28.11—Filing a charge with the Office of General Counsel.
(a) Who may file.
(1)
Any person claiming to be affected adversely by GAO action or inaction which is within the Board's jurisdiction under Subchapter IV of Chapter 7 of Title 31, United States Code, may file a charge with the General Counsel.
(2)
Non-EEO class actions. One or more persons may file a charge as representative of a class in any matter within the Board's jurisdiction. See § 28.97 for EEO class actions.
(3)
Unfair labor practice proceedings. Any person may file a charge alleging that the GAO or a labor organization has engaged or is engaging in an unfair labor practice. (The types of allegations which may be included in an unfair labor practice charge are discussed at § 28.121(a) ).
(b) When to file.
(1)
Charges relating to adverse and performance-based actions must be filed within 30 days after the effective date of the action.
(2)
Charges relating to other personnel actions must be filed within 30 days after the effective date of the action or 30 days after the charging party knew or should have known of the action.
(3)
Charges which include an allegation of prohibited discrimination shall be filed in accordance with the special rules set forth in § 28.98.
(c) How to file.
Charges may be filed with the Office of General Counsel by personal delivery (including commercial carrier) or by mail. The address to be used differs for the two kinds of filing.
(1)
A charge may be filed by personal delivery at the Office of General Counsel, Personnel Appeals Board, GAO, Suite 580, Union Center Plaza II, 820 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002.
(2)
A charge may be filed by mail addressed to the Office of General Counsel, Personnel Appeals Board, Suite 580, Union Center Plaza II, 441 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20548 or Office of General Counsel, Personnel Appeals Board, GAO, Suite 580, Union Center Plaza II, 820 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002. When filed by mail, the postmark shall be the date of filing for all submissions to the Office of General Counsel.
(1)
Name of the charging party or a clear description of the group or class of persons on whose behalf the charge is being filed;
(2)
The names and titles of persons, if any, responsible for actions the charging party wishes to have the Office of General Counsel investigate;
(6)
Name and address of the representative, if any, who will act for the charging party in any further stages of the matter; and
(e)
The General Counsel shall not represent a petitioner when the only issue is attorney fees. When attorney fees are the only issue raised in a charge to the Office of General Counsel, the General Counsel shall transmit the charge to the Board for processing under §§ 28.18 through 28.88 as a petition.