[ v01 p234 ]
01:0234(31)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
1 FLRA No. 31 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 2004 (Union) and NEW CUMBERLAND ARMY DEPOT (Activity) FLRC No. 78A-141 DECISION ON NEGOTIABILITY ISSUE /1/ PROVISION SECTION 3-- THE EMPLOYER AGREES THAT ONLY THOSE TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS THAT RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURY OR FATALITY WILL BE ENFORCED THROUGH THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT. ALL OTHER VIOLATIONS WILL BE SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEPOT REGULATIONS, TO INCLUDE DISCIPLINARY ACTION WHERE REPETITIVE VIOLATIONS HAVE OCCURRED. AGENCY DETERMINATION DURING THE SECTION 15 REVIEW PROCESS UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, /2/ THE AGENCY DETERMINED, INTER ALIA, THAT THE PROVISION CONFLICTS WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF AGENCY REGULATIONS AND, HENCE, IS NONNEGOTIABLE. QUESTION HERE BEFORE THE AUTHORITY THE PRINCIPAL QUESTION IS WHETHER THE DISPUTED PROVISION OF A LOCALLY NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT WAS PROPERLY DISAPPROVED UNDER SECTION 15 OF THE ORDER, AS BEING IN VIOLATION OF PUBLISHED AGENCY REGULATIONS. OPINION CONCLUSION: THE SUBJECT PROVISION CONFLICTS WITH AGENCY REGULATIONS, AS INTERPRETED BY THE AGENCY, AND IS BARRED FROM NEGOTIATION. /3/ ACCORDINGLY, THE AGENCY DETERMINATION THAT THE DISPUTED PROVISION IS NONNEGOTIABLE WAS PROPER AND, PURSUANT TO 5 CFR 2411.28(1978), IS SUSTAINED. /4/ REASONS: THE RECORD BEFORE THE AUTHORITY INDICATES THAT, AT THE ACTIVITY, AN INDIVIDUAL CHARGED WITH COMMITTING A TRAFFIC VIOLATION RECEIVES EITHER AN "ARMED FORCES TRAFFIC TICKET" (DD FORM 1408) OR A "VIOLATION NOTICE" (DD FORM 1805). IF A TRAFFIC TICKET IS ISSUED, THE CHARGE IS PROCESSED UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED BY THE LOCAL COMMANDER: IF A VIOLATION NOTICE IS ISSUED, THE CHARGE IS REFERRED TO THE U.S. MAGISTRATE FOR JUDICIAL ACTION. THE PROVISION AT ISSUE ESSENTIALLY PROVIDES THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WILL ISSUE VIOLATION NOTICES WHICH OPERATE TO REFER SUCH CASES TO THE U.S. MAGISTRATE ONLY UPON COMMISSION OF TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURY OR FATALITY, AND WILL ISSUE TRAFFIC TICKETS IN ALL OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. THE UNION CLAIMS THAT THE LOCAL COMMANDER HAS DISCRETION UNDER AGENCY REGULATIONS (AR 190-5 AND AR 190-29) /5/ AS TO WHICH ALLEGED VIOLATIONS SHALL BE SETTLED ADMINISTRATIVELY, I.E., CITED BY A TRAFFIC TICKET, AND WHICH SHALL BE REFERRED TO THE U.S. MAGISTRATE FOR JUDICIAL DISPOSITION, I.E., CITED BY A VIOLATION NOTICE. THE AGENCY, TO THE CONTRARY, INTERPRETS ITS REGULATIONS AS REQUIRING DESIGNATED POLICE PERSONNEL TO ISSUE A VIOLATION NOTICE WITH RESPECT TO, AND THUS TO REFER TO A U.W. MAGISTRATE, ALL VIOLATIONS (INCLUDING THOSE WHICH INVOLVE NO PROPERTY DAMAGE, INJURY OR FATALITY) WHICH THEY CONSIDER TO CONSTITUTE COMMISSION OF "MINOR OFFENSES" WITHIN THE MEANING OF 18 U.S.C. 3401. /6/ IN SUMMARY, THE INSTANT CASE INVOLVES A PROVISION DETERMINED BY THE AGENCY TO BE VIOLATIVE OF AGENCY REGULATIONS, AND THE UNION DISAGREES WITH THE AGENCY'S INTERPRETATION OF THE SUBJECT REGULATIONS AS PRECLUDING NEGOTIATION OF SUCH A PROVISION. SECTION 15 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, QUOTED ABOVE, IN EFFECT RESERVES AUTHORITY TO AN AGENCY HEAD, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO DISAPPROVE AN AGREEMENT IF IT DOES NOT CONFORM TO EXISTING PUBLISHED AGENCY POLICIES AND REGULATIONS, UNLESS THE AGENCY HAS GRANTED AN EXCEPTION TO A POLICY OR REGULATION. /7/ FURTHER, AS TO THE UNION'S CONTENTION THAT THE AGENCY HEAD HAS MISINTERPRETED HIS OWN REGULATIONS, SECTION 11(C)(3) OF THE ORDER EXPRESSLY PROVIDES THAT "AN AGENCY HEAD'S DETERMINATION AS TO THE INTERPRETATION OF THE AGENCY'S REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO A PROPOSAL IS FINAL . . ." THUS, AS THE COUNCIL FREQUENTLY HELD, AN AGENCY'S INTERPRETATION OF ITS OWN REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO NEGOTIABILITY OF A PROVISION IS BINDING IN A NEGOTIABILITY DISPUTE UNDER SECTION 11(C)(3) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491. BASED ON THIS SECTION OF THE ORDER, IT IS WELL ESTABLISHED THAT THE AUTHORITY MAY NOT SUBSTITUTE ITS INTERPRETATION OF SUCH REGULATIONS FOR THAT OF THE AGENCY HEAD. /8/ ACCORDINGLY, AS THE AGENCY DETERMINED THAT THE DISPUTED PROVISION CONLFICTS WITH ITS REGULATIONS AS INTERPRETED BY THE AGENCY AND THE UNION MERELY DISAGREES WITH THE AGENCY'S INTERPRETATION OF SUCH REGULATIONS, THE AGENCY'S DISAPPROVAL OF THE PROVISION PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 OF THE ORDER WAS PROPER. THUS, THE AGENCY'S DETERMINATION THAT THE PROVISION IS NONNEGOTIABLE IS SUSTAINED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 27, 1979 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY /1/ IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2400.4 OF THE AUTHORITY'S TRANSITION RULES AND REGULATIONS (44 FED.REG. 5(1979)), WHICH ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT UNDER SECTION 7135(B) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (92 STAT. 1215), THIS DECISION IS RENDERED UNDER THE RULES AND REGULATIONS SET FORTH IN 5 C.F.R. PART 2411, ET SEQ. (1978). FURTHER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 902(B) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978 (92 STAT. 1224), THIS CASE IS DECIDED SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF E.O. 11491, AS AMENDED, AND AS IF THE STATUTE "HAD NOT BEEN ENACTED." IN THIS REGARD, THE DECISION DOES NOT PREJUDGE IN ANY MANNER EITHER THE MEANING OR APPLICATION OF RELATED PROVISIONS IN THE NEW STATUTE OR THE RESULT WHICH WOULD BE REACHED BY THE AUTHORITY IF THE CASE HAD ARISEN UNDER THE STATUTE RATHER THAN THE ORDER. /2/ SECTION 15 OF THE ORDER PROVIDED: SEC. 15. APPROVAL OF AGREEMENTS. AN AGREEMENT WITH A LABOR ORGANIZATION AS THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF EMPLOYEES IN A UNIT IS SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY OR AN OFFICIAL DESIGNATED BY HIM. AN AGREEMENT SHALL BE APPROVED WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ITS EXECUTION IF IT CONFORMS TO APPLICABLE LAWS, THE ORDER, EXISTING PUBLISHED AGENCY POLICIES AND REGULATIONS (UNLESS THE AGENCY HAS GRANTED AN EXCEPTION TO A POLICY OR REGULATION) AND REGULATIONS OF OTHER APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES. AN AGREEMENT WHICH HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ITS EXECUTION SHALL GO INTO EFFECT WITHOUT THE REQUIRED APPROVAL OF THE AGENCY HEAD AND SHALL BE BINDING ON THE PARTIES SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF LAW, THE ORDER AND THE REGULATIONS OF APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES OUTSIDE THE AGENCY. A LOCAL AGREEMENT SUBJECT TO A NATIONAL OR OTHER CONTROLLING AGREEMENT AT A HIGHER LEVEL SHALL BE APPROVED UNDER THE PROCEDURES OF THE CONTROLLING AGREEMENT, OR, IF NONE, UNDER AGENCY REGULATIONS. /3/ THERE IS NO ISSUE BEFORE THE AUTHORITY AS TO EITHER THE "COMPELLING NEED" FOR, OR THE VALIDITY OF, THE AGENCY REGULATIONS INVOLVED. THAT IS, THE UNION DOES NOT CLAIM THAT NO COMPELLING NEED EXISTS FOR THE REGULATIONS AND DID NOT REQUEST AN EXCEPTION TO THE REGULATIONS FROM THE AGENCY; AND, FURTHER, THE UNION DOES NOT CLAIM THAT THE AGENCY REGULATIONS ARE INVALID AS, E.G., VIOLATIVE OF APPLICABLE LAW OR THE REGULATION OF APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY OUTSIDE THE AGENCY. /4/ IN VIEW OF OUR DECISION THAT THE PROVISION IS BARRED FROM NEGOTIATION BY AGENCY REGULATIONS, IT IS UNNECESSARY TO CONSIDER THE REMAINING CONTENTION OF THE AGENCY AS TO THE NEGOTIABILITY OF THE PROVISION. /5/ THE AGENCY REGULATION, AR 190-5, CHAPTER 4, PARA. 4-4, STATES, IN PART: C. TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. (1) INSTALLATION COMMANDERS WILL ESTABLISH ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. INDIVIDUALS COMMITTING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS WILL BE ISSUED EITHER AN ARMED FORCES TRAFFIC TICKET (DD FORM 1408) OR VIOLATION NOTICE (DD FORM 1805) AS APPROPRIATE. (A) ONE COPY OF THE TRAFFIC TICKET WILL BE FORWARDED THROUGH COMMAND CHANNELS TO THE VIOLATOR'S COMMANDER, TO THE COMMANDER OF THE DEPENDENT'S SPONSOR, OR TO A CIVILIAN SUPERVISOR OR EMPLOYER . . . . . . . (2) INSTALLATION COMMANDERS WILL DETERMINE PROCEDURES TO BE USED IN THE DISPOSITION OF CASES INVOLVING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE OR JUDICIAL ACTION CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE UCMJ AND FEDERAL LAW. THE DD FORM 1805 WILL BE USED TO REFER VIOLATIONS OF STATE TRAFFIC LAWS MADE APPLICABLE TO THE MILITARY RESERVATION (ASSIMILATIVE CRIMES, 18 USC 13) AND OTHER VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL LAW TO THE US MAGISTRATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SEPARATE DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES. THE AGENCY REGULATION, AR 190-29, SECTION III, PARA. 7, STATES, IN PART: 7. ISSUE PROCEDURES FOR VIOLATION NOTICE (DD FORM 1805). . . . . B. PREPARATION AND DISPOSITION OF VIOLATION NOTICE, DD FORM 1805. (1) FOR MINOR OFFENSES WHERE THE MAIL-IN FINE PROCEDURES IS (SIC) AUTHORIZED . . . . . . . (B) DISPOSITION OF VIOLATION NOTICE, DD FORM 1805 WILL BE AS FOLLOWS: . . . . 2. COPIES ONE (WHITE COPY), TWO (YELLOW COPY), AND THREE (PINK COPY) WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE. THE PROVOST MARSHAL WILL FORWARD COPIES 1 AND 2 BY TRANSMITTAL, TO THE APPROPRIATE US DISTRICT COURT(.) . . . . (2) FOR MINOR OFFENSES REQUIRING THE MANDATORY APPEARANCE OF VIOLATORS BEFORE THE U.S. MAGISTRATE . . . . . . . (B) DISPOSITION OF VIOLATION NOTICE, DD FORM 1805 WILL BE AS FOLLOWS: . . . . 2. COPIES ONE (WHITE COPY), TWO (YELLOW COPY), AND THREE (PINK COPY) WILL BE RETURNED TO THE PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE. THE PROVOST MARSHAL WILL FORWARD COPIES ONE AND TWO, BY TRANSMITTAL WITHIN 24-HOURS, TO THE MAGISTRATE BEFORE WHOM THE VIOLATOR IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR. /6/ THE AGENCY REFERS TO 18 U.S.C. 3401(F)(1976), WHICH STATES, IN PART: AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM "MINOR OFFENSES" MEANS MISDEMEANORS PUNISHABLE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE PENALTY FOR WHICH DOES NOT EXCEED IMPRISONMENT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR, OR A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $1,000, OR BOTH . . . /7/ E. G., NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 405 AND U.S. ARMY TROOP SUPPORT COMMAND, 3 FLRC 817, 820 (FLRC 75A-111, (DEC. 22, 1975), REPORT NO. 93). /8/ E.G., CALIFORNIA NURSES' ASSOCIATION AND VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ET AL., FLRC 77A-89 (JUNE 6, 1978), REPORT NO. 151, AT 4 OF COUNCIL DECISION.