[ v01 p680 ]
01:0680(75)RO
The decision of the Authority follows:
1 FLRA No. 75 U.S. ARMY COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS MATERIEL READINESS COMMAND, FT. MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY Activity and AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1904, AFL-CIO Petitioner AND NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 476 Cross-Petitioner Assistant Secretary Case Nos. 32-5447(RO) and 32-5451(RO) DECISION, ORDER AND DIRECTION OF ELECTION UPON PETITIONS DULY FILED UNDER SECTION 6 OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, A CONSOLIDATED HEARING WAS HELD BEFORE HEARING OFFICER ROBERT SCHWARTZ. THE HEARING OFFICER'S RULINGS MADE AT THE HEARING ARE FREE FROM PREJUDICIAL ERROR AND ARE HEREBY AFFIRMED. THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, IN A MATTER SUCH AS HERE INVOLVED, 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). UPON THE ENTIRE RECORD IN THIS CASE, INCLUDING BRIEFS SUBMITTED BY THE ACTIVITY AND THE CROSS-PETITIONER, THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY FINDS: 1. THE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED CLAIM TO REPRESENT CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF THE ACTIVITY. 2. IN ITS PETITION, AMENDED DURING THE HEARING, PETITIONER, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1904, AFL-CIO, (AFGE), SEEKS AN ELECTION IN A UNIT OF ALL PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE U.S. ARMY COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS MATERIEL READINESS COMMAND (CERCOM) LOCATED AT FT. MONMOUTH, EXCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, GUARDS, NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES, COMMISSARY AND COMMUNICATIONS EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, SUPERVISORS AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY. AFGE ARGUES THAT A SINGLE COMPREHENSIVE RESIDUAL UNIT WOULD PREVENT FURTHER UNIT FRAGMENTATION AND ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVE DEALINGS AND EFFICIENCY OF AGENCY OPERATIONS BY PROVIDING FOR A SINGLE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED AT CERCOM HEADQUARTERS LEVEL. CROSS-PETITIONER, THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, (NFFE), SEEKS AN ELECTION IN A UNIT OF ALL UNREPRESENTED PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF CERCOM, OTHER THAN EMPLOYEES OF THE HEADQUARTERS AND INSTALLATION SUPPORT ACTIVITY (HISA), LOCATED AT FT. MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY, EXCLUDING MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, SUPERVISORS AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY. THE ACTIVITY AND THE NFFE CONTEND, IN SUBSTANCE, THAT THE CERTIFICATION OF TWO SEPARATE UNITS, ONE FOR ALL ELIGIBLE PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF CERCOM, EXCLUDING EMPLOYEES, OF HISA, AND ANOTHER UNIT OF ALL ELIGIBLE PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF HISA, EXCLUDING ALL EMPLOYEES OF CERCOM WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE RESOLUTION OF THE PETITIONS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY. IN THIS REGARD, THE ACTIVITY AND NFFE EMPHASIZE THE DISTINCTNESS OF HISA WITHIN CERCOM AND A LONG HISA HISTORY OF SUCCESSFUL LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS. THE ACTIVITY IS ONE OF FIVE MAJOR SUBORDINATE COMMODITY COMMANDS OF THE U.S. ARMY MATERIEL DEVELOPMENT AND READINESS COMMAND (DARCOM). ITS RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE PURCHASING, SUPPLYING, AND MAINTAINING EQUIPMENT ISSUED TO THE ARMY IN ALL AREAS OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS. IT IS DIVIDED INTO THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS: THE COMMAND GROUP, THE FUNCTIONAL DIRECTORATES, AND A STAFF GROUP. THE RECORD INDICATES THAT IN ACCOMPLISHING ITS OVERALL MISSION OF DEVELOPING, PURCHASING, SUPPLYING, AND MAINTAINING EQUIPMENT, THE ACTIVITY UTILIZES WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS "LIFE-CYCLE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES." THIS SYSTEM PROVIDES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMODITY THROUGH AN INTEGRATED WORK PROCESS INVOLVING DIFFERENT FUNCTIONAL DIRECTORATES AS WELL AS VARIOUS OTHER ACTIVITY OFFICES. THUS, EVEN THOUGH EACH DIRECTORATE PERFORMS ITS WON PARTICULAR FUNCTION, EACH DIRECTORATE IS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT DEPENDENT UPON OTHER DIRECTORATES FOR THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ITS MISSION. THE COMMAND GROUP, THE COMMANDING GENERAL AND HIS STAFF, EXERCISES IMMEDIATE SUPERVISION OVER ALL FUNCTIONAL DIRECTORATES AND STAFF GROUPS. HISA IS A SUBORDINATE COMMAND WITHIN HEADQUARTERS CERCOM, THE ACTIVITY, AND IS PART OF ITS STAFF GROUP. THE RECORD REVEALS THAT HISA'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE INSTALLATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH ITS FUNCTION AS THE CUSTODIAN AND CARETAKER OF FT. MONMOUTH. HISA ALSO SERVES AS PRINCIPAL STAFF ASSISTANT AND ADVISOR TO THE COMMANDING GENERAL OF CERCOM ON ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION OF THE PHYSICAL PLANT AND PERTINENT LOGISTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES OF ALL CERCOM ACTIVITIES WORLDWIDE. HISA ADDITIONALLY, PROVIDES POLICY, PLANS FOR, AND EXERCISES COMMAND SUPERVISION OVER ALL COMMAND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES. AT THE TIME OF THE HEARING HEREIN, CERCOM EMPLOYED APPROXIMATELY 3235 GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) EMPLOYEES AND 7 WAGE GRADE (WG) EMPLOYEES, WHILE HISA EMPLOYED APPROXIMATELY 460 GS EMPLOYEES AND 333 WG EMPLOYEES. THREE UNITS OF RECOGNITION IN HISA ARE PRESENTLY COVERED BY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS. /1/ THE PARTIES STIPULATED THAT THESE UNITS SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM ANY UNIT FOUND APPROPRIATE. TWO EXISTING UNITS OF RECOGNITION NOT COVERED BY AGREEMENTS ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE AFGE PETITIONED-FOR UNIT. ONE IS AFGE'S UNIT OF PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES IN CERCOM'S DIRECTORATE OF MAINTENANCE ENGINEERING, WHICH WAS CERTIFIED IN 1970, AND THE OTHER IS NFFE'S NONPROFESSIONAL UNIT OF HISA PICTORIAL AND AUDIO-VISUAL EMPLOYEES, WHICH WAS RECOGNIZED IN 1967. /2/ WITH REGARD TO THE BARGAINING HISTORY OF THE HISA UNITS, ACTIVITY WITNESSES TESTIFIED TO THE EFFECT THAT LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS IS A CERCOM DIRECTORATE OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING RESPONSIBILITY. IN PRACTICE, HOWEVER, HISA MANAGEMENT HANDLES ITS OWN LABOR RELATIONS MATTERS WITH SOME STAFF SUPPORT AND ADVICE FROM THE DIRECTORATE OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING. ACTIVITY WITNESSES STATED THAT THE DIRECTORATE "ASSISTS" BUT DOES NOT DIRECT THE HISA COMMANDER IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH HISA LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. THE RECORD ESTABLISHES: THAT HISA AND CERCOM EMPLOYEES SHARE A COMMON ACTIVITY-WIDE AREA OF COMPETITION FOR MERIT PROMOTIONS; THAT BOTH GROUPS OF EMPLOYEES ARE SERVICED BY A CENTRAL CIVILIAN PERSONNEL OFFICE AND FINANCE OFFICE WITHIN CERCOM; AND, THAT ALL HISA EMPLOYEES ARE SUBJECT TO CERCOM PERSONNEL POLICIES, REGULATIONS AND OVERALL SUPERVISION. THE RECORD FURTHER ESTABLISHES THAT CERCOM IS AN INTEGRATED ORGANIZATION WITH SPECIALIZED DIVISIONS, OF WHICH HISA IS ONE, AND THAT THE SPECIALIZED MISSION OF THE VARIOUS DIVISIONS CONTRIBUTES TO AND HAVE IMPACT UPON THE PERFORMANCE OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL DIVISIONS. /3/ THE RECORD FURTHER ESTABLISHES THAT WHILE NUMEROUS JOB CLASSIFICATIONS AND SKILLS ARE NOT FOUND IN BOTH HISA AND CERCOM, A GREAT MANY OTHER JOB SKILLS AND FUNCTIONS ARE COMMON TO BOTH COMMANDS. NOTWITHSTANDING THE ABOVE, IN SUPPORT OF ITS POSITION FAVORING A SEPARATE UNIT OF RECOGNITION FOR HISA EMPLOYEES, THE ACTIVITY OFFERED EVIDENCE TO THE EFFECT THAT THERE WAS LITTLE JOB INTEGRATION, INTERCHANGE OR TRANSFER OF CERCOM AND HISA EMPLOYEES AND THAT THE MAJORITY OF JOB CLASSIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES IN CERCOM AND HISA DIFFER. ACTIVITY WITNESSES STATED THAT, WHILE A SMALL NUMBER OF CLERICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL INTERCHANGE OCCURS, THIS INTERCHANGE IS NO GREATER BETWEEN EMPLOYEES OF HISA AND CERCOM THAN THAT OCCURRING BETWEEN HISA AND OTHER COMMANDS AT FT. MONMOUTH. THE ACTIVITY ALSO INTRODUCED EVIDENCE TO THE EFFECT THAT HISA EMPLOYEES PRIMARILY WORK IN THE POST COMPLEX, APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM THE CERCOM OFFICE BUILDING, WHERE MOST CERCOM EMPLOYEES WORK; THAT HISA AND CERCOM EMPLOYEES PRIMARILY USE SEPARATE EATING AND PARKING FACILITIES; AND, THAT CERCOM AND HISA EMPLOYEES HAVE SEPARATE AREAS OF COMPETITION FOR REDUCTION IN FORCE. BASED ON THE FOREGOING, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE UNIT SOUGHT BY THE AFGE CONSTITUTES AN APPROPRIATE UNIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED. AS NOTED ABOVE, THE RECORD ESTABLISHES THAT THE ACTIVITY IS AN INTEGRATED ORGANIZATION SHARING A COMMON OVERALL MISSION AND SUPERVISION, THAT ALL ACTIVITY EMPLOYEES SHARE AN ACTIVITY-WIDE AREA OF COMPETITION FOR MERIT PROMOTIONS, THAT ALL ACTIVITY EMPLOYEES ARE SERVICED BY A CENTRAL CIVILIAN PERSONNEL OFFICE AND FINANCE OFFICE, AND, THAT THEY ENJOY COMMON ACTIVITY-WIDE PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PRACTICES. THUS, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE EMPLOYEES IN THE AFGE CERCOM-WIDE UNIT SHARE A CLEAR AND IDENTIFIABLE COMMUNITY OF INTEREST, AND, FURTHER THAT SUCH A UNIT WOULD PROMOTE EFFECTIVE DEALINGS AND EFFICIENCY OF ACTIVITY OPERATIONS. IN THIS LATTER REGARD, THE AUTHORITY NOTES THAT PERSONNEL AND LABOR RELATIONS POLICIES AND PRACTICES ARE ESTABLISHED AT THE ACTIVITY LEVEL AND THAT THE CLAIMED UNIT CONFORMS TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE ACTIVITY. MOREOVER, SUCH A UNIT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE POLICY OF THE ORDER OF PREVENTING FURTHER FRAGMENTATION OF BARGAINING UNITS, AS WELL AS REDUCING EXISTING FRAGMENTATIONS, AND PROMOTES A MORE COMPREHENSIVE BARGAINING UNIT STRUCTURE. /4/ BASED ON THE FOREGOING, THE AUTHORITY FURTHER FINDS THAT THE UNIT OF CERCOM EMPLOYEES EXCLUDING HISA EMPLOYEES SOUGHT BY THE NFFE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN APPROPRIATE UNIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED. IN THIS REGARD, THE RECORD ESTABLISHES THAT SUCH A UNIT WOULD NOT POSSESS A CLEAR AND IDENTIFIABLE COMMUNITY OF INTEREST SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM OTHER CERCOM EMPLOYEES, NOR FOR THE REASONS STATED ABOVE WOULD SUCH A UNIT PROMOTE EFFECTIVE DEALINGS AND EFFICIENCY OF AGENCY OPERATIONS. ACCORDINGLY, THE AUTHORITY WILL DISMISS THE NFFE PETITION HEREIN. BASED ON THE FOREGOING, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE FOLLOWING UNIT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION UNDER SECTION 10(B) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED: /5/ ALL PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE U.S. ARMY COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS MATERIEL READINESS COMMAND LOCATED AT FT. MONMOUTH, EXCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, GUARDS, NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, SUPERVISORS, AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY. AS STATED ABOVE, THE UNIT FOUND APPROPRIATE INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL OF THE ORDER FROM INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES IN A UNIT WITH NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES UNLESS A MAJORITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES VOTES FOR INCLUSION IN SUCH A UNIT. ACCORDINGLY, THE DESIRES OF THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES AS TO INCLUSION IN A UNIT WITH NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES MUST BE ASCERTAINED. THE AUTHORITY SHALL THEREFORE DIRECT THAT SEPARATE ELECTIONS BE CONDUCTED IN THE FOLLOWING GROUPS: VOTING GROUP (A): ALL PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE U.S. ARMY COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS MATERIEL READINESS COMMAND LOCATED AT FT. MONMOUTH, EXCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, GUARDS, NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, SUPERVISORS, AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY. VOTING GROUP (B): ALL NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE U.S. ARMY COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS MATERIEL READINESS COMMAND LOCATED AT FT. MONMOUTH, EXCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, GUARDS, NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, SUPERVISORS, AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY. EMPLOYEES IN THE NONPROFESSIONAL VOTING GROUP (B) WILL BE POLLED WHETHER THEY DESIRE TO BE REPRESENTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1904, AFL-CIO; THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 476; OR BY NEITHER A OF THESE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. EMPLOYEES IN THE PROFESSIONAL VOTING GROUP (A) WILL BE ASKED TWO QUESTIONS ON THEIR BALLOTS: (1) WHETHER THEY WISH TO BE INCLUDED WITH THE NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION, AND (2) WHETHER THEY WISH TO BE REPRESENTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1904, AFL-CIO; THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 476; OR BY NEITHER OF THESE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. IN THE EVENT THAT A MAJORITY OF THE VALID VOTES OF VOTING GROUP (A) ARE CAST IN FAVOR OF INCLUSION IN THE SAME UNIT AS NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, THE BALLOTS OF VOTING GROUP (A) SHALL BE COMBINED WITH THOSE OF VOTING GROUP (B). UNLESS A MAJORITY OF THE VALID VOTES OF VOTING GROUP (A) ARE CAST FOR INCLUSION IN THE SAME UNIT AS NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, THEY WILL BE TAKEN TO HAVE INDICATED THEIR DESIRE TO CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE UNIT, AND AN APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATION WILL BE ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR INDICATING WHETHER THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1904, AFL-CIO; THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 476; OR NEITHER OF THESE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS WAS SELECTED BY THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEE UNIT. THE UNIT DETERMINATION IN THE SUBJECT CASE THUS IS BASED IN PART UPON THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION AMONG THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES. HOWEVER, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS IN REGARD TO THE APPROPRIATE UNIT: 1. IF A MAJORITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES DOES NOT VOTE FOR INCLUSION IN THE SAME UNIT AS THE NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THE FOLLOWING UNITS APPROPRIATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 10 OF THE ORDER: (A) ALL PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE U.S. ARMY COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS MATERIEL READINESS COMMAND LOCATED AT FT. MONMOUTH EXCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, GUARDS, NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, SUPERVISORS, AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY. (B) ALL NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE U.S. ARMY COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS MATERIEL READINESS COMMAND LOCATED AT FT. MONMOUTH, EXCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, GUARDS, NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, SUPERVISORS, AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY. 2. IF A MAJORITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES VOTES FOR INCLUSION IN THE SAME UNIT AS THE NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THE FOLLOWING UNIT APPROPRIATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 10 OF THE ORDER: ALL PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE U.S. ARMY COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS MATERIEL READINESS COMMAND LOCATED AT FT. MONMOUTH, EXCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS, GUARDS, NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, SUPERVISORS, AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY. DIRECTION OF ELECTION AN ELECTION BY SECRET BALLOT SHALL BE CONDUCTED AMONG THE EMPLOYEES IN THE UNIT FOUND APPROPRIATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT NOT LATER THAN 60 DAYS FROM THE DATE BELOW. THE APPROPRIATE REGIONAL DIRECTOR SHALL SUPERVISE THE ELECTION, SUBJECT TO THE AUTHORITY'S TRANSITION RULES AND REGULATIONS. ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ARE THOSE IN THE UNIT WHO WERE EMPLOYED DURING THE PAYROLL PERIOD IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE BELOW, INCLUDING EMPLOYEES WHO DID NOT WORK DURING THAT PERIOD BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT ILL, OR ON VACATION, OR ON FURLOUGH, INCLUD'NG THOSE IN THE MILITARY SERVICE WHO APPEAR IN PERSON AT THE POLLS. INELIGIBLE TO VOTE ARE EMPLOYEES WHO QUIT OR WHO WERE DISCHARGED FOR CAUSE SINCE THE DESIGNATED PAYROLL PERIOD AND WHO HAVE NOT BEEN REHIRED OR REINSTATED BEFORE THE ELECTION DATE. THOSE ELIGIBLE SHALL VOTE WHETHER THEY DESIRE TO BE REPRESENTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1904, AFL-CIO; THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 476; OR NEITHER. ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT THE PETITION IN CASE NO. 32-5451(RO) BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, DISMISSED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 29, 1979 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY /1/ THESE THREE UNITS ARE: A UNIT OF GUARDS IN THE PHYSICAL SECURITY BRANCH, A NFFE UNIT RECOGNIZED IN 1966; A UNIT OF NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES, A NFFE UNIT CERTIFIED IN 1976; AND A UNIT OF FIREFIGHTERS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AN IAFF UNIT RECOGNIZED IN 1965. /2/ THE PARTIES STIPULATED THAT A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR NFFE'S UNIT OF CERCOM-HISA, PICTORIAL AUDIO-VISUAL DIVISION EMPLOYEES EXPIRED WITHOUT RENEWAL PRIOR TO THE FILING OF THE AFGE PETITION ON JUNE 15, 1978. /3/ CERCOM REGULATION NO. 10-1 "CERCOM ORGANIZATION, MISSION, AND FUNCTIONS" (19 JUNE 1978). /4/ DEPARTMENT OF STATE, PASSPORT OFFICE, CHICAGO PASSPORT AGENCY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A/SLMR NO. 697, AS SUPPLEMENTED BY A/SLMR NO. 929 AND 1108, FLRC NO. 76A-149 (DECEMBER 28, 1978); DEFENSE SUPPLY AGENCY, DEFENSE CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION SERVICES REGION (DCASR), CLEVELAND, OHIO, DEFENSE CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION SERVICES OFFICES (DCASO'S), AKRON, OHIO, AND COLUMBUS, OHIO, A/SLMR NO. 687, 6 A/SLMR 405, 5 FLRC 631, FLRC NO. 76A-97 (JULY 20, 1977). /5/ IN CONFORMITY WITH SECTION 902(B) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978 (92 STAT. 1224), THE INSTANT CASE WAS 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, ORDER AND DIRECTION OF ELECTION 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.