FREE HEARING TRANSCRIPTS FOR UNIONS

In 1991 FLRA announced that management must provide unions free copies of an official transcript of an arbitration hearing. 

In AFGE, 41 FLRA 1091 the employer purchased a copy of the arbitration transcript, but the union did not.  When the transcript arrived at the management offices, the union asked for a copy under its 5 USC 7114 right to information, which provides information free of charge so long as the union has a particularized need for it.  The union asked for a copy in order to verify its accuracy and to prepare for any exceptions it may have to file after the arbitrator makes the decision. Management refused, but FLRA ordered it to provide the union a free copy. That case has been repeatedly cited since then.