Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§7122 Exceptions to arbitral awards

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart F— - Labor-Management and Employee Relations › Chapter CHAPTER 71— - LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - GRIEVANCES, APPEALS, AND REVIEW › § 7122

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Either side in an arbitration can ask the Authority to review and arbitrator’s decision, except for certain issues listed elsewhere in the law. The Authority can overturn the decision if it breaks a law, rule, or regulation, or for other problems like those courts find in private labor cases. If nobody asks for review within 30 days after the award is served, the decision becomes final and the agency must follow it. The award can include back pay as allowed under the law.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §7122

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Either party to arbitration under this chapter may file with the Authority an exception to any arbitrator’s award pursuant to the arbitration (other than an award relating to a matter described in section 7121(f) of this title). If upon review the Authority finds that the award 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;

(b)If no exception to an arbitrator’s award is filed under subsection (a) of this section during the 30-day period beginning on the date the award is served on the party, the award shall be final and binding. An agency shall take the actions required by an arbitrator’s final award. The award may include the payment of backpay (as provided in section 5596 of this title).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1984—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–224 amended subsec. (b) generally, substituting “beginning on the date the award is served on the party” for “beginning on the date of such award”.

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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 7122

Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73