0120113520
02-21-2012
Ruby J. Porter, Complainant, v. Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service (Southeast Area), Agency.
Ruby J. Porter,
Complainant,
v.
Patrick R. Donahoe,
Postmaster General,
United States Postal Service
(Southeast Area),
Agency.
Appeal No. 0120113520
Agency No. 1H374005810
DECISION
Complainant filed a timely appeal with this Commission from the Agency's
decision dated December 20, 2010, dismissing her 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.
BACKGROUND
At the time of events giving rise to this complaint, Complainant worked
as a Mail Handler at the Agency’s P&DC facility in Memphis, Tennessee.
On November 15, 2010, Complainant filed a formal complaint alleging
that the Agency subjected her to discrimination on the basis of reprisal
for prior protected EEO. The Agency identified the issue raised in the
complaint as concerning Complainant being told there was no work available
for her under the Agency’s National Reassessment Process (NRP).
The Agency dismissed the matter, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(4),
finding Complainant raised the same matter before the Merit Systems
Protection Board (MSPB). The instant appeal followed.
ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
The regulation set forth at 29 C.F.R. § 1614.107(a)(4) provides,
in pertinent part, that an agency shall dismiss a complaint when the
aggrieved individual has elected to first raise the same matter in
an appeal to the MSPB. According to the Agency, Complainant filed an
appeal with the MSPB on August 30, 2010, prior to her November 2010 EEO
complaint. The Agency asserts both the MSPB appeal and the subsequent
EEO complaint concerned the same matter.
The record in this case contains a copy of an MSPB decision dated
September 17, 2010, dismissing the appeal based on Complainant’s
withdrawal. The MSPB decision summarily indicates that it was an appeal
of the Agency’s action “of failing to properly restore” her, without
any detail regarding the claim. We find, however, that the Agency appears
to have mischaracterized Complainant’s subsequent EEO complaint. The
record contains a copy of Complainant’s formal complaint which indicates
that the claim of discrimination concerns being improperly placed on
another tour without just cause. In addition, in her appeal, Complainant
asserted she was moved off her tour by the reassessment team. Thus,
we are not convinced that the same matter was raised in Complainant’s
MSPB appeal. There the matter was “restoration” to duty, while in
the EEO complaint challenges being reassigned to another tour.
The Agency also dismissed the matter, stating that Complainant had no
previous EEO activity. We find that goes to the merits of Complainant’s
complaint, and is irrelevant to the procedural issue of whether she has
stated a justiciable claim under Title VII. See Osborne v. Department of
the Treasury, EEOC Request No. 05960111 (July 19, 1996); Lee v. United
States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05930220 (August 12, 1993);
Ferrazzoli v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No. 05910642
(August 15, 1991).
Accordingly, the Agency's final decision dismissing Complainant's
complaint is REVERSED and the matter is remanded as set forth below.
ORDER (E0610)
The Agency is ordered to process the remanded claims in accordance with
29 C.F.R. § 1614.108. The Agency shall acknowledge to the Complainant
that it has received the remanded claims within thirty (30) calendar
days of the date this decision becomes final. The Agency shall issue
to Complainant a copy of the investigative file and also shall notify
Complainant of the appropriate rights within one hundred fifty (150)
calendar days of the date this decision becomes final, unless the matter
is otherwise resolved prior to that time. If the Complainant requests a
final decision without a hearing, the Agency shall issue a final decision
within sixty (60) days of receipt of Complainant’s request.
A copy of the Agency’s letter of acknowledgment to Complainant and a
copy of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice of
rights must be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION’S DECISION (K0610)
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.
STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL
RECONSIDERATION (M0610)
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 29
C.F.R. § 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive
for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), at 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
77960, Washington, DC 20013. 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 (R0610)
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 (Z0610)
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
February 21, 2012
__________________
Date
2
0120113520
U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
Office of Federal Operations
P.O. Box 77960
Washington, DC 20013
2
0120113520