Entitlement to Reimbursement of Mileage for Attending Labor Contract Negotiations]

An advance decision was requested concerning a claim for travel expenses by an employee who was on official time while serving as a representative in a labor negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement. While an official representative at a collecive bargaining negotiation, an employee is entitled to payment from the agency for travel and per diem expenses. This policy was recently reaffirmed, but that ruling is being appealed by the Department of Justice. Since GAO does not issue a decision on a matter that is pending in court, unless requested to do so by the court, it was inappropriate to issue a decision on the question. Payment should be deferred until the matter is resolved in the court.