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Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§7119 Negotiation impasses; Federal Service Impasses Panel

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart F— - Labor-Management and Employee Relations › Chapter CHAPTER 71— - LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF AGENCIES AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS › § 7119

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When agencies and employee unions reach a bargaining deadlock and mediation does not work, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service must try to help and decides when and how to do so. If those voluntary steps fail, either side can ask the Federal Service Impasses Panel to take the case. The parties can also choose binding arbitration, but only if the Panel approves the arbitration process. The Panel is part of the Federal Labor Relations Authority. It has a Chair and at least six other members. The President appoints members based only on fitness, from people who know government and labor relations. At first, two members serve 1 year, two serve 3 years, and the Chair and others serve 5 years; after that, members serve 5-year terms and vacancies fill the rest of the term. The President may remove any member. The Panel can hire an Executive Director and staff. Non-employee members get a daily pay equal to the daily share of the top General Schedule pay and get travel expenses. The Panel must quickly investigate impasses, suggest procedures, and help with factfinding and recommendations. If parties still disagree, the Panel can hold hearings, take sworn testimony, issue subpoenas under section 7132, and take other lawful actions to resolve the impasse. Its final decision must be given to the parties and is binding during the agreement’s term unless the parties agree otherwise.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §7119

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service shall provide services and assistance to agencies and exclusive representatives in the resolution of negotiation impasses. The Service shall determine under what circumstances and in what manner it shall provide services and assistance.
(b)If voluntary arrangements, including the services of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or any other third-party mediation, fail to resolve a negotiation impasse—
(1)either party may request the Federal Service Impasses Panel to consider the matter, or
(2)the parties may agree to adopt a procedure for binding arbitration of the negotiation impasse, but only if the procedure is approved by the Panel.
(c)(1)The Federal Service Impasses Panel is an entity within the Authority, the function of which is to provide assistance in resolving negotiation impasses between agencies and exclusive representatives.
(2)The Panel shall be composed of a Chairman and at least six other members, who shall be appointed by the President, solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties and functions involved, from among individuals who are familiar with Government operations and knowledgeable in labor-management relations.
(3)Of the original members of the Panel, 2 members shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, 2 members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, and the Chairman and the remaining members shall be appointed for a term of 5 years. Thereafter each member shall be appointed for a term of 5 years, except that an individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member replaced. Any member of the Panel may be removed by the President.
(4)The Panel may appoint an Executive Director and any other individuals it may from time to time find necessary for the proper performance of its duties. Each member of the Panel who is not an employee (as defined in section 2105 of this title) is entitled to pay at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay then currently paid under the General Schedule for each day he is engaged in the performance of official business of the Panel, including travel time, and is entitled to travel expenses as provided under section 5703 of this title.
(5)(A)The Panel or its designee shall promptly investigate any impasse presented to it under subsection (b) of this section. The Panel shall consider the impasse and shall either—
(i)recommend to the parties procedures for the resolution of the impasse; or
(ii)assist the parties in resolving the impasse through whatever methods and procedures, including factfinding and recommendations, it may consider appropriate to accomplish the purpose of this section.
(B)If the parties do not arrive at a settlement after assistance by the Panel under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Panel may—
(i)hold hearings;
(ii)administer oaths, take the testimony or deposition of any person under oath, and issue subpenas as provided in section 7132 of this title; and
(iii)take whatever action is necessary and not inconsistent with this chapter to resolve the impasse.
(C)Notice of any final action of the Panel under this section shall be promptly served upon the parties, and the action shall be binding on such parties during the term of the agreement, unless the parties agree otherwise.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), is set out under section 5332 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1978 Amendment note under section 1101 of this title.

Executive Documents

Delegation of Removal Authority Over the Federal Service Impasses Panel Memorandum of President of the United States, Nov. 12, 2019, 84 F.R. 63789, provided: Memorandum for the Federal Labor Relations Authority By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows: section 1. Delegation of Removal Authority. (a) The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is delegated the authority under 5 U.S.C. 7119(c)(3) to remove the Chairman and any other member of the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP) appointed by the President under 5 U.S.C. 7119(c)(2). (b) In exercising the authority delegated by this section, the FLRA shall consider the extent to which decisions of members of the FSIP are consistent with the requirements of Chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code, with particular attention to whether the decisions are consistent with the requirement of an effective and efficient Government, as those terms are used in 5 U.S.C. 7101(b), in addition to any other factors that the FLRA may consider appropriate. (c) Within 10 days of exercising the authority delegated by this section, the FLRA shall submit a report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, explaining the reasons for its action, with particular emphasis on explaining how such action promotes an effective and efficient Government under 5 U.S.C. 7101(b). (d) The authority delegated by this section may not be redelegated. Sec. 2. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The FLRA is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. Donald J. Trump.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 7119

Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73