§ 2423.11 What happens if a Regional Director decides not to issue a complaint?

(a) Opportunity to withdraw a charge. If the Regional Director determines that the charge has not been timely filed, that the charge fails to state an unfair labor practice, or for other appropriate reasons, the Regional Director may request the Charging Party to withdraw the charge. (b) Dismissal letter. If the Charging Party does not withdraw the charge within a reasonable period of time, the Regional Director will dismiss the charge and provide the parties with a written statement of the reasons for not issuing a complaint. (c) Appeal of a dismissal letter. The Charging Party may obtain review of the Regional Director's decision to dismiss a charge by filing an appeal with the General Counsel, either in writing or by email to ogc.appeals@flra.gov, within 25 days after the Regional Director served the decision. A Charging Party must serve a copy of the appeal on the Regional Director. The General Counsel must serve notice on the Charged Party that the Charging Party has filed an appeal. (d) Extension of time. The Charging Party may file a request, either in writing or by email to ogc.appeals@flra.gov, for an extension of time to file an appeal, which must be received by the General Counsel not later than five (5) days before the date the appeal is due. A Charging Party must serve a copy of the request for an extension of time on the Regional Director. (e) Grounds for granting an appeal. The General Counsel may grant an appeal when the appeal establishes at least one of the following grounds: (1) The Regional Director's decision did not consider material facts that would have resulted in issuance of a complaint; (2) The Regional Director's decision is based on a finding of a material fact that is clearly erroneous; (3) The Regional Director's decision is based on an incorrect statement or application of the applicable rule of law; (4) There is no Authority precedent on the legal issue in the case; or (5) The manner in which the Region conducted the investigation has resulted in prejudicial error. (f) General Counsel action. The General Counsel may deny the appeal of the Regional Director's dismissal of the charge, or may grant the appeal and remand the case to the Regional Director to take further action. The General Counsel's decision on the appeal states the grounds listed in paragraph (e) of this section for denying or granting the appeal, and is served on all the parties. Absent a timely motion for reconsideration, the General Counsel's decision is final. (g) Reconsideration. After the General Counsel issues a final decision, the Charging Party may move for reconsideration of the final decision if it can establish extraordinary circumstances in its moving papers. The motion must be filed within 10 days after the date on which the General Counsel's final decision is postmarked. A motion for reconsideration must state with particularity the extraordinary circumstances claimed and must be supported by appropriate citations. The decision of the General Counsel on a motion for reconsideration is final.