April 1, 1989
25.4.54, 25.4.56
The grievors sought reimbursement for the cost of travel under FSD 45.
The grievors, while on posting abroad, requested permission to make use of the Foreign Service Leave/Option for purposes of travel. The employees' requests were approved and they were authorized to charge commercial transportation expenses up to the cost of one adult air economy return ticket from their post to the headquarters city.
In each case, the staff members did not make use of the entitlement to travel themselves, but instead applied the entitlement to travel by friends or relatives to the post.
When the claims were audited, the portion of the claims which exceeded the cost of adult return air economy Ottawa/Post/Ottawa was disallowed.
The Administrative Committee considered the report of the Foreign Service Directives Committee and noted that the Committee reached consensus that differing interpretations of FSD 45 had been possible and that differing interpretations had been made.
The Administrative Committee agreed with the report of the Foreign Service Directives Committee in that the grievors they had not been treated within the intent of the directives.
The grievances were upheld.