Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§4114 Resolution of implementation disputes

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 52— - FOREIGN SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER X— - LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS › § 4114

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the Department and the exclusive representative disagree about what a collective bargaining agreement means or if it was broken, they must use dispute procedures they agree on. Those procedures must be fair, simple, quick, and must let either side appeal unresolved issues to the Foreign Service Grievance Board. After that appeal, either side can file an exception with the Board to challenge the Grievance Board’s action on legal or similar grounds. If no exception is filed within 30 days after the parties get the action, the action becomes final, must be carried out, and cannot be reviewed by a court.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §4114

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any dispute between the Department and the exclusive representative concerning the effect, interpretation, or a claim of breach of a collective bargaining agreement shall be resolved through procedures negotiated by the Department and the exclusive representative. Any procedures negotiated under this section shall—

(1)be fair and simple,

(2)provide for expeditious processing, and

(3)include provision for appeal to the Foreign Service Grievance Board by either party of any dispute not satisfactorily settled.

(b)Either party to an appeal under subsection (a)(3) may file with the Board an exception to the action of the Foreign Service Grievance Board in resolving the implementation dispute. If, upon review, the Board finds that the action is deficient—

(1)because it is contrary to any law, rule, or regulation; or

(2)on other grounds similar to those applied by Federal courts in private sector labor-management relations;

(c)If no exception to a Foreign Service Grievance Board action is filed under subsection (b) within 30 days after such action is communicated to the parties, such action shall become final and binding and shall be implemented by the parties.

(d)Resolutions of disputes under this section shall not be subject to judicial review.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 4114

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73