Opinion ID: 210884
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Ms. Banks worked as an Archive Technician at the NPRC in St. Louis, Missouri. She was responsible for sending requested military documents to United States veterans. These documents usually contained personal information protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. §552a, including such information as the veteran's social security number. The charge, which Ms. Banks does not dispute, was that on six occasions she sent to a requesting veteran the records of another person, which contained protected personal information. Despite two counseling letters from NPRC, Ms. Banks did not improve her performance. NPRC removed Ms. Banks on October 1, 2004, on the charge that she released protected information to unauthorized persons. The agency states that it also relied on other factors, particularly several past instances of absence without leave. Ms. Banks filed a grievance, through the American Federation of Government Employees Local 104. The grievance was denied. Ms. Banks then proceeded to invoke arbitration. After a hearing, the arbitrator ruled that NPRC's removal action did not violate the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and that Ms. Banks was removed for just cause. Ms. Banks appeals the arbitrator's decision.1