U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
OFFICE OF LABOR-MANAGEMENT STANDARDS
WASHINGTON, DC 20210

DETERMINATION

Determination of a Complaint Filed under Section 458.63 of the Assistant Secretary’s
Standards of Conduct Regulations (29 CFR 458.63) Issued pursuant to
Section 7120(d) of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 7120(d))

On August 23, 2010, the Secretary of Labor received a complaint alleging violations of Section 458.29 of the Rules and Regulations of the Assistant Secretary issued pursuant to Section 7120(d) of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA), in the regularly scheduled election of officers conducted on April 29, 2010, by Antilles Consolidated Education Association (ACEA) in Ft. Buchanan, Puerto Rico.

Pursuant to Section 458.50 of the Rules and Regulations, the Chief of the Division of Enforcement of the Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS) caused an investigation to be conducted by the Department of Labor. The investigation disclosed that the conduct of the challenged election may have violated Section 458.29 of the Rules and Regulations in that employer computers and its email system were used to send an email message to members which criticized a candidate.

Apprised of this finding, Antilles Consolidated Education Association (ACEA) agreed to conduct a new election and installation for the office of president under the supervision of the Chief of the Division of Enforcement, in accordance with Section 458.29 of the Rules and Regulations of the Assistant Secretary. The agreed upon remedial election was concluded on March 24, 2011. It is, therefore, DETERMINED, that there is probable cause to believe that a violation of Section 458.29 of the Rules and Regulations occurred which may have affected the outcome of the election conducted by Antilles Consolidated Education Association (ACEA) on April 29, 2010, but that this violation has been remedied by the new election, conducted in accordance with Section 458.29, under the supervision of the Chief, Division of Enforcement, OLMS, on March 24, 2011.

Therefore, enforcement proceedings under Section 458.66 of the Rules and Regulations of the Assistant Secretary to set aside the election conducted on April 29, 2010 are not warranted.


Signed this 19th day of May, 2011.

Patricia Fox
Chief, Division of Enforcement


U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Labor-Management Standards
Division of Enforcement
Washington, DC 20210
(202) 693-0143 Fax: (202) 693-1343
May 19, 2011

Dear
The enclosed Determination represents the Department's final disposition of the matter mentioned therein.

Sincerely,

Patricia Fox
Chief, Division of Enforcement

Enclosure


U.S. Department of Labor
Office of Labor-Management Standards
Division of Enforcement
Washington, DC 20210
(202) 693-0143 Fax: (202) 693-1343
May 19, 2011

Mr. Paul Trittschuh
Antilles Consolidated Education Association (ACEA)

P.O. Box 34425
Ft. Buchanan, Puerto Rico 00934-0425
Dear Mr. Trittschuh:
The enclosed Determination represents the Department's final disposition of the matter mentioned therein.

Sincerely,

Patricia Fox
Chief, Division of Enforcement

Enclosure