[Payment of Travel and Per Diem Expenses by Agencies]

GAO responded to a query concerning the authority of a Federal agency to pay the travel and per diem expenses of employees negotiating a collective bargaining agreement on behalf of a labor union. The issue is the subject of a policy statement issued by the Federal Labor Relations Authority which states that any employee who is an exclusive representative in the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement is entitled to reimbursement for travel and per diem expenses. Since this issue has also been the subject of several appeals in the appellate courts, and there have been conflicting decisions in the different circuits, a petition for certiorari will be filed on the matter. GAO does not issue decisions on matters pending before the courts; therefore, GAO recommended that the agency withhold any payments that might arise under a collective bargaining agreement until the issue has been finally resolved in the courts.