David A. Elias, Complainant,v.John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (Great Lakes Area), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionDec 3, 2009
0520100054 (E.E.O.C. Dec. 3, 2009)

0520100054

12-03-2009

David A. Elias, Complainant, v. John E. Potter, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, (Great Lakes Area), Agency.


David A. Elias,

Complainant,

v.

John E. Potter,

Postmaster General,

United States Postal Service,

(Great Lakes Area),

Agency.

Request No. 0520100054

Appeal No. 0120081660

Agency No. 4J-493-0056-07

DENIAL

Complainant timely requested reconsideration of the decision in David

A. Elias v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC Appeal No. 0120081660 (September

16, 2009). EEOC Regulations provide that the Commission may, in its

discretion, grant a request to reconsider any previous Commission decision

where the requesting party demonstrates 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. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.405(b).

In the underlying complaint, complainant alleged that he was discriminated

against on the bases of national origin (Lebanon) and age (forty-four

years old) when, on or about May 20, 2007, the agency failed to call him

for an interview. In EEOC Appeal No. 0120081660, the Commission concluded

that complainant did not show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that

the agency's articulated reason for not interviewing him was a pretext

for discrimination on the bases alleged. In her affidavit, the selecting

official averred that the reason complainant was not interviewed for

the position in question was because he failed to contact the postmaster

for an appointment for an interview, as directed in the Call-in Notice.

The Call-in Notice specified that the failure to respond would result

in the removal of complainant's name from the register for employment

consideration.1

In his request for reconsideration, complainant reiterates arguments

previously made, emphasizing that he has been subjected to discrimination

on the basis of his political affiliation. He also provides

additional background information, noting "much of this is new." In his

statement, complainant describes what he deems to be prior incidents of

discrimination to which he was subjected when he was previously employed

by the agency.

Initially, we note that the Commission does not have jurisdiction

over discrimination based on political affiliation. As to the

"new" information which complainant has provided in his request for

reconsideration, we remind complainant that a "request for reconsideration

is not a second appeal to the Commission." Equal Employment Opportunity

Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (rev. Nov. 9, 1999), at 9-17.

This Commission carefully considered all of the record evidence at the

time it rendered the previous decision, and complainant has offered

no persuasive reason why the decision should be reconsidered now.

The previous decision correctly found that although the Call-in

Notice was not a model of clarity in that it contained ambiguous

instructions for arranging an appointment for an interview, there was

no persuasive evidence that the agency's articulated reason for not

interviewing complainant was a pretext for discrimination. Therefore,

the Commission finds that the request fails to meet the criteria of 29

C.F.R. � 1614.405(b), and it is the decision of the Commission to deny

the request. The decision in EEOC Appeal No. 0120081660 remains the

Commission's decision. There is no further right of administrative

appeal on the decision of the Commission on this request.

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (P0408)

This decision of the Commission is final, and there is no further right

of administrative appeal from the Commission's decision. 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.

RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1008)

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 from the Court that

the Court appoint an attorney to represent you and that the Court also

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 with

the Court 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

______12/03/09____________

Date

1 Complainant argued that the agency's articulated reason was not

legitimate because the Call-in Notice only required that he complete

and return the enclosed paperwork by a certain date. The notice stated

that complainant would be contacted for an interview, which indicated

to complainant that it was not required to contact the postmaster for

an interview. However, in another section, the notice indicated that

complainant should contact the postmaster for an interview.

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0520100054

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

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0520100054