[ v01 p384 ]
01:0384(48)CA
The decision of the Authority follows:
1 FLRA No. 48 VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL, SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA Respondent and AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 2000, AFL-CIO Complainant Assistant Secretary Case No. 64-4038(CA) DECISION AND ORDER ON FEBRUARY 22, 1979, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE WILLIAM B. DEVANEY ISSUED HIS RECOMMENDED DECISION AND ORDER IN THE ABOVE-ENTITLED PROCEEDING, FINDING THAT THE RESPONDENT HAD ENGAGED IN THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES ALLEGED IN THE COMPLAINT AND RECOMMENDING THAT IT CEASE AND DESIST THEREFROM AND TAKE CERTAIN AFFIRMATIVE ACTIONS AS SET FORTH IN THE ATTACHED ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE'S RECOMMENDED DECISION AND ORDER. NO EXCEPTIONS WERE FILED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE'S RECOMMENDED DECISION AND ORDER. THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE AUTHORITY UNDER SECTION 304 OF REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 2 OF 1978 (43 F.R. 36040), WHICH TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS IS IMPLEMENTED BY SECTION 2400.2 OF THE AUTHORITY'S TRANSITION RULES AND REGULATIONS (44 F.R. 7). THE AUTHORITY CONTINUES TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE FUNCTIONS AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 7135(B) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (92 STAT. 1215). THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2400.2 OF THE AUTHORITY'S TRANSITION RULES AND REGULATIONS AND SECTION 7135(B) OF THE STATUTE, THE AUTHORITY HAS REVIEWED THE RULINGS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE MADE AT THE HEARING AND FINDS THAT NO PREJUDICIAL ERROR WAS COMMITTED. THE RULINGS ARE HEREBY AFFIRMED. UPON CONSIDERATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE'S RECOMMENDED DECISION AND ORDER AND THE ENTIRE RECORD IN THIS CASE, AND NOTING PARTICULARLY THAT NO EXCEPTIONS WERE FILED, THE AUTHORITY HEREBY ADOPTS THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE'S FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION. /1/ ORDER PURSUANT TO SECTION 2400.2 OF THE TRANSITION RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY AND SECTION 7135 OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE, THE AUTHORITY HEREBY ORDERS THAT THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL, SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA SHALL: 1. CEASE AND DESIST FROM: INTERFERING WITH, RESTRAINING, OR COERCING EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR RIGHTS, FREELY AND WITHOUT FEAR OF PENALTY OR REPRISAL, TO FORM, JOIN, AND ASSIST A LABOR ORGANIZATION. 2. TAKE THE FOLLOWING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: (A) POST AT ITS FACILITIES LOCATED IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, COPIES OF THE ATTACHED NOTICE MARKED "APPENDIX" ON FORMS TO BE FURNISHED BY THE AUTHORITY. UPON RECEIPT OF SUCH FORMS THEY SHALL BE SIGNED BY THE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR AND SHALL BE POSTED AND MAINTAINED BY HIM FOR 60 CONSECUTIVE DAYS THEREAFTER, IN CONSPICUOUS PLACES, INCLUDING ALL BULLETIN BOARDS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE NOTICES TO EMPLOYEES ARE CUSTOMARILY POSTED. THE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR SHALL TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO INSURE THAT SUCH NOTICES ARE NOT ALTERED, DEFACED, OR COVERED BY ANY OTHER MATERIAL. (B) NOTIFY THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, IN WRITING, WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS ORDER AS TO WHAT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO COMPLY HEREWITH. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 6, 1979 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER, III, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY APPENDIX NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO A DECISION AND ORDER OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY AND IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE POLICIES OF CHAPTER 71 OF TITLE 5 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS WE HEREBY NOTIFY OUR EMPLOYEES THAT: WE WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH, RESTRAIN, OR COERCE OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR RIGHTS, FREELY AND WITHOUT FEAR OF PENALTY OR REPRISAL, TO FORM, JOIN, AND ASSIST A LABOR ORGANIZATION. (AGENCY OR ACTIVITY) DATED: BY: (SIGNATURE) 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 MATERIALS. IF ANY EMPLOYEES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS NOTICE OR COMPLIANCE WITH ANY OF ITS PROVISIONS, THEY MAY COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, DALLAS REGIONAL OFFICE, FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, WHOSE ADDRESS IS ROOM 707, 555 GRIFFIN AND YOUNG STREETS, DALLAS, TEXAS 75202. CARL W. HOLT NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES 3108 AVON DRIVE ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76015 FOR THE COMPLAINANT MICHAEL E. BORNHOUSER, ESQUIRE ATTORNEY, DISTRICT COUNSEL'S OFFICE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION 1400 NORTH VALLEY MILLS DRIVE WACO, TEXAS 76710 FOR THE RESPONDENT BEFORE: WILLIAM B. DEVANEY ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE CASE NO. 64-4038(CA) DECISION AND ORDER THIS IS A PROCEEDING UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED (HEREINAFTER ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE "ORDER"). ALTHOUGH THE NOTICE OF HEARING WAS ISSUED BY A REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE LABOR-MANAGEMENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND ALL PROCEEDINGS WERE CONDUCTED BEFORE THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS, THIS DECISION IS ISSUED IN THE NAME OF THE AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO TRANSITION RULES AND REGULATIONS, FEDERAL REGISTER, VOL. 44, NO. 1, JANUARY 2, 1979 (5 C.F.R. SECTION 2400.2). COMPLAINANT FILED A CHARGE ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 19, 1977, AND A COMPLAINT ON APRIL 10, 1978, ALLEGING VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 19(A)(1), (3) AND (4) OF THE ORDER (ASS'T. SEC. EXH. 1). BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 4, 1978 (ASS'T. SEC. EXH. 4), THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR DISMISSED ALL ASPECTS OF THE COMPLAINT WHICH ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF SECTION 19(A)(1), (3) AND (4) OF THE ORDER EXCEPT AS TO ITEM 1 OF THE COMPLAINT, I.E., THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE COMPLAINT, AND AS TO ITEM 1 ONLY INSOFAR AS ITEM 1 ALLEGED A VIOLATION OF SECTION 19(A)(1). THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR STATED THAT, ABSENT THE TIMELY FILING OF A REQUEST FOR REVIEW, IT WAS HIS "INTENTION TO ISSUE A NOTICE OF HEARING REGARDING THAT ASPECT OF THE COMPLAINT ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF SECTION 19(A)(1) OF THE ORDER AS IT PERTAINS TO ITEM 1 DISCUSSED ABOVE." NO REQUEST FOR REVIEW WAS FILED AND THE AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING ISSUED ONLY AS TO THE ALLEGED VIOLATION OF SECTION 19(A)(1) OF THE ORDER (ASS'T. SEC. EXH. 3). NOTICE OF HEARING ISSUED ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1978 (ASST. SEC. EXH. 2) AND AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING ISSUED ON OCTOBER 24, 1978 (ASS'T. SEC. EXH. 3) PURSUANT TO WHICH A HEARING WAS DULY HELD BEFORE THE UNDERSIGNED IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, ON NOVEMBER 21, 1978. ALL PARTIES WERE REPRESENTED AT THE HEARING, WERE AFFORDED FULL OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD, TO EXAMINE AND CROSS-EXAMINE WITNESSES, AND TO INTRODUCE EVIDENCE BEARING ON THE ISSUES INVOLVED HEREIN. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE TESTIMONY, EACH PARTY EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO PRESENT ORAL ARGUMENT AND EACH PARTY WAIVED THE FILING OF A POST-HEARING BRIEF. ACCORDINGLY, FULL ORAL ARGUMENT WAS HAD AND NO POST-HEARING BRIEFS WERE FILED. UPON THE BASIS OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, INCLUDING MY OBSERVATION OF THE WITNESSES AND THEIR DEMEANOR, I MAKE THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND ORDER. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. MS. GEORGIE PARKER LUCAS IS EMPLOYED BY RESPONDENT AS A PURCHASING AGENT. HER IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR IS MR. EDWARD NOACK, CHIEF OF PURCHASE AND CONTRACT. 2. MS. LUCAS IS A MEMBER OF LOCAL 2000, WHICH IS THE CERTIFIED EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE HOSPITAL UNIT; AT THE TIME OF THE HEARING SHE WAS CHIEF STEWARD FOR THE VA HOSPITAL UNIT, HAVING ASSUMED THIS POSITION ON JANUARY 9, 1978, AND IN NOVEMBER, 1977, SHE WAS RECORDING SECRETARY OF LOCAL 2000. 3. ON NOVEMBER 18, 1977, MS. LUCAS ARRIVED AT WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 7:55 A.M. AND FOUND THAT MR. GERALD SOILEAU, ALSO A PURCHASING AGENT, WAS ON THE TELEPHONE CONCLUDING THE PLACING OF AN ORDER FOR FREON. 4. BECAUSE MR. SOILEAU WAS WORKING BEFORE THE NORMAL STARTING TIME, MS. LUCAS IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MR. NOACK'S OFFICE AND ASKED IF MR. SOILEAU WAS WORKING OVERTIME, BECAUSE HE "IS WORKING AND IT'S NOT 8:00 O'CLOCK AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF IT WAS OVERTIME." MR. NOACK TOLD HER THAT MR. SOILEAU WAS NOT ON OVERTIME AND MS. LUCAS TESTIFIED THAT SHE THEN TOLD MR. NOACK "THAT THIS WAS A VIOLATION OF FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT, VA REGULATIONS"; THAT MR. NOACK "DIDN'T REALLY SAY TOO MUCH. HE WAS JUST NON-COMMITAL, . . . HE SAID THAT HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT. OTHER THAN THAT HE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE TOO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT IT." 5. MS. LUCAS TESTIFIED THAT MR. NOACK, AT A REGULAR WEEKLY MEETING OF ALL EMPLOYEES IN PURCHASE AND CONTRACT HELD ON THE AFTERNOON OF NOVEMBER 18, 1977, REMINDED EMPLOYEES THAT THEY ARE NOT TO WORK BEFORE 8:00 A.M. AND THAT THEY WERE NOT TO WORK AFTER 4:30 P.M. MS. LUCAS STATED THAT MR. NOACK SAID THERE HAD BEEN A COMPLAINT ABOUT IT. MS. LUCAS FURTHER TESTIFIED THAT MR. NOACK SAID AT THE MEETING: " . . . THAT HE DIDN'T AGREE WITH THIS, THAT, HE FELT THAT IF EMPLOYEES WANTED TO WORK OFF THE CLOCK THAT THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO SO." (TR. 24) (SEE, ALSO TR. 55). MS. LUCAS TESTIFIED THAT MR. NOACK FURTHER STATED: " . . . THAT UNIONS WERE NO LONGER NEEDED, THAT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THEY WERE NEEDED BECAUSE THE WORKING CONDITIONS WERE SO TERRIBLY POOR, BUT THAT THAT WAS NO LONGER THE CASE." (TR. 24). LATER, MS. LUCAS TESTIFIED AS FOLLOWS: " . . . HE (MR. NOACK) JUST SAID THAT HE DID NOT AGREE WITH IT (NO WORK BEFORE OR AFTER REGULARLY SCHEDULED HOURS) AND THAT UNIONS WERE, THEY HAD GROWN TOO BIG AND THEY WERE JUST NO LONGER NEEDED." (TR. 28) (SEE, ALSO TR. 49, 50) 6. MS. FRANCES THOMPSON, MANAGER OF INVOICES AND RECEIVING REPORTS, WHO WORKS IN THE SAME OFFICE AS MR. LUCAS, TESTIFIED THAT, AT THE NOVEMBER 18, 1977, MEETING, MR. NOACK STATED: " . . . THAT NO ONE WAS TO START WORK BEFORE THE NORMAL DUTY HOURS, BEFORE 8:00 IN THE MORNING OR AFTER 4:30 IN THE AFTERNOON." * * * * "THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY THIS PARTICULAR THING WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY AND THAT IN YEARS PAST, WHEN UNIONS WEREN'T AROUND TO INTERCEDE FOR PEOPLE THAT THINGS SEEMED TO WORK FINE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THESE THINGS WERE BEING MADE NECESSARY." (TR. 75) 7. MS. MARGARET DALE CARTER, NOW A SECRETARY IN SUPPLY AND SERVICE, PURCHASE AND CONTRACT SECTION, AND IN NOVEMBER, 1977, A CLERK TYPIST IN THE SAME SECTION, ONLY VAGUELY RECALLED A MEETING ON NOVEMBER 18, 1977, AND RECALLED NO DISPARAGING COMMENTS BY MR. NOACK. 8. MR. GERALD R. SOILEAU REMEMBERED THAT THERE WAS A MEETING ON NOVEMBER 18, 1977; DID NOT RECALL ANY ANTI-UNION STATEMENTS MADE BY MR. NOACK THAT "THE ONLY THING I REMEMBERED IS THAT HE TOLD US TO QUIT WORKING BEFORE 8:00 O'CLOCK. THAT'S ALL I REMEMBER ABOUT IT." (TR. 119); HE DID NOT REMEMBER HIM MAKING ANY STATEMENT AT ALL CONCERNING THE UNION. 9. THE STATEMENT OF MR. ROBERT L. POLANDER, WHO WAS ON LEAVE AND NOT PRESENT AT THE HEARING, WAS OFFERED BY COMPLAINANT; RESPONDENT DID NOT OBJECT TO THE RECEIPT OF MR. POLANDER'S STATEMENT; AND THE STATEMENT WAS RECEIVED AS COM. EXH. 2. IN HIS STATEMENT, MR. POLANDER STATES, IN PART, AS FOLLOWS: "IN A MEETING OF SECTION EMPLOYEES, WHICH ARE HELD WEEKLY IN OUR SECTION BY MR. EDWARD NOACK, I DO REMEMBER MR. NOACK SAYING THAT UNIONS HAVE OUTGROWN THEMSELVES AND HAD GOTTEN TOO BIG, THERE WAS A NEED FOR THEM AT ONE TIME, HOWEVER THEY HAD JUST OUTGROWN THEMSELVES. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT PROMPTED HIS COMMENT OR WHAT WAS SAID AFTER HE MADE THE COMMENT. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF WHAT HE SAID, IT WAS HIS OPINION AND WAS NO THREAT TO ME OR TO THE AFGE LOCAL UNION AT THE VA HOSPITAL TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN THIS MEETING TOOK PLACE EXCEPT THAT IT OCCURRED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO." (COMP. EXH. 2). 10. MR. NOACK TESTIFIED HE HAD BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION FOR SLIGHTLY MORE THAN TEN YEARS; THAT HE HAD STARTED AS A GS-2 MAIL ROOM CLERK AND HAD ADVANCED THROUGH THE RANKS TO HIS PRESENT POSITION AS CHIEF OF PURCHASE AND CONTRACT; THAT HE HAD BEEN A MEMBER OF THE UNION FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS PRIOR TO HIS BECOMING A SUPERVISOR; THAT HIS FATHER WAS A MEMBER OF THE TEAMSTERS; AND THAT HE CONSIDERED HIMSELF PRO-UNION. 11. MR. NOACK STATED THAT WHEN HE CAME TO WORK ON NOVEMBER 18, 1977, MS. LUCAS CAME TO HIS DESK AND TOLD HIM THAT ONE EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING BEFORE THE REGULAR WORK DAY WAS TO BEGIN AT 8:00 A.M.; THAT HE WENT TO MR. SOILEAU, THE EMPLOYEE WHO WAS WORKING BEFORE 8:00 A.M., AND TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS NOT TO WORK BEFORE 8:00 A.M. OR BEYOND HIS TOUR OF DUTY; THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE MORNING HE HAD OVERHEARD REMARKS BY EMPLOYEES OF THE SECTION WHICH IMPLIED, TO HIM, THAT THEY WERE "LAYING THE BLAME OF THIS ON MS. LUCAS"; THAT HE CALLED THE MEETING ON THE AFTERNOON OF NOVEMBER 18, 1977, TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT MS. LUCAS OR HE HAD DREAMED UP, BUT WAS AN ACTUAL LAW AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ABIDED BY. MR. NOACK STATED THAT AT THE MEETING HE DID GO BACK TO PAST HISTORY-- THE SWEAT SHOPS, UNREASONABLE HOURS, ETC., AND EXPLAINED HOW THE UNIONS HAD BROUGHT THESE CONDITIONS UNDER CONTROL. HE STATED THAT HE SAID: " . . . THE UNIONS HAVE BROUGHT ALL OF THIS, OR MOST OF IT, UNDER CONTROL AND THAT AT THIS TIME THE UNIONS WERE NOT ACTUALLY NEEDED AS MUCH IN A SENSE AS THEY WERE BACK IN THE EARLIER DAYS." (TR. 107-108) MR. NOACK ALSO TESTIFIED THAT: " . . . ONE STATEMENT I DID MAKE ABOUT THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT WAS THAT I DIDN'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH IT, THAT WAS TO THE POINT NOT OF /2/ SAYING THAT IT WAS NOT TO BE ABIDED BY, BUT, THAT IT WAS TOO HARSH, TOO RESTRICTIVE. ONE MINUTE BEFORE 8:00 O'CLOCK, ONE MINUTE AFTER; ONE MINUTE BEFORE 4:30 OR AFTER 4:30 SEEMS TO BE JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO HARSH FOR ME." (TR. 106) 12. MS. CARTER BECAME A MEMBER OF THE UNION IN EARLY NOVEMBER, 1978 CONCLUSIONS THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR DISMISSED ALL ALLEGATIONS OF THE COMPLAINT, INCLUDING ALL ASPECTS WHICH ALLEGED A VIOLATION OF SECTION 19(A)(1), EXCEPT THE ALLEGATION OF ITEM 1 OF THE COMPLAINT AND ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT ITEM 1 ALLEGES A VIOLATION OF SECTION 19(A)(1) OF THE ORDER. ITEM 1 OF THE COMPLAINT ALLEGED THAT: "ON NOVEMBER 18, 1977, MR. EDWARD NOACK, CHIEF PURCHASING AND CONTRACT, IN A MEETING OF HIS SECTION EMPLOYEES, STATED HE DISAGREES WITH THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT AS IT APPLIES TO GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, AND THAT HE FEELS THERE WAS PERHAPS A TIME WHEN UNIONS WERE NEEDED BUT THAT TIME HAS PAST." THE RECORD FULLY SUPPORTS THE ALLEGATION OF THE COMPLAINT. INDEED, MR. NOACK ADMITS THAT, IN SUBSTANCE, HE MADE THE STATEMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO HIM. THUS, AS TO THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT, MR. NOACK STATED: "ONE STATEMENT I DID MAKE ABOUT THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT WAS THAT I DIDN'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH IT . . . THAT IT WAS TOO HARSH, TOO RESTRICTIVE." AND, AS TO UNIONS, MR. NOACK STATED: " . . . THE UNIONS WERE NOT ACTUALLY NEEDED AS MUCH IN A SENSE AS THEY WERE BACK IN THE EARLIER DAYS." THERE IS NO QUESTION WHATEVER THAT MR. NOACK SAID THAT HE DISAGREED WITH THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT. I AM AWARE THAT MR. NOACK TESTIFIED THAT HIS STATEMENT THAT "UNIONS WERE NOT NEEDED AS MUCH . . . AS THEY WERE BACK IN THE EARLIER DAYS" WAS MADE IN THE COURSE OF HIS REVIEW OF THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SWEAT SHOPS, ETC. . . . , AND THAT THE TESTIMONY OF MS. LUCAS THAT MR. NOACK SAID "THAT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THEY (UNION) WERE NEEDED BECAUSE THE WORKING CONDITIONS WERE SO TERRIBLY POOR" FULLY SUPPORTS MR. NOACK'S STATEMENT THAT HE REVIEWED THE HISTORY OF SWEAT SHOPS, UNREASONABLY LONG HOURS, ETC. NEVERTHELESS, IT IS CLEAR THAT MR. NOACK TOLD THE ASSEMBLED EMPLOYEES THAT "UNIONS WERE NOT ACTUALLY NEEDED". MS. LUCAS VERY CREDIBLY TESTIFIED THAT MR. NOACK SAID THAT UNIONS WERE NO LONGER NEEDED, THAT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THEY WERE NEEDED BECAUSE THE WORKING CONDITIONS WERE SO TERRIBLY POOR, BUT THAT THAT WAS NO LONGER THE CASE" AND MR. POLANDER'S STATEMENT, WHICH WAS RECEIVED WITHOUT OBJECTION, RECITES THAT MR. NOACK SAID, "UNIONS HAVE OUTGROWN THEMSELVES . . . THERE WAS A NEED FOR THEM AT ONE TIME, HOWEVER, THEY HAD JUST OUTGROWN THEMSELVES." ACCORDINGLY, I ALSO FIND THAT, AS ALLEGED IN THE COMPLAINT, MR. NOACK ALSO SAID THAT HE FELT THERE WAS PERHAPS A TIME WHEN UNIONS WERE NEEDED BUT THAT TIME HAS PAST. COMPLAINANT HAS SHOWN NO UNION ANIMUS. ALTHOUGH MS. LUCAS REFERRED TO SURVEILLANCE, IT IS CLEAR THAT SHE REFERRED TO ACCOUNTING FOR HER TIME SPENT ON REPRESENTATIONAL ACTIVITIES WHICH HAD BEEN ALLEGED AS PART OF ITEM 4 OF THE COMPLAINT. AS THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR DISMISSED THIS PORTION OF THE COMPLAINT SUCH CONDUCT IS NOT BEFORE ME AND MAY NOT BE TREATED AS A VIOLATION OF SECTION 19(A)(1). UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, A/SLMR NO. 1100(1978). UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, MR. NOACK'S STATEMENTS MAY HAVE BEEN INNOCUOUS; BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR DELIVERY VIOLATED SECTION 19(A)(1) OF THE ORDER. HOWEVER ALLEGORICAL MR. NOACK'S STATEMENT MANY HAVE BEEN, HIS MESSAGE TO THE ASSEMBLED EMPLOYEES WAS CLEAR, NAMELY THAT, WHILE HE DISAGREED WITH THE POLICY, THEY COULD NOT WORK BEFORE 8:00 A.M. OR AFTER 4:30 P.M.; THAT THEY COULD THANK THE UNION FOR THIS; AND THAT HE FELT UNIONS WERE NO LONGER REQUIRED. THUS, FOR EXAMPLE, MRS. THOMPSON TESTIFIED THAT MR. NOACK SAID, "WHEN UNIONS WEREN'T AROUND TO INTERCEDE FOR PEOPLE . . . THINGS SEEMED TO WORK FINE"; MS. LUCAS TESTIFIED THAT MR. NOACK SAID, "HE DIDN'T AGREE WITH THIS (THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT), THAT HE FELT THAT IF EMPLOYEES WANTED TO WORK OFF THE CLOCK THAT THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO SO" AND "THAT UNIONS WERE NO LONGER NEEDED"; AND MR. POLLARD STATED THAT MR. NOACK SAID "UNIONS HAVE OUTGROWN THEMSELVES . . . THERE WAS A NEED FOR THEM AT ONE TIME, HOWEVER THEY HAD JUST OUTGROWN THEMSELVES." MR. NOACK STATED THAT HE CALLED THE MEETING BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEES WERE BLAMING MS. LUCAS FOR "BLOWING THE WHISTLE" ON EMPLOYEES WORKING BEFORE OR AFTER NORMAL HOURS. THE WHOLE THRUST OF HIS REMARKS WAS TO "CREDIT" UNIONS FOR THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT; TELL THEM HE DISAGREED WITH THE POLICY; AND STATED THAT HE FELT UNIONS WEREN'T NEEDED ANYMORE. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, HIS STATEMENT DID INTERFERE WITH, RESTRAIN, OR COERCE EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISE OF THE RIGHTS ASSURED BY THE ORDER, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO FREELY AND WITHOUT FEAR OF PENALTY OR REPRISAL, TO FORM, JOIN, AND ASSIST A LABOR ORGANIZATION. NOR IS MR. NOACK'S STATEMENT RENDERED ANY LESS A VIOLATION OF 19(A)(1) BY HIS EXPLANATION OR MOTIVATION, C.F., UNITED STATES ARMY TANK AUTOMATIVE COMMAND, WARREN MICHIGAN, A/SLMR NO. 447, 4 A/SLMR 742(1974); BY THE FACT THAT MR. POLLARD THOUGHT "IT WAS HIS OPINION AND WAS NO THREAT TO ME OR TO THE AFGE LOCAL UNION"; OR BY THE FACT THAT MS. CARTER, WHO WAS NOT A MEMBER OF THE UNION ON NOVEMBER 18, 1977, JOINED THE UNION ABOUT A YEAR LATER IN EARLY NOVEMBER, 1978. ORDER PURSUANT TO SECTION 6(B) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, 29 C.F.R., SECTION 203.26(B), AND SECTION 2400.2 OF THE TRANSITION RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 C.F.R. SECTION 2400.2, FED. REG., VOL. 44, NO. 1, JANUARY 2, 1979), THE AUTHORITY, HEREBY ORDERS THAT THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL, SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA SHALL: 1. CEASE AND DESIST FROM: A) INTERFERING WITH, RESTRAINING, OR COERCING ITS EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR RIGHTS ASSURED BY THE EXECUTIVE ORDER BY, INTER ALIA, TELLING EMPLOYEES THAT COMPLIANCE WITH THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT IS REQUIRED BECAUSE OF THE INSISTENCE OF THE UNION AND THAT UNIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED ANY MORE. B) IN ANY LIKE OR RELATED MANNER INTERFERING WITH, RESTRAINING, OR COERCING EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR RIGHTS ASSURED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED. 2. TAKE THE FOLLOWING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES AND POLICIES OF THE ORDER: A) POST AT ITS FACILITIES LOCATED IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, COPIES OF THE ATTACHED NOTICE MARKED "APPENDIX" ON FORMS TO BE FURNISHED BY THE AUTHORITY. UPON RECEIPT OF SUCH FORMS THEY SHALL BE SIGNED BY THE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR AND SHALL BE POSTED AND MAINTAINED BY HIM FOR 60 CONSECUTIVE DAYS THEREAFTER, IN CONSPICUOUS PLACES, INCLUDING ALL BULLETIN BOARDS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE NOTICES TO EMPLOYEES ARE CUSTOMARILY POSTED. THE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR SHALL TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO INSURE THAT SUCH NOTICES ARE NOT ALTERED, DEFACED, OR COVERED BY ANY OTHER MATERIAL. B) PURSUANT TO 29 C.F.R. SECTION 203.27 AND SECTION 2400.2 OF THE TRANSITION RULES AND REGULATIONS, NOTIFY THE AUTHORITY IN WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS ORDER AS TO WHAT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO COMPLY HEREWITH. WILLIAM B. DEVANEY ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE DATED: FEBRUARY 22, 1979 WASHINGTON, D.C. APPENDIX NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO A DECISION AND ORDER OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY AND IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE POLICIES OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED WE HEREBY NOTIFY OUR EMPLOYEES THAT: WE WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH, RESTRAIN, OR COERCE OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR RIGHTS ASSURED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, BY INTER ALIA, TELLING EMPLOYEES THAT COMPLIANCE WITH THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT IS REQUIRED BECAUSE OF THE INSISTENCE OF THE UNION AND/OR THAT UNIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED ANYMORE. WE WILL NOT IN ANY LIKE OR RELATED MANNER INTERFERE WITH, RESTRAIN, OR COERCE OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISES OF THEIR RIGHTS ASSURED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED. ACTIVITY DATED: BY: 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 ANY OF ITS PROVISIONS, THEY MAY COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, DALLAS REGIONAL OFFICE, FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, WHOSE ADDRESS IS ROOM 705, 555 GRIFFIN SQUARE BUILDING, GRIFFIN AND YOUNG STREETS, DALLAS, TEXAS 75202. /1/ IN CONFORMITY WITH SECTION 902(B) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978 (2 STAT. 1224), THE PRESENT CASE IS DECIDED SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF E.O. 11491, AS AMENDED, AND AS IF THE NEW FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (92 STAT. 1191) HAD NOT BEEN ENACTED. THE DECISION AND ORDER 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 EXECUTIVE ORDER. /2/ THERE IS AN OBVIOUS TRANSPOSITION ERROR IN THE TRANSCRIPT WHICH IS HEREBY CORRECTED. THE TRANSCRIPT READS "POINT OF NOT SAYING"; BUT SHOULD READ "POINT NOT OF SAYING".