Local 2578, American Federation of Government Employees v. General Services Administration

Opinion for the Court filed by HARRY T. EDWARDS, Circuit Judge.

HARRY T. EDWARDS,

Circuit Judge:

We are asked in this case to review an arbitrator’s decision in an adverse action case arising under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (“CSRA” or “Act”). 1 The underlying grievance arises out of the discharge of an employee at the General Services Administration (“GSA”) for theft of government property. In upholding the agency’s discharge action, the arbitrator ruled in effect that he was without authority to consider mitigation of the penalty. Instead, the arbitrator returned the petitioner’s…