In late June, our District was able to fill a position as District 4 Legal Rights Program Attorney.

Below are criteria for the Program as well as some information about Hampton's background and experience. 

We are very privileged and honored to call Hampton our Co-worker !!

Background

Hampton H. Stennis earned his B.A. from Duke University in Durham , NC , and his J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , which makes things exceptionally difficult during NCAA Tournaments.  Prior to joining the 4^th District as Legal Rights Attorney, Hampton  served as Staff Counsel for the TSA campaign at AFGE headquarters since April 2006.  During his work in that campaign, Hampton represented TSA employees before that agency. Hampton will be located in the General Counsel’s Office (GCO) at AFGE headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Legal Rights Attorney Program

The Legal Rights Attorney Program takes cases such as removal, suspension, reduction in grade, reduction in pay, and furlough – cases that will be brought to arbitration, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), or other review boards where both back pay and attorney’s fees are available.

Cases that involve solely unlawful discrimination issues (such as age, sex, race, religion, disability, national origin, or retaliation based on pursuing the Equal Employment Opportunity [EEO] process) should be referred to AFGE’s Department of Women and Fair Practices.  However, if a case involves a discrimination claim together with other disciplinary issues brought directly to arbitration or to the MSPB, not the EEOC, the Legal Rights Attorney Program may accept the case.

Procedures:

Step 1:

Cases from the 4^th District for consideration for the Legal Rights Attorney Program should be forwarded to the AFGE GCO for review.  If you have loaded the case into AFGE’s web-based Casetrack system, just notify us that the case is present and available for evaluation.  Alternately, you may also email us at backpay@afge.org, fax, or overnight the following information:

• The Local’s address, telephone number, fax, number, and email address that will allow us to immediately contact you.+
• For a disciplinary case:
• the proposed action,
• the employee’s written response,
• the agency’s final decision,
• and copies of the grievance or MSPB appeal or other appeal and any management replies.
• For an overtime or promotion case:
• copies of the grievance or other appeals, and
• any management replies.
• A copy of the pertinent collective bargaining agreement.
• If arbitration has been initiated, an MSPB appeal or other type of appeal has been filed, the dates of any scheduled hearing have to be clearly indicated.

Because of existing case commitments, GCO needs at least 4 weeks to complete the evaluation and to prepare for a hearing.

Until GCO notifies the Council or Local that GCO will provide representation, the Council or Local is responsible for meeting all grievance and/or case deadlines.

Step 2:

Once we have received all materials and information, your National Vice President will be contacted and an attorney will be assigned to review the case.  Please call GCO at (202) 639-6424 to confirm that we have received the case file and that the case has been assigned.  Normally, the evaluation takes five work days from the date of GCO receipt of the case file.

Step 3:

Notification will be provided in writing to the Council or Local regarding acceptance or decline of the case.  The National Vice President will also receive a copy.

Step 4:

If your case is accepted, you are required to:

• Update the case documents provided to GCO as specified in Step 1 as they become available and keep GCO updated on all communications regarding the case. 
• Handle all communications with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, including requests for arbitration panels. 
• Manage the grievance or appeal process until a hearing date has been scheduled.  Generally, GCO will not begin the evaluation of a case until after a decision has been made by a Council or Local to proceed to a third party appeal.
• Commit to work with GCO to see the case through to the end.

Step 5:

Our attorney will interview witnesses and thoroughly review evidence We’ll prepare for opening and closing arguments and cross examination.  We will then provide legal representation at no cost to the Council or Local, including travel to the location for a hearing.

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