Richard N. Schowengerdt, Complainant,v.Robert M. Gates, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Defense Contract Management Agency), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMay 22, 2008
0120064439 (E.E.O.C. May. 22, 2008)

0120064439

05-22-2008

Richard N. Schowengerdt, Complainant, v. Robert M. Gates, Secretary, Department of Defense, (Defense Contract Management Agency), Agency.


Richard N. Schowengerdt,

Complainant,

v.

Robert M. Gates,

Secretary,

Department of Defense,

(Defense Contract Management Agency),

Agency.

Appeal No. 01200644391

Agency No. YS-05-0075

DECISION

Complainant filed an appeal with this Commission from the agency's

decision dated June 28, 2006, dismissing his complaint of unlawful

employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights

Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. In his

complaint, complainant alleged that he was subjected to discrimination

on the basis of reprisal for prior protected EEO activity when:

On April 25, 2005, complainant was assigned to draft two Memorandums of

Agreement (MOAs). On May 23, 2005, complainant's supervisor informed

complainant that his draft MOU submissions were unacceptable. On May

25, 2005, complainant's supervisor met with him for the purpose of

counseling him on his job performance and at the conclusion of the

meeting complainant received a "Memorandum of Counseling."

On June 28, 2006, the agency issued a decision in which the agency

dismissed the complaint pursuant to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(4) for

electing to file a grievance on the same matter. By letter dated July

11, 2006, to the Commission, the agency provided a copy of the Article

36 of the agency's DCMDE/AFGE Supplemental Agreement and DLA/AFGE

Master Agreement, showing that allegations of discrimination could be

raised in the grievance process. The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. �

1614.107(a)(4) provides that an agency may dismiss a complaint where the

complainant has raised the matter in a negotiated grievance procedure

that permits claims of discrimination. In the instant case, we find the

record supports the agency's final decision. We observe that complainant

previously obtained a final decision on July 18, 2005, to a grievance

he filed containing the same claim as the instant complaint.

Accordingly, we AFFIRM the agency's final decision dismissing the

complaint.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0408)

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 tends 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 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 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).

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (S0408)

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 (Z0408)

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:

______________________________

Carlton M. Hadden, Director

Office of Federal Operations

May 22, 2008

__________________

Date

1 Due to a new data system, the Commission has redesignated the instant

case with the above- referenced appeal number.

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2

0120064439

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P. O. Box 19848

Washington, D.C. 20036

4 0120064439