Lester Coleman, Complainant,v.Elaine L. Chao, Secretary, Department of Labor (Mine Safety and Health Administration), Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionJan 7, 2009
0520080675 (E.E.O.C. Jan. 7, 2009)

0520080675

01-07-2009

Lester Coleman, Complainant, v. Elaine L. Chao, Secretary, Department of Labor (Mine Safety and Health Administration), Agency.


Lester Coleman,

Complainant,

v.

Elaine L. Chao,

Secretary,

Department of Labor

(Mine Safety and Health Administration),

Agency.

Request No. 0520080675

Appeal No. 0120062552

Agency No. 04-09-061

DENIAL

The agency timely requested reconsideration of the decision in Lester

Coleman v. Department of Labor, EEOC Appeal No. 0120062552 (June 6, 2008).

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).

After reconsidering the previous decision and the entire record, 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. 0120062552 remains the

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

appeal on the decision of the Commission on this request. The agency

shall comply with the Order as set forth below.

ORDER

The agency is ordered to take the following remedial actions:

(1) Within thirty (30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes

final, the agency shall offer complainant a transfer to a Supervisory

Coal Mine Safety and Health Inspector, GS-13, position in Oklahoma,

or a substantially equivalent position in Oklahoma, retroactive to

the date of his non-selection, September 12, 2003. Complainant shall

have fifteen (15) days from receipt of the offer to accept or decline

the offer. Failure to accept the offer within fifteen (15) days will

be considered a rejection of the offer, unless the complainant can show

that circumstances beyond his control prevented a response within the

time limit. Should complainant accept the transfer, the agency is to

pay all relocation expenses.

(2) The agency is to provide complainant with 100% of the back pay, with

interest, and other benefits due complainant, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. �

1614.501 from September 12, 2003 to the date complainant assumed the

GS-13 position in Pennsylvania. The agency is to provide this back

pay and benefits no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the date

this decision becomes final. The complainant shall cooperate in the

agency's efforts to compute the amount of back pay and benefits due,

and shall provide all relevant information requested by the agency.

If there is a dispute regarding the exact amount of back pay and/or

benefits, the agency shall issue a check to the complainant for the

undisputed amount within sixty (60) calendar days of the date the

agency determines the amount it believes to be due. The complainant

may petition for enforcement or clarification of the amount in dispute.

The petition for the clarification or enforcement must be filed with the

Compliance Officer, at the address referenced in the statement entitled

"Implementation of the Commission's Decision."

(3) Within sixty (60) calendar days of the date this decision becomes

final, the agency shall afford a minimum of eight (8) hours of EEO

training on the law of employment discrimination, with particular

emphasis on their responsibilities and obligations under the ADEA and

hiring practices to the responsible management officials.

(4) The agency shall consider taking appropriate disciplinary action

against the responsible management officials. The Commission does not

consider training to be disciplinary action. The agency shall report

its decision to the compliance officer. If the agency decides to take

disciplinary action, it shall identify the action taken. If the agency

decides not to take disciplinary action, it shall set forth the reason(s)

for its decision not to impose discipline. If any of the responsible

management officials have left the agency's employ, the agency shall

furnish documentation of their departure date(s).

POSTING ORDER (G0900)

The agency is ordered to post at its McAlester Field Office copies of

the attached notice. Copies of the notice, after being signed by the

agency's duly authorized representative, shall be posted by the agency

within thirty (30) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final,

and shall remain posted for sixty (60) consecutive days, in conspicuous

places, including all places where notices to employees are customarily

posted. The agency shall take reasonable steps to ensure that said

notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.

The original signed notice is to be submitted to the Compliance Officer

at the address cited in the paragraph entitled "Implementation of the

Commission's Decision," within ten (10) calendar days of the expiration of

the posting period. The Agency must take reasonable steps to ensure that

the postings are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K1208)

Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.

The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30) calendar

days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The report shall

be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal Operations,

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 77960, Washington,

DC 20013. The agency's report must contain supporting documentation,

and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to the complainant.

If the agency does not comply with the Commission's order, the complainant

may petition the Commission for enforcement of the order. 29 C.F.R. �

1614.503(a). The complainant also has the right to file a civil action

to enforce compliance with the Commission's order prior to or following

an administrative petition for enforcement. See 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407,

1614.408, and 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(g). Alternatively, the complainant

has the right to file a civil action on the underlying complaint in

accordance with the paragraph below entitled "Right to File A Civil

Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407 and 1614.408. A civil action for

enforcement or a civil action on the underlying complaint is subject

to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. 2000e-16(c) (1994 & Supp. IV 1999).

If the complainant files a civil action, the administrative processing of

the complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.

See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0408)

This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative

processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil

action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United

States District Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date

that you receive this decision. In the alternative, you may file a

civil action after one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days of the date

you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your appeal with the

Commission. 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. Filing a civil

action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint.

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

January 7, 2009

Date

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0520080675

U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION

Office of Federal Operations

P.O. Box 77960

Washington, DC 20013

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0520080675