01a02922
06-23-2000
Ray A. Garza, Complainant, v. William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Agency.
Ray A. Garza v. United States Postal Service
01A02922
June 23, 2000
Ray A. Garza, )
Complainant, )
)
v. ) Appeal No. 01A02922
) Agency No. 4G-780-0070-99
William J. Henderson, )
Postmaster General, )
United States Postal Service, )
Agency. )
)
DECISION
On March 6, 2000, Ray A. Garza (hereinafter referred to as complainant)
filed a timely appeal from the February 3, 2000, final decision of the
United States Postal Service (hereinafter referred to as the agency)
concerning his termination on May 8, 1992. The appeal is timely filed
(see 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter
referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.402(a)))<1> and is accepted in
accordance with 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (to be codified as 29 C.F.R. �
1614.405). For the reasons that follow, the agency's decision is AFFIRMED.
The issue presented in this appeal is whether the agency properly
dismissed his complaint for untimely contact with an EEO counselor.
On March 27, 1998, complainant contacted an EEO counselor with regard to
his termination in May 1992. He stated that he had just learned that
the supervisor who had caused his removal had been relocated allegedly
because of problems with ethnic minorities. He further explained that,
at the time of the removal action, the union had "misled" him, causing him
to ignore his rights of appeal, in that, he relied on the union's efforts
in support of his request for disability retirement, which was denied.
The Commission's regulations require that a complainant bring his/her
complaint to the attention of an EEO counselor within 45 days of
an alleged discriminatory event or the effective date of an alleged
discriminatory personnel action. 29 C.F.R. �1614.105(a)(2). The record
shows that complainant contacted an EEO counselor approximately six years
from the event and failed to offer sufficient justification for the delay.
Complainant's contact with an EEO counselor was untimely, and the agency
properly dismissed the complaint. 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,656 (to be
codified and hereinafter referred to as 29 C.F.R. �1614.107(a)(2)).<2>
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, the agency's decision was proper and is AFFIRMED.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0300)
The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this
case if the complainant or the agency submits a written request containing
arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:
1. The appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation
of material fact or law; or
2. The appellate decision will have a substantial impact on the policies,
practices, or operations of the agency.
Requests to reconsider, with supporting statement or brief, MUST BE FILED
WITH THE OFFICE OF FEDERAL OPERATIONS (OFO) WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR
DAYS of receipt of this decision or WITHIN TWENTY (20) CALENDAR DAYS OF
RECEIPT OF ANOTHER PARTY'S TIMELY REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION. See 64
Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,659 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter referred
to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405); Equal Employment Opportunity Management
Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), 9-18 (November 9, 1999).
All requests and arguments must be submitted to the Director, Office of
Federal Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box
19848, Washington, D.C. 20036. In the absence of a legible postmark, the
request to reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if it is received by
mail within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period.
See 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644, 37,661 (1999) (to be codified and hereinafter
referred to as 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604). The request or opposition must
also include proof of service on the other party.
Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your
request for reconsideration as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances
prevented the timely filing of the request. Any supporting documentation
must be submitted with your request for reconsideration. The Commission
will consider requests for reconsideration filed after the deadline only
in very limited circumstances. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604(c).
COMPLAINANTS' RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0400)
You have the right to file a civil action in an appropriate United States
District Court WITHIN NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS from the date that you
receive this decision. If you file a civil action, YOU MUST NAME AS
THE DEFENDANT IN THE COMPLAINT THE PERSON WHO IS THE OFFICIAL AGENCY HEAD
OR DEPARTMENT HEAD, IDENTIFYING THAT PERSON BY HIS OR HER FULL NAME AND
OFFICIAL TITLE. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of your
case in court. "Agency" or "department" means the national organization,
and not the local office, facility or department in which you work. If you
file a request to reconsider and also file a civil action, filing a civil
action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint.
RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1199)
If you decide to file a civil action, and if you do not have or cannot
afford the services of an attorney, you may request that the Court appoint
an attorney to represent you and that the Court permit you to file the
action without payment of fees, costs, or other security. See Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.;
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. �� 791, 794(c).
The grant or denial of the request is within the sole discretion of
the Court. Filing a request for an attorney does not extend your time
in which to file a civil action. Both the request and the civil action
must be filed within the time limits as stated in the paragraph above
("Right to File A Civil Action").
FOR THE COMMISSION:
06-23-00
Date Carlton Hadden, Acting Director
Office of Federal Operations
CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
For timeliness purposes, the Commission will presume that this decision
was received within five (5) calendar days of mailing. I certify that
the decision was mailed to complainant, complainant's representative
(if applicable), and the agency on:
__________ ______________________
Date
1On November 9, 1999, revised regulations governing the EEOC's
federal sector complaint process went into effect. These regulations
apply to all federal sector EEO complaints pending at any stage in the
administrative process. Consequently, the Commission will apply the
revised regulations found at 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644 (1999), where applicable,
in deciding the present appeal. The regulations, as amended, may also
be found at the Commission's website at www.eeoc.gov.
2To the extent that complainant complains about union representation, he
fails to state a claim under EEOC regulations. 64 Fed. Reg. 37,644,
37,656 (to be codified and hereinafter referred to as 29
C.F.R. �1614.107(a)(1)).