Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service March 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection request, Stakeholder Survey for Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery. This information collection request was previously approved by the Office of Management Budget (OMB) and FMCS is requesting a revision of a currently approved collection. This collection was developed as part of a Federal Government-wide effort to streamline the process for seeking feedback from the public on service delivery.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection request, Arbitrator's Personal Data Questionnaire, (Agency Form R-22). This information collection request was previously approved by the Office of Management Budget (OMB) but has expired. FMCS is requesting a reinstatement without change. The Arbitrator's Personal Data Questionnaire, (Agency Form R-22), allows FMCS to comply with its statutory obligation pursuant to the statute, 29 U.S.C. 171(b), to make governmental facilities available for voluntary arbitration. To carry out this policy, FMCS have issued regulations, 29 CFR part 1404, which provide for the operation and maintenance of a roster of professional arbitrators. The arbitrators are private citizens, not employees of FMCS, and are paid by the parties for hearing and deciding the issues submitted under a collective bargaining agreement and in other circumstances. Applicants for listing on the roster submit an Arbitrator's Personal Data Questionnaire (Agency Form R-22) which is used by FMCS to evaluate their qualifications. This allows FMCS to be able to restrict its roster to qualified individuals only.

To fulfill its conflict resolution and training mission, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) uses Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Outlook, and a case records management system new to FMCS to enable mediators and managers to manage cases, manage reporting requirements, provide data for research and training, store recorded trainings and meetings, and collect information on Agency operations. The Agency's internal drives, SharePoint, Outlook, Cloud- based services such as Zoom.gov and Microsoft Teams, and a case records management system are used to store electronic case tracking information, electronic case files (including mediation agreements), and recorded meetings and trainings, permitting the accurate and timely collection, retrieval, and retention of information maintained by offices of the Agency. Inter-Agency Agreements (IAA), agreements for reimbursable services, and requests for mediation and training are also stored in these locations. IAAs and agreements for reimbursable services allow FMCS to provide requested services, such as training and labor dispute resolution, to other federal agencies. The notice amendment includes administrative updates to refine details published under summary, dates, supplementary information, system name, system location, authority for maintenance of the system, purpose of the system, categories of individuals covered by the system, categories of records in the system, record source categories, routine uses, policies and practices for storage of records, policies and practices for retrieval of records, policies and practices for retention and disposal of records, administrative safeguards, record access procedures, and contesting records procedures. These sections are amended to refine previously published information about the system of records. The addresses, for further information contact, security classification, system location, system manager, notification procedures, exemptions promulgated, and history remain unchanged. This amended SORN deletes and supersedes the SORN published in the Federal Register on September 21, 2021.