[ v06 p205 ]
06:0205(34)CA
The decision of the Authority follows:
6 FLRA No. 34 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY, MARE ISLAND NAVAL SHIPYARD, VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA Respondent and LOCAL F-48, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS, AFL-CIO-CLC Charging Party Case No. 9-CA-123 ORDER REMANDING CASE THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO REGIONAL DIRECTOR ROBERT G. MAYBERRY'S "ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE TO THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY" IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2429.1(A) OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 CFR 2429.1(A)). THE RECORD CONSISTS OF THE PARTIES' STIPULATION OF FACTS AND EXHIBITS. THE COMPLAINT ALLEGES THAT ON JANUARY 27, 1979, AND CONTINUING TO DATE, THE RESPONDENT HAS VIOLATED SECTION 7116(A)(1) AND (8) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE). /1/ MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE COMPLAINT ALLEGES THAT COMMENCING ON JANUARY 27, 1979, THE RESPONDENT STOPPED UNION DUES ALLOTMENTS FOR BARGAINING UNIT EMPLOYEES PAUL J. COMEAUX, ITALO A. GONDOLA AND WALTER L. BECK, AND THAT, ON JANUARY 27, FEBRUARY 24, AND MARCH 10, 1979, RESPECTIVELY, THE RESPONDENT OFFSET OR WITHHELD FROM ALLOTMENT PAYMENTS DUE THE CHARGING PARTY, THE AMOUNT OF UNION DUES DEDUCTED FROM THE NAMED EMPLOYEES' PAY INASMUCH AS THEY HAD BEEN PROMOTED TO GS-6 FIRE CAPTAIN, A POSITION RESPONDENT CLAIMS IS SUPERVISORY. COMEAUX WAS PROMOTED ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1977, GONDOLA ON FEBRUARY 12, 1978, AND BECK ON JUNE 18, 1978. IN ADDITION TO NO LONGER WITHHOLDING ALLOTMENTS, RESPONDENT REFUNDED TO THE NAMED EMPLOYEES ALL UNION DUES MONIES DEDUCTED FROM THEIR PAY SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PROMOTIONS. THE CHARGING PARTY CONTENDS, INTER ALIA, THAT BY THESE ACTS THE RESPONDENT FAILED TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 7115 OF THE STATUTE. /2/ AT THE OUTSET, THE AUTHORITY NOTES THAT THE NAMED EMPLOYEES WERE PROMOTED AT THE TIME EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, WAS IN EFFECT; THAT THE RESPONDENT'S STOPPAGE OF DUES ALLOTMENTS FOR THE THREE EMPLOYEES OCCURRED AFTER JANUARY 11, 1979, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE STATUTE; AND THAT RESPONDENT'S REFUND OF UNION DUES MONIES ENCOMPASSES PERIODS OF TIME DURING WHICH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AND THEN THE STATUTE WERE IN EFFECT. FURTHER, THE DEFINITION OF "SUPERVISOR" AS IT EXISTED UNDER THE EXECUTIVE ORDER /3/ WAS CHANGED BY THE STATUTE. /4/ THE ISSUES FRAMED BY THE COMPLAINT IN THIS CASE MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE AUTHORITY, IN REACHING A DECISION AND ORDER, MUST MAKE FINDINGS REGARDING THE SUPERVISORY STATUS OF THE NAMED EMPLOYEES UNDER BOTH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AND THE STATUTE. HOWEVER, THE PARTIES' STIPULATION OF FACTS AND EXHIBITS FORWARDED TO THE AUTHORITY DEAL ONLY WITH PERIODS OF TIME DURING WHICH THE STATUTE WAS IN EFFECT; THUS, THERE ARE NO FACTS PRESENTED WHICH WOULD ENABLE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF SUPERVISORY STATUS UNDER THE EXECUTIVE ORDER. ACCORDINGLY, THIS CASE IS REMANDED TO THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR TO SEEK TO EXPAND UPON THE PARTIES' STIPULATION OF FACTS AND EXHIBITS SO AS TO ENABLE THE AUTHORITY TO ADEQUATELY DEAL WITH THE ISSUES PRESENTED OR, IF UNABLE TO OBTAIN A COMPLETE STIPULATION, TO ISSUE A NOTICE OF HEARING IN THIS MATTER. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 25, 1981 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES: --------------- /1/ SECTION 7116(A)(1) AND (8) PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS: SEC. 7116. UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES (A) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHAPTER, IT SHALL BE AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE FOR AN AGENCY-- (1) TO INTERFERE WITH, RESTRAIN, OR COERCE ANY EMPLOYEE IN THE EXERCISE BY THE EMPLOYEE OF ANY RIGHT UNDER THIS CHAPTER; . . . . (8) TO OTHERWISE FAIL OR REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH ANY PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER. /2/ SECTION 7115 PROVIDES, IN RELEVANT PART, AS FOLLOWS: SEC. 7115. ALLOTMENTS TO REPRESENTATIVES (A) IF AN AGENCY HAS RECEIVED FROM AN EMPLOYEE IN AN APPROPRIATE UNIT A WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT WHICH AUTHORIZES THE AGENCY TO DEDUCT FROM THE PAY OF THE EMPLOYEE AMOUNTS FOR THE PAYMENT OF REGULAR AND PERIODIC DUES OF THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNIT, THE AGENCY SHALL HONOR THE ASSIGNMENT AND MAKE AN APPROPRIATE ALLOTMENT PURSUANT TO THE ASSIGNMENT. ANY SUCH ALLOTMENT SHALL BE MADE AT NO COST TO THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE OR THE EMPLOYEE. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, ANY SUCH ASSIGNMENT MAY NOT BE REVOKED FOR A PERIOD OF 1 YEAR. (B) AN ALLOTMENT UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION FOR THE DEDUCTION OF DUES WITH RESPECT TO ANY EMPLOYEE SHALL TERMINATE WHEN-- (1) THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE AGENCY AND THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE INVOLVED CEASES TO BE APPLICABLE TO THE EMPLOYEE. /3/ SECTION 2(C) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, PROVIDED AS FOLLOWS: "SUPERVISOR" MEANS AN EMPLOYEE HAVING AUTHORITY, IN THE INTEREST OF AN AGENCY, TO HIRE, TRANSFER, SUSPEND, LAY OFF, RECALL, PROMOTE, DISCHARGE, ASSIGN, REWARD, OR DISCIPLINE OTHER EMPLOYEES, OR RESPONSIBILITY TO DIRECT THEM, OR TO ADJUST THEIR GRIEVANCES, OR EFFECTIVELY TO RECOMMEND SUCH ACTION, IF IN CONNECTION WITH THE FOREGOING THE EXERCISE OF AUTHORITY IS NOT OF A MERELY ROUTINE OR CLERICAL NATURE, BUT REQUIRES THE USE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT(.) /4/ SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS: SEC. 7103. DEFINITIONS; APPLICATION (A) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHAPTER-- . . . . (10) "SUPERVISOR" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYED BY AN AGENCY HAVING AUTHORITY IN THE INTEREST OF THE AGENCY TO HIRE, DIRECT, ASSIGN, PROMOTE, REWARD, TRANSFER, FURLOUGH, LAYOFF, RECALL, SUSPEND, DISCIPLINE, OR REMOVE EMPLOYEES, TO ADJUST THEIR GRIEVANCES, OR TO EFFECTIVELY RECOMMEND SUCH ACTION, IF THE EXERCISE OF THE AUTHORITY IS NOT MERELY ROUTINE OR CLERICAL IN NATURE BUT REQUIRES THE CONSISTENT EXERCISE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT, EXCEPT THAT, WITH RESPECT TO ANY UNIT WHICH INCLUDES FIREFIGHTERS OR NURSES, THE TERM "SUPERVISOR" INCLUDES ONLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DEVOTE A PREPONDERANCE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT TIME TO EXERCISING SUCH AUTHORITY(.)