[ v03 p88 ]
03:0088(14)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
3 FLRA No. 14 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1451 (Labor Organization) and NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, ORLANDO, FLORIDA (Activity) Case No. 0-NG-75 DECISION ON NEGOTIABILITY APPEAL THIS CASE COMES BEFORE THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY (THE AUTHORITY) PURSUANT TO SECTION 7105(A)(2)(E) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (5 U.S.C. 7101 ET SEQ.). UNION PROPOSAL EACH PARTY WILL HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE (3) DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE PURPOSE OF NEGOTIATIONS. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR ATTENDANCE OF ALL REPRESENTATIVES TO BE PRESENT AT ANY SPECIFIC NEGOTIATING SESSION. QUESTION HERE BEFORE THE AUTHORITY THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE UNION'S PROPOSAL PERTAINS TO MATTERS WHICH ARE OUTSIDE OF THE ACTIVITY'S DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER THE STATUTE. OPINION CONCLUSION: THE PROPOSAL CONCERNS MATTERS WHICH ARE OUTSIDE OF THE DUTY TO BARGAIN OF THE ACTIVITY. ACCORDINGLY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2424.10 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (45 FED.REG. 3513(1980)), THE AGENCY'S ALLEGATION THAT THE UNION'S PROPOSAL IS NOT WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN IS SUSTAINED. REASONS: SECTION 7103(A)(12) OF THE STATUTE DEFINES "COLLECTIVE BARGAINING" AS "THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MUTUAL OBLIGATION OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF AN AGENCY AND THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF EMPLOYEES IN AN APPROPRIATE UNIT IN THE AGENCY TO . . . BARGAIN IN A GOOD-FAITH EFFORT TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AFFECTING SUCH EMPLOYEES . . . " THUS, THE OBLIGATION IMPOSED BY SECTION 7117 OF THE STATUTE TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH DOES NOT EXTEND BEYOND MATTERS DIRECTLY AFFECTING UNIT EMPLOYEES. THE DISPUTED PROPOSAL CONCERNS MATTERS WHICH ARE BEYOND THOSE DIRECTLY AFFECTING UNIT EMPLOYEES. IT WOULD REQUIRE MANAGEMENT TO DESIGNATE A PARTICULAR NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES TO NEGOTIATIONS. THESE REPRESENTATIVES WOULD NOT, THEMSELVES, BE UNIT EMPLOYEES. /1/ MOREOVER, THE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES MANAGEMENT CHOOSES TO DESIGNATE TO CARRY OUT ITS DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER THE STATUTE IS NOT A MATTER DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF UNIT EMPLOYEES. /2/ ACCORDINGLY, INSOFAR AS THE UNION'S PROPOSAL WOULD REQUIRE MANAGEMENT TO DESIGNATE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR NEGOTIATIONS, THE PROPOSAL IS NOT WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER THE STATUTE. /3/ THEREFORE, THE AGENCY'S ALLEGATION TO THAT EFFECT IS HEREBY SUSTAINED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 28, 1980 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAIZER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY ORDER DENYING REQUEST FOR REVIEW THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON A REQUEST BY NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1451 (THE UNION) FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE AUTHORITY'S DECISION IN NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1451 AND NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, ORLANDO, FLORIDA, 3 FLRA NO. 14. THE ACTIVITY FILED NO OPPOSITION TO THIS MOTION. ON JUNE 26, 1980, A PETITION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THE AUTHORITY'S DECISION REFERRED TO ABOVE WAS FILED IN THE UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BY THE UNION. SAID APPEAL IS CURRENTLY PENDING BEFORE THAT COURT. CONSEQUENTLY, THE AUTHORITY IS NOW ESTOPPED FROM CONDUCTING FURTHER PROCEEDINGS IN THIS MATTER. GREATER BOSTON TELEVISION CORP. V. F.C.C., 149 U.S.APP D.C. 322, 337, 463 F.2D 268, 283(1971), CERT. DENIED, 406 U.S. 950, 92 S.CT. 2042, 32 L.ED.2D 338(1972). ACCORDINGLY, AS A PETITION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW IS PENDING BEFORE THE COURT, THE UNION'S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE AUTHORITY'S DECISION IN THE INSTANT CASE IS HEREBY DENIED. FOR THE AUTHORITY ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 31, 1980 SAMUEL A. CHAITOVITZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR /1/ UNDER SECTION 7103(A)(2) OF THE STATUTE, THE DEFINITION OF "EMPLOYEE" SPECIFICALLY "DOES NOT INCLUDE," INTER ALIA, "A SUPERVISOR OR A MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL." /2/ SECTION 7103(A)(14) DEFINES "CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT" AS FOLLOWS: (14) 'CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT' MEANS PERSONNEL POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND MATTERS, WHETHER ESTABLISHED BY RULE, REGULATION, OR OTHERWISE, AFFECTING WORKING CONDITIONS, EXCEPT THAT SUCH TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND MATTERS-- (A) RELATING TO POLITICAL ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED UNDER SUBCHAPTER III OF CHAPTER 73 OF THIS TITLE; (B) RELATING TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF ANY POSITION; OR (C) TO THE EXTENT SUCH MATTERS ARE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED FOR BY FEDERAL STATUTE(.) /3/ ALBEIT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, A MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL THAT THE UNION DESIGNATE A PARTICULAR NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES TO NEGOTIATIONS LIKEWISE WOULD NOT BE WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER THE STATUTE.