Opinion ID: 2609813
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Grievance Committee

Text: Pinther requested the formation of a grievance committee to determine the proper interpretation of the veteran's preference statute, Wyo.Stat. § 19-6-102 (1977). He contends that, under chapter XII, section 5(e) of the personnel rules, the personnel administrator abused his discretion when he decided not to form a grievance committee. We disagree. Under section 5(e), the decision as to whether to form a grievance committee is within the discretion of the personnel administrator: (e) If the decision of the agency head or the designee is unsatisfactory to the employee and if the grievance involves a written reprimand, a disciplinary suspension or an involuntary reappointment, the employee may, within five (5) days of receipt of the decision, request the establishment of a Grievance Committee. Other matters may be considered by a Grievance Committee at the discretion of the Personnel Administrator. PERSONNEL RULES OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF WYOMING STATE GOVERNMENT ch. XII, § 5(e) (1989) (emphasis added). Whether the personnel administrator should have granted Pinther's request for the formation of a grievance committee depends upon the construction and application of the personnel rules. When rules are adopted pursuant to statutory authority and are properly promulgated, they have the force and effect of law. Thus, an administrative agency is bound to follow the applicable statutes and its own rules and regulations. Fullmer v. Wyoming Employment Security Commission, 858 P.2d 1122, 1123-24 (Wyo.1993) (citations omitted). This Court will defer to an administrative agency's construction of its rules unless that construction is clearly erroneous or inconsistent with the plain meaning of the rules. Doidge v. State Board of Charities and Reform, 789 P.2d 880, 884 (Wyo. 1990) (citing Croxton v. Board of County Commissioners of Natrona County, 644 P.2d 780 (Wyo.1982)). Pinther has failed to show that the personnel administrator's interpretation of the personnel rules was clearly erroneous or inconsistent with the plain meaning of the rules. He argues that his questions concerning § 19-6-102 present an other matter worthy of the establishment of a grievance committee. Section 5(e) grants the personnel administrator discretionary power to form a grievance committee to hear other matters, which are not grievances involving written reprimands, disciplinary suspensions, or involuntary reappointments. Pinther's claim clearly qualifies as an other matter under the language of section 5(e). His request for the formation of a grievance committee invoked the personnel administrator's section 5(e) discretionary power. The personnel administrator denied Pinther's request because the personnel rules precluded Pinther from filing a grievance against the Department of Transportation. The personnel rules define grievance as: Any dispute, excluding dismissal or reduction in force, between an employee and the management of the employee's agency which involves the interpretation or application of policies, rules, regulations and/or statutes which have been adopted by an agency, Governor's Executive Order or the State Legislature to cover personnel practices and/or working conditions. PERSONNEL RULES, supra, at Appendix, Definition No. 32 (emphasis added). The definition of grievance makes it clear that Pinther, as a Department of Administration and Information employee, could not file a grievance against the Department of Transportation. The personnel administrator correctly interpreted and applied the personnel rules when he denied both the grievance and the request for the formation of a grievance committee. His conclusions of law were in accordance with law, and his denial of Pinther's requests was not arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of discretion. Section 16-3-114(c)(ii)(A).