[ v02 p191 ]
02:0191(21)PS
The decision of the Authority follows:
2 FLRA No. 21 LTC. H.R. MAHONEY STATE OF CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL STATE MILITARY FORCES-MILITARY DEPARTMENT 2829 WATT AVENUE SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95821 RE: STATE OF CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA AND LOCALS R12-125, R12-132, R12-146 AND R12-150, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, 77 FSIP 77, 78 FSIP 42, 78 FSIP 44 AND 78 FSIP 49, Case No. 0-MC-3 DEAR COLONEL MAHONEY: THIS REFERS TO YOUR PETITION FOR REVIEW OF A FEDERAL SERVICE IMPASSES PANEL DECISION AND ORDER, FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY ON MARCH 23, 1979. ACCORDING TO YOUR PETITION FOR REVIEW AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIAL, INCLUDING ISSUANCES OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE IMPASSES PANEL (HEREINAFTER THE PANEL), THE PERTINENT BACKGROUND IN THIS MATTER IS AS FOLLOWS: DURING SEPARATE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN LOCALS R12-105, R12-125, R12-132, R12-146 AND R12-150 OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (NAGE), WHICH LOCALS INDIVIDUALLY REPRESENT UNITS OF ARMY OR AIR NATIONAL GUARD TECHNICIANS, AND THE COMMANDING GENERAL, STATE MILITARY FORCES, CALIFORNIA (CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD) AN IMPASSE AROSE IN EACH BARGAINING UNIT CONCERNING THE WEARING OF MILITARY UNIFORMS BY CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD TECHNICIANS WHEN PERFORMING DAY-TO-DAY TECHNICIAN DUTIES. AS A RESULT, EACH OF THE NAGE LOCALS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 17 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, FILED A SEPARATE REQUEST WITH THE PANEL FOR ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THE IMPASSE. AFTER INFORMAL INQUIRIES AND CONSULTATIONS WITH THE PARTIES, THE PANEL, ON JUNE 30, 1978, ISSUED AN ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE IN EACH OF THESE FIVE CASES WHY CONTRACT LANGUAGE ORDERED BY THE PANEL TO BE ADOPTED IN ELEVEN PRIOR CASES CONCERNING THE UNIFORM ISSUE, THAT IS, CONTRACT LANGUAGE AFFORDING SUCH TECHNICIAN EMPLOYEES "THE OPTION OF WEARING EITHER THE MILITARY UNIFORM OR AN AGREED-UPON STANDARD CIVILIAN ATTIRE WITHOUT DISPLAY OF MILITARY RANK" SUBJECT TO AGREED-UPON EXCEPTIONS TO COVER CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE WEARING OF THE UNIFORM MAY BE REQUIRED, SHOULD NOT ALSO BE ADOPTED IN THESE CASES. ONLY THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD RESPONDED TO THE ORDERS TO SHOW CAUSE. THE PANEL, ON OCTOBER 13, 1978, AFTER CONSIDERATION OF THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD'S RESPONSE, ISSUED A CONSOLIDATED DECISION AND ORDER DIRECTING THE PARTIES IN THE FOUR CASES INVOLVED IN THIS PETITION FOR REVIEW (THE FIFTH CASE, NAMELY NAGE LOCAL R12-105, 77 FSIP 70, BEING HELD IN ABEYANCE BY THE PANEL PENDING THE OUTCOME OF A QUESTION CONCERNING THAT LOCAL'S REPRESENTATION) /1/ TO ADOPT THE AFOREMENTIONED CONTRACT LANGUAGE IN EACH OF THEIR AGREEMENTS. ON NOVEMBER 21, 1978, THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD REQUESTED THAT THE PANEL RECONSIDERED ITS OCTOBER 13, 1978, DECISION AND ORDER. AFTER THIS REQUEST WAS DENIED BY THE PANEL ON JANUARY 9, 1979, YOU FILED THE INSTANT PETITION FOR REVIEW OF THE PANEL'S DECISION AND ORDER. IN THE SUBJECT PETITION FOR REVIEW OF THE PANEL'S DECISION AND ORDER YOU REQUEST THAT THE AUTHORITY "OVERRULE THE (PANEL'S) INSTRUCTIONS AND ALLOW THE COMMANDING GENERAL, STATE MILITARY FORCES, CALIFORNIA, HIS OWN DISCRETION IN REQUIRING THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD TECHNICIAN WORKFORCE TO WEAR THE MILITARY UNIFORM" OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, "TO ACCORD THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD BENEFIT OF A FACT FINDING HEARING . . . ." WE HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED YOUR PETITION FOR REVIEW OF THE PANEL'S DECISION AND ORDER AND HAVE DETERMINED FOR THE REASONS EXPRESSED BELOW THAT THERE SINCE ARE NO PROVISIONS IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (92 STAT. 1192) WHICH SANCTION DIRECT APPEALS FROM FINAL PANEL DECISIONS TO THE AUTHORITY, YOUR APPEAL MUST BE DENIED. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THE CASE AROSE UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, WHEN THE NAGE LOCALS INVOLVED IN THIS CASE REQUESTED THE PANEL TO RESOLVE AN IMPASSE IN NEGOTIATIONS. FURTHER, AS ALSO STATED, THE PANEL, PURSUANT TO ITS AUTHORITY UNDER SECTIONS 5 AND 17 OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, ISSUED ITS CONSOLIDATED DECISION AND ORDER ON OCTOBER 13, 1978, AND DENIED THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD'S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE DECISION AND ORDER ON JANUARY 9, 1979. NO PROVISIONS WERE CONTAINED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, OR IN THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS COUNCIL AUTHORIZING DIRECT APPEALS FROM FINAL PANEL DECISIONS TO THE COUNCIL. INSTEAD, AN AGGRIEVED PARTY WAS EMPOWERED IN EFFECT TO OBTAIN REVIEW OF A PANEL DECISION AND ORDER BY THE COUNCIL THROUGH THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, THAT IS, AFTER THE FILING BY THE OTHER PARTY OF AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE COMPLAINT ALLEGING NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE PANEL, A DECISION ON THAT COMPLAINT BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS, AND AN APPEAL FROM AN ADVERSE DECISION OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY TO THE COUNCIL. /2/ UNDER THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE, WHICH BECAME EFFECTIVE AFTER THE PANEL ISSUED ITS FINAL DECISION IN THE MATTER BUT BEFORE THE INSTANT APPEAL WAS FILED, /3/ THE COUNCIL'S POLICY PRECLUDING DIRECT APPEALS OF FINAL PANEL DECISIONS, EXCEPT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE PROCEDURES, REMAINS IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT, UNLESS, AS RELEVANT IN THIS CASE, SUCH POLICY IS SUPERSEDED BY SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE STATUTE OR BY DECISIONS ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY UNDER THE STATUTE. /4/ AS TO REVIEW OF FINAL PANEL DECISIONS BY THE AUTHORITY UNDER THE STATUTE, AND AS REVEALED BY RELEVANT LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE STATUTE, THE CLEAR INTENT AND PURPOSE OF CONGRESS WAS TO ESTABLISH THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE PROCEDURE AS THE EXCLUSIVE MEANS OF OBTAINING AUTHORITY REVIEW. SPECIFICALLY IN THIS REGARD, IN THE PORTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE STATUTE CONCERNING FINAL ORDERS ISSUED BY THE PANEL UNDER SECTION 7119(C) OF THE STATUTE, 5 U.S.C.7119(C) (92 STAT. 1209), WHICH SECTION ESSENTIALLY CODIFIES THE PANEL'S PREEXISTING AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO RESOLVE NEGOTIATION IMPASSES AND IS DERIVED FROM THE HOUSE BILL (H.R. 11280), THE HOUSE REPORT EXPRESSLY STATES (H.REP. NO. 95-1403, JULY 31, 1978, AT 54-55): NOTICE OF ANY FINAL ACTION OF THE PANEL MUST BE PROMPTLY SERVED UPON THE PARTIES, AND THE ACTION IS FINAL AND BINDING UPON THE PARTIES DURING THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT, UNLESS THE PARTIES AGREE OTHERWISE. FINAL ACTION OF THE PANEL UNDER THIS SECTION IS NOT SUBJECT TO APPEAL, AND FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY FINAL ACTION ORDERED BY THE PANEL CONSTITUTES AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE BY AN AGENCY UNDER SECTION 7116(A) AND (8) OR A LABOR ORGANIZATION UNDER SECTION 7116(B)(6) AND (8). THESE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 7116 IN THE HOUSE BILL ADVERTED TO IN THE REPORT, AND AS ENACTED WITHOUT MODIFICATION IN THE STATUTE, STATE THAT IT SHALL BE AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE FOR AN AGENCY OR A LABOR ORGANIZATION, RESPECTIVELY, "(6) TO FAIL OR REFUSE TO COOPERATE IN IMPASSE PROCEDURES AND IMPASSE DECISIONS AS REQUIRED BY THIS CHAPTER; . . . " OR "(8) TO OTHERWISE FAIL OR REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH ANY PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER." IT IS CLEAR, THEREFORE, FROM THE LITERAL LANGUAGE OF SECTION 7116 OF THE STATUTE AND THE INTENT OF CONGRESS AS EXPRESSED IN THE RELATED LEGISLATIVE HISTORY, THAT UNDER THE STATUTE, AUTHORITY REVIEW OF A FINAL PANEL DECISION AND ORDER, SUCH AS THE ONE HERE INVOLVED, MAY BE SOUGHT BY THE PARTY OBJECTING TO THAT ORDER ONLY AFTER THE FILING OF UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE CHARGES BY THE OTHER PARTY, BASED ON NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THE PANEL'S DECISION AND ORDER UNDER SECTION 7118 OF THE STATUTE, 5 U.S.C. 7118 (92 STAT. 1207-1209) AND PART 2423 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES OF PROCEDURE (44 FED.REG. 44,760(1979) (TO BE CODIFIED IN 5 C.F.R. PART 2423)). /5/ ACCORDINGLY, AS THE STATUTE, LIKE E.O. 11491, AS AMENDED, DOES NOT SANCTION REVIEW OF A PANEL DECISION AND ORDER, EXCEPT THROUGH THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN THE STATUTE, YOUR PETITION FOR DIRECT REVIEW OF THE SUBJECT PANEL DECISION AND ORDER MUST BE DENIED. RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY /6/ CC: J. CARPENTER NAGE W. A. ROBERTSON NGB H. W. SOLOMON FSIP /1/ THE RESULTING PANEL DECISION AND ORDER IN 77 FSIP 70 WAS SEPARATELY APPEALED TO THE AUTHORITY, WHICH APPEAL WAS DENIED BY THE AUTHORITY ON THE PRESENT DATE IN CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD, FRESNO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA AND LOCAL R12-105, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, 77 FSIP 70, 2 FLRA (FLRA NO. O-MC-4 (DEC. 5, 1979), REPORT NO. ) /2/ SEE STATEMENT ON MAJOR POLICY ISSUE, FLRC NO. 78P-5 (DEC. 28, 1978), REPORT NO. 169, AT P. 3 OF COUNCIL STATEMENT. /3/ SINCE NO ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS IN THIS CASE WERE PENDING ON JANUARY 11, 1979, THE DATE THE PROVISIONS OF THE STATUTE TOOK EFFECT, SECTION 902(B) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978 (92 STAT. 1224) IS NOT APPLICABLE IN THIS CASE. AS TO THE APPLICATION OF SECTION 902(B), SEE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD, FRESNO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA AND LOCAL R12-105 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, 77 FSIP 70, 2 FLRA (FLRA NO. O-MC-4 (DEC. 5, 1979), REPORT NO. ) /4/ SECTION 7135(B) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (92 STAT. 1215) PROVIDES IN PERTINENT PART AS FOLLOWS: (B) POLICIES . . . ESTABLISHED UNDER AND DECISIONS ISSUED UNDER (EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED) AS IN EFFECT ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS (STATUTE), SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT . . . UNLESS SUPERSEDED BY SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THIS (STATUTE) OR . . . DECISIONS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS (STATUTE). /5/ IN THIS REGARD, NAGE FILED AN UNFAIR PRACTICE CHARGE WITH THE AUTHORITY'S SAN FRANCISCO REGION ON MAY 7, 1979, WHICH ALLEGED THAT THE ACTIVITY VIOLATED SECTION 7116(A)(6) OF THE STATUTE. THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE CHARGE IS CURRENTLY PENDING. /6/ MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESENT CASE, WHICH HAD BEEN PROCESSED PRIOR TO HIS CONFIRMATION BY THE UNITED STATES SENATE AS A MEMBER OF THE AUTHORITY.