The issue in these grievances involves the review of medical certificates submitted by employees who returned to duty following extended absences due to illness. After reviewing this matter, we mutually agreed that no national interpretive issue is at dispute between the parties. We agreed to remand these cases to the parties at Step 3 for application of a previous Step 4 settlement, Case No. H1C-4T-C 24220, which stated:
"We mutually agreed to full settlement of this issue as follows: 1. To avoid undue delay in returning an employee to duty, the on-duty medical officer, contract physician, or nurse should review and make a decision based upon the presented medical information the same day it is submitted. Normally the employees will be returned to work on his/her next workday provided adequate medical documentation is submitted within sufficient time for review. 2. The reasonableness of the Service in delaying an employee's return beyond his/her next workday shall be a proper subject for the grievance procedures on a case-by-case basis." Accordingly, as agreed, these cases are remanded to Step 3 for further processing, including arbitration if necessary by the parties at that level.
Document Type: Step 4 Agreement
APWU National Grievance Number: H4C4AC34162, H4C4AC34163
Craft: Maintenance