[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 174 (Monday, September 13, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50855-50856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19615]


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FEDERAL MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE

29 CFR Part 1402

RIN 3076-AA16


Notice to Mediation Agency

AGENCY: Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), issues 
a final rule amending its existing regulations to modify the submission 
method of information collection request, Notice to Mediation Agency, 
(Agency Form F-7) and remove the form titled ``Notice to Mediation 
Agencies.''

DATES: This final rule is effective September 13, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Please contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section for additional availability information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arthur Pearlstein, Director, 
Arbitration, Notice Processing, Shared Neutrals, [email protected], 
202-606-8103.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Parties to private-sector collective bargaining agreements must 
file certain notices with the Federal Mediation Conciliation Service 
pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 158(d)(3). This modification changes the 
submission process of information collection request, Notice to 
Mediation Agency (Agency Form F-7), from mail-in to electronic 
submission. This revision is necessary to increase efficiency of FMCS 
both by allowing FMCS to receive Agency Form F-7's more quickly, but 
also to reduce processing time. This will allow the Service to provide 
its services to the parties more quickly. This modification removes the 
language which includes the verbiage of the Form-F7, to allow for FMCS 
to modify the form, if necessary, without necessitating additional rule 
change.

II. Authority for This Rulemaking

    FMCS' authority to issue rules is found in 29 U.S.C. 172 of Taft 
Harley Act of 1947. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority.

III. Public Comment Period

    The public comment period on the proposed rule opened on July 22, 
2021, the date of its publication in the Federal Register, and closed 
on August 23, 2021. During this period, FMCS did not receive any 
comments on our proposed action.

List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 1402

    Administrative practice and procedure, Information collection 
requests, Labor management relations.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, and under the authority 
29 U.S.C. 172 of the Taft Hartley Act of 1947, FMCS amends 29 CFR part 
1402 as follows:

0
1. The authority citation for part 1402 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sec. 202, 61 Stat. 153, sec. 3, 80 Stat. 250, sec. 
203, 61 Stat. 153; 5 U.S.C. 552, 29 U.S.C. 172, 173.


0
2. Revise Sec.  1402.1 to read as follows:


Sec.  1402.1  Notice of dispute.

    The notice of dispute filed with the Federal Mediation and 
Conciliation Service pursuant to the provisions of section 8(d)(3), of 
the Labor-Management Relations Act, 1947, as amended, shall be 
submitted electronically via a platform provided by FMCS. If electronic 
submission creates an undue hardship, the filer may contact the FMCS 
Notice Processing office to explain the circumstances and receive 
assistance. The Form F-7, for use by the parties in filing a notice of

[[Page 50856]]

dispute, has been prepared by the Service.

    Dated: September 7, 2021.
Sarah Cudahy,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2021-19615 Filed 9-10-21; 8:45 am]
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