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30:0270(31)CA - VA, Washington, DC and VA Medical Center, Brockton Division, Brockton, MA and NAGE, SEIU -- 1987 FLRAdec CA



[ v30 p270 ]
30:0270(31)CA
The decision of the Authority follows:


30 FLRA No. 31

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. AND VETERANS
ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER
BROCKTON DIVISION
BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS

                Respondent

      and

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES, SEIU, AFL-CIO

                Charging Party

Case No. 1-CA-70215

DECISION AND ORDER

I. Statement of the Case

This unfair labor practice case is before the Authority under section 2429.1(a) of the Authority's Rules and Regulations, based upon a stipulation of facts by the parties. The complaint alleges that the Respondent violated section 7116(a)(1), (5) and (8) of the Federal Service Labor - Management Relations Statute (the Statute) by refusing to provide the National Association of Government Employees, Local R1-25, (NAGE) the designated agent of the Charging Party, the exclusive representative of a unit of the Respondent's employees, with the names and home addresses of those employees. For the reasons stated below, we find that the Respondent committed the unfair labor practices as alleged.

II. Facts

The Charging Party is the exclusive representative of a national consolidated unit of the Respondent's employees, including those in the Brockton Division, Brockton, Massachusetts. NAGE Local R1-25 is the agent of the Charging Party for the purpose of representing unit employees at the Brockton facility. By letter dated April 9, 1987, NAGE Local R1-25 requested that the Respondent provide it with the names [PAGE] and home addresses of those unit employees. By letter dated April 20, 1987, the Respondent denied the request. The parties stipulated that the names and home addresses of the employees are normally maintained by the Respondent in the regular course of business; are reasonably available; and do not constitute guidance, advice, counsel or training provided for management officials or supervisors relating to collective bargaining.

III. Positions of the Parties

The Respondent contends that release of the home addresses of employees is prohibited by the Privacy Act. The Respondent further asserts that it did not commit an unfair labor practice because it was willing to meet with NAGE to explore alternative means for obtaining the information. The Respondent also argues that the requested information does not come within the framework of section 7114 (b) (4) of the Statute because it does not pertain to the negotiation of subjects within the scope of bargaining under the Statute.

The General Counsel contends that the Authority's Decision on Remand in Farmers Home Administration Finance Office, St. Louis, Missouri, 23 FLRA 788 (1986) (Farmers Home), petition for review filed sub nom. U.S. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Home Administration Finance Office, St. Louis, Missouri v. FLRA, 86-2579 (8th Cir. Dec. 23, 1986), is controlling in this case. Consequently, the General Counsel argues, the Respondent's failure to furnish the requested names and home addresses constitutes a failure to comply with section 7114(b)(4) and a violation of section 7116(a)(1), (5) and (8) of the Statute.

IV. Analysis and Conclusion

In our Decision and Order on Remand in Farmers Home, we concluded that the release of names and home addresses of bargaining unit employees to the exclusive representative of those employees is not prohibited by law, is necessary for unions to fulfill their duties under the Statute, and meets all of the other requirements established by section 7114(b)(4). We also determined that the release of the information is generally required without regard to whether alternative means of communication are available. Based on our Decision on Remand in Farmers Home, we reject the Respondent's assertions in this case. We conclude that the Respondent was required to provide NAGE Local RI-25 with the names and home addresses of the bargaining unit employees under section 7114(b)(4). Accordingly, we further conclude [ v30 p2 ] that the Respondent's refusal to provide the requested information violated section 7116(a)(1), (5) and (8) of the Statute.

ORDER

Pursuant to section 2423.29 of the Authority's Rules and Regulations and section 7118 of the Federal Service Labor - Management Relations Statute, the Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C. and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Brockton Division, Brockton, Massachusetts shall:

1. Cease and desist from:

(a) Refusing to furnish, upon request of the National Association of Government Employees, Local R1-25, the designated agent of the exclusive representative of certain of its employees, the names and home addresses of all employees in the bargaining unit.

(b) In any like or related manner, interfering with, restraining, or coercing its employees in the exercise of the rights assured them by the Statute.

2. Take the following affirmative action in order to effectuate the purposes and policies of the Statute:

(a) Furnish the National Association of Government Employees, Local R1-25, the designated agent of the exclusive representative of a bargaining unit of its employees, the names and home addresses of all employees in the unit.

(b) Post at its facilities where bargaining unit employees represented by the National Association of Government Employees, Local R1-25 are located, copies of the attached Notice on forms to be furnished by the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Upon receipt of such forms, they shall be signed by the Director of the Veterans Administration, Medical Center, Brockton Division, Brockton, Massachusetts, and shall be posted and maintained for 60 consecutive days thereafter, in conspicuous places, including all bulletin boards and places where notices to employees are customarily posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken to ensure that such notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material. [ v30 p3 ]

(c) Pursuant to section 2423.30 of the Authority's Rules and Regulations, notify the Regional Director, Region I, Federal Labor Relations Authority, in writing, within 30 days from the date of this Order as to what steps have been taken to comply.

Issued, Washington, D.C., November 30, 1987.

Jerry L. Calhoun, Chairman

Jean McKee, Member

FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY [ v30 p4 ]

                      NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES
        AS ORDERED BY THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY
              AND TO EFFECTUATE THE POLICIES OF THE
         FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE
                   WE NOTIFY OUR EMPLOYEES THAT:

WE WILL NOT refuse or fail to furnish, upon request of the National Association of Government Employees, Local R1-25, the designated agent of the exclusive representative of a bargaining unit of our employees, the names and home addresses of all employees in the unit.

WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner, interfere with, restrain, or coerce our employees in the exercise of the rights assured them by the Federal Service Labor - Management Relations Statute.

WE WILL furnish the National Association of Government Employees, Local R1-25, the designated agent of the exclusive representative of a bargaining unit of our employees, the names and home addresses of all employees in the unit.

                             ______________________________
                                       (Activity)

Dated:___________________By:_______________________________
                                 (Signature)  (Title)

This Notice must remain posted for 60 consecutive days from the date of posting, and must not be altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.

If employees have any questions concerning this Notice or compliance with its provisions, they may communicate directly with the Regional Director, Region I, Federal Labor Relations Authority, whose address is: 10 Causeway Street, Room 1017, Boston, Massachusetts 02222-1046, and whose telephone number is: (617) 565-7280. [PAGE]