d), of this policy is amended to read as 
follows:

Section 6  Unfair Labor Practices

    (d) The Federal Reserve Board Labor Relations Panel will follow the 
rules in 12 CFR parts 269a and 269b for the prevention and remedy of 
the unfair labor practices listed in this Policy. For purposes of this 
Policy, the reference in Sec. 269b.110 to Sec. 269.6 will be read as 
referring to section 6 of this Policy. References in parts 269a and 
269b to a Federal Reserve Bank will be read as referring to the Board. 
References in parts 269a and 269b to the Federal Reserve System Labor 
Relations Panel will be read as referring to the Federal Reserve Board 
Labor Relations Panel.
    2. Every reference in the policy to the ``Federal Reserve System 
Labor Relations Panel'' is removed and the

[[Page 2530]]

words ``Federal Reserve Board Labor Relations Panel'' are added in 
their place.

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 269a

    Federal Reserve System, Labor-management relations.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 12 CFR part 269a is 
amended as set forth below:

PART 269a--DEFINITIONS

    1. The authority citation for 12 CFR part 269a continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Sec. 11, 38 Stat. 261 (12 U.S.C. 248).


Sec. 269a.4  [Amended]

    2. In Sec. 269a.4, remove the reference to ``Sec. 292.210'' and add 
the reference to ``Sec. 269b.210'' in its place.


Sec. 269.5  [Amended]

    3. In Sec. 269a.5, remove the reference to ``Sec. 292.420 et seq.'' 
and add the reference to ``Sec. 269b.420 et seq.'' in its place and 
remove the reference to ``Sec. 292.442'' and add the reference to 
``Sec. 269b.442'' in its place.

    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, January 11, 2000.
Jennifer J. Johnson,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 00-997 Filed 1-14-00; 8:45 am]
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