Teacher May Get New Chance at DOD Grievance After Arbitration

A teacher formerly employed by the Department of Defense may get a new opportunity to arbitrate her grievance against it, because the arbitrator wrongly found the request for arbitration was filed too late, the Federal Circuit ruled Friday.

Jimmiekaye Buffkin, a member of the Federal Education Association–Stateside Region who worked for a DOD-operated elementary school for the children of military personnel, sought mediation after the agency removed her from her position for alleged misconduct. She challenged her removal under the terms laid out in a collective bargaining agreement between her union and the agency.

Buffkin filed her request for arbitration ...