Federal Register: August 4, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 148)
DOCID: fr04au09-45 FR Doc E9-18579
FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr04au09-45
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice to Mediation Agencies (Form F-7) Proposed Modifications.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Arbitration Services; Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 3, 2009.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
This notice announces that the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) agency form F7 is being revised. Following publication of this Notice and any responsive comments, FMCS will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of this Notice to Mediation Agencies (Agency Form F7) form. The request will seek OMB approval of a modified Form F7 and new expiration date of approximately October 1, 2012. FMCS is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the collection as described below.
SUMMARY:
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Copies of the modified Form F-7 are available from the Office of Arbitration Services by calling, faxing or writing Vella M. Traynham at the address above. Please ask for the form by title and agency form number.
I. Information Collection Requests
FMCS is seeking comments on the following Information Collection Request (ICR).
Title: Notice to Mediation Agencies; Form F7; OMB No. 30760004;
Expiration Date: January 31, 2006.
Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved notice with changes in the substance of the form.
Affected Entities: Parties affected by this information collection are private sector employers and labor unions involved in interstate commerce that file notices for mediation services to the FMCS.
Frequency: Parties complete this form once, which is at the time of an impending expiration of a collective bargaining agreement.
Abstract: Under the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, 29
U.S.C. 158(d), Congress listed specific notice provisions so that no
party to a collective bargaining agreement can terminate or modify that
contract, unless the party wishing to terminate or modify the contract
sends a written notice to the other party sixty days prior to the
expiration date (29 U.S.C. 158(d)(1)), and offers to meet and confer
with the other party for the purpose of negotiating a new or modified
contract (29 U.S.C. 158(d)(2)). Furthermore, the Act requires that
parties notify the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service within
thirty days after such notice of the existence of a bargaining dispute
(29 U.S.C. 158(d)(3)). The 1974 amendments to the National Labor
Relations Act, which extended coverage to nonprofit health care
institutions, also created a notification procedure in the health care
industry requiring parties to notify each other 90 days in advance of
termination and 60 days in advance to FMCS (29 U.S.C. 158(d)). This
amendment also requires 30day notification of bargaining for an
initial agreement to the FMCS. To facilitate handling of more than
18,000 such notices a year, FMCS created a specific information
collection form. The purpose of this information collection activity is
for FMCS to comply with its statutory duty to receive these notices, to
facilitate assignment of mediators to assist in labor disputes, and to
assist the parties in knowing whether or not proper notice was given.
The information from these notices is sent electronically to the
appropriate field manager who assigns the cases to a mediator so that the mediator may
[[Page 38627]]
contact labor and management quickly, efficiently, and offer dispute
resolution services. Either party to a contract may make a request in
writing for a copy of the notice filed with FMCS. The F7 form was
created to allow FMCS to gather desired information in a uniform
manner. The collection of such information, including the name of the
employer or employer association, address and phone number, email
address, official contact, bargaining unit and establishment size,
location of affected establishment and negotiations, industry, union
address, phone number, email address and official contact, contract
expiration date or renewal date, whether the notice is filed on behalf
of the employer or the union, and whether this is a health care
industry notice is critical for reporting and mediation purposes.
Burden Statement: The current annual burden estimate is
approximately 18,000 respondents. This onepage form takes about 10 minutes to complete.
II. Request for Comments
FMCS solicits comments to:
(i) Evaluate whether the proposed collecton of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information to be collected 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.
III. The Official Record
The official record is the paper electronic record maintained at
the address at the beginning of this document. FMCS will transfer all
electronically received comments into printedpaper form as they are received.
Dated: July 30, 2009.
Michael J. Bartlett,
Deputy General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E918579 Filed 8309; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 673201P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Vella M. Traynham, Director of Arbitration Services, FMCS, 2100 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20427. Telephone (202) 6065111; Fax (202) 6063749.