[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52700-52701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26229]
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FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE
Office of Arbitration Services; Information Collection Request
AGENCY: Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
ACTION: Publication of FMCS Seeking Comments on the following
Information Collection.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is
seeking comments on the following information collection requests. FMCS
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for
review of three FMCS forms. The forms are Arbitrator's Report and Fee
Statement (R-19), Arbitrator's Personal Data questionnaire (R-22) and
Request for Arbitration Services (R-43).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter L. Regner (202) 606-8181.
SUMMARY: This notice announces that three Information Collection
Requests (ICR) are coming up for renewal. These ICRs are: FMCS
Arbitrator's Report and Fee Statement (Agency Form R-19), the
Arbitrator's Personal Data Questionnaire (Agency Form R-22), and the
Request for Arbitration Services (Agency Form R-43). The request seeks
OMB approval for a three-year expiration date of Forms R-19, R-22 and
R-43 until November 30, 2001. FMCS is soliciting comments on specific
aspects of the collections as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 30, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments identified by the appropriate agency
form number by mail to: FMCS Desk Officer, Office of Management and
Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Human Resources
and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC
20503. Copies of the complete agency forms may be obtained from the
Office of Arbitration Services at the above address or by contacting
the person whose name appears under the section headed, FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Comments and data may also be submitted by fax at (202) 606-4216 or
electronic mail (e-mail) to [email protected]. All comments and data in
electronic form must be identified by the appropriate agency form
number. No confidential business information (CBI) should be submitted
through e-mail.
Information submitted as a comment concerning this document may be
claimed confidential by marking any part or all of the information as
``CBI''. Information so marked will not be disclosed but a copy of the
comment that does not contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion in
the public record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed
publicly by FMCS without prior notice. All written comments will be
available for inspection in Room 707 at the Washington, DC address
above from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter L. Regner, Director of Program
Services, FMCS 2100 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20427. Telephone
202/606-8181; Fax 202/606-4216.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of each of the agency forms are
available from the Office of Arbitration Services by calling, faxing,
or writing, to Mr. Regner at the above address. Please ask for the form
by title and agency form number.
I. Information Collection Requests
FMCS is seeking comments on the following Information Collection
Requests (ICRs).
Title: Arbitrator's Personal Data Questionnaire. ICR is R-22, OMB
No. 3076-0001. Expiration date: 11/30/2001.
Affecting entities: Parties affected by this information collection
are individuals who apply for admission to the FMCS Roster of
Arbitrators.
Abstract: Title II of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947
Pub. L. 90-101) as amended in 1959 (Pub. L. 86-257) and 1974 (Pub. L.
93-360), states that it is the labor policy of the United States that
``the settlement of issues between employers and employees through
collective bargaining may be advanced by making available full and
adequate governmental facilities for conciliation, mediation, and
voluntary arbitration to encourage employers and representatives of
their employees to reach and maintain agreements rates of pay, hours,
and working conditions, and to make all reasonable efforts to settle
their differences by mutual agreement reached through conferences and
collective bargaining or by such methods as may be provided for in any
applicable agreement for the settlement of disputes.'' Under its
regulations at 29 CFR Part 1404, FMCS has established policies and
procedures for its arbitration function dealing with all arbitrators
listed on the FMCS Roster of Arbitrators, all applicants for listing on
the Roster, and all person or parties seeking to obtain from FMCS
either names or panels of names of arbitrators listed on the Roster in
connection with disputes which are to be submitted to arbitration or
fact-finding. FMCS strives to maintain the highest quality of dispute
resolvers on its roster. To ensure that purpose, it asks all candidates
to complete an application form.
The purpose of this collection is to gather information about
applicants for inclusion in the FMCS Roster of Arbitrators. This
questionnaire is needed in order that FMCS may select highly qualified
individuals for the arbitrator roster. The respondents are private
citizens who make application for appointment to FMCS roster. This
obligation is pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 171(b), 29 CFR Part 1404. This
notice is a request to extend the existing form which is currently
approved collection without any change in the substance or method of
collection.
Burden Statement: The number of respondents is approximately 250
individuals per year; the approximate number of individuals who request
membership on the FMCS Roster. The time required to complete this
questionnaire is approximately one and one/half hour to complete the
application. Each respondent is required to respond only once per
application, and once per year for updating the biographical sketch.
Title: Request for Arbitration Services. ICR No. R-43, OMB No.
3076-0002; Expiration date: 11/30/2001.
Affected Entities: Employers and their representatives, employees,
labor unions and their representatives who request arbitration
services.
Abstract: Pursuant to 29 U.S.C. s171(b) and 29 CFR Part 1404, FMCS
offers panels of arbitrators for selection by labor and management to
resolve grievances and disagreements arising under their collective
bargaining
[[Page 52701]]
agreements and to deal with fact and interest arbitration issues as
well. The need for this form is to obtain information such as name,
address, type of assistance desired, so that the FMCS can respond to
requests efficiently and effectively for various arbitration services
(e.g. furnishing lists of seven arbitrators to parties). The purpose of
this information collection is to facilitate the processing of the
party's request for arbitration assistance. No third party notification
or public disclosure burden is associated with this collection. This
notice for comments refers to a revision of the current form to include
information regarding payment for services and to note if the request
involves Expedited Arbitration.
Burden Statement: The current total annual burden estimate is that
FMCS will receive requests from approximately 15,000 respondents per
year. In most instances, the form is completed only once and takes
about ten minutes to complete. Thus, the frequency of request for an
arbitration panel is usually only once.
Title: Arbitrator's Report and Fee Statement. ICR Form R-19; OMB
No. 3076-0003. Expiration date: November 30, 2001.
Affected Entities: Individual arbitrators who render awards under
appointment by the FMCS procedures.
Abstract: Pursuant to 29 U.S.C.
S 171(b) and 29 CFR Part 1404, FMCS assumes a responsibility to monitor
the work of the arbitrators who serve on its roster. This is satisfied
through the requirement of completion of report and fee statement which
indicates when the arbitration award was rendered, the file number, the
company and union, the issues, whether briefs were filed and
transcripts taken, if there were any waivers by parties on the date the
award was due, and the fees and days for services as an arbitrator.
This information is then contained in the agency's annual report to
indicate the types of arbitration issues, the average or median
arbitration fees and days spent and cases. This notice request is for
an extension of the form which is currently approved for collection; no
change in the substance or method of collection is involved.
Burden Statement: FMCS receives approximately 4000 responses per
year. The form is only filed out once and the time required is
approximately ten minutes. FMCS uses this form to review arbitrator
conformance with its fee and expenses reporting requirements. This
information is then contained in the agency's annual report to indicate
the types of arbitration issues, the average or median arbitration fees
and days spent on cases. This notice request is for extension of the
form which is currently approved for collection; no change in the
substance or method of collection is involved.
II. Request for Comments
FMCS solicits comments to:
(i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility.
(ii) Enhance the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden
of the proposed collection of information.
(iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected.
(iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated
electronic collection technologies or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic and fax submission of
responses.
III. The Official Record
The official record is the paper record maintained at the address
in addresses at the beginning of this document. FMCS will transfer all
electronically received comments into printed paper form as they are
received.
List of Subjects
Arbitration and Information collection requests.
Dated: September 25, 1998.
Vella Traynham,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 98-26229 Filed 9-30-98; 8:45 am]
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