[ v10 p231 ]
10:0231(44)CA
The decision of the Authority follows:
10 FLRA No. 44 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE, REGION IX CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Respondent and NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION Charging Party Case No. 5-CA-1331 DECISION AND ORDER THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR'S "ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE TO THE AUTHORITY" IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2429.1(A) OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS. UPON CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD IN THIS CASE, INCLUDING THE STIPULATION OF FACTS AND THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY FINDS: THE COMPLAINT ALLEGES THAT THE RESPONDENT VIOLATED SECTION 7116(A)(1) AND (8) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE) BY ITS REFUSAL TO REIMBURSE EMPLOYEE JOHN SCHMAL FOR HIS TRAVEL AND PER DIEM EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH REPRESENTING THE UNION IN IMPACT BARGAINING CONDUCTED ON APRIL 28, 1981. /1/ THE FACTS AND POSITIONS OF THE PARTIES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TO THOSE INVOLVED IN BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS, WESTERN REGION, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, 4 FLRA NO. 40(1980), ENFORCED SUB NOM. BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS V. FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, 672 F.2D 732 (9TH CIR. 1982). /2/ THUS, FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH IN BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE RESPONDENT HAS FAILED AND REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 7131(A) OF THE STATUTE AND THEREFORE HAS VIOLATED SECTION 7116(A)(1) AND (8) OF THE STATUTE. /3/ ORDER PURSUANT TO SECTION 2423.29 OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS AND SECTION 7118 OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE, THE AUTHORITY HEREBY ORDERS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE, REGION IX, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, SHALL: 1. CEASE AND DESIST FROM: (A) FAILING AND REFUSING TO PROVIDE TRAVEL AND PER DIEM EXPENSES TO EMPLOYEE JOHN SCHMAL INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS PARTICIPATION ON OFFICIAL TIME, PURSUANT TO SECTION 7131(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE, AS A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF ITS EMPLOYEES, IN IMPACT BARGAINING. (B) IN ANY LIKE OR RELATED MANNER INTERFERING WITH, RESTRAINING, OR COERCING ITS EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR RIGHTS ASSURED BY THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE. 2. TAKE THE FOLLOWING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES AND POLICIES OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE: (A) REIMBURSE EMPLOYEE JOHN SCHMAL, BASED UPON HIS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED VOUCHER, FOR HIS TRAVEL AND PER DIEM EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS PARTICIPATION, PURSUANT TO SECTION 7131(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE, AS A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF ITS EMPLOYEES IN IMPACT BARGAINING. (B) POST AT ITS CHICAGO REGIONAL FACILITIES COPIES OF THE ATTACHED NOTICE ON FORMS TO BE FURNISHED BY THE AUTHORITY. UPON RECEIPT OF SUCH FORMS, THEY SHALL BE SIGNED BY THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, AND SHALL BE POSTED AND MAINTAINED FOR 60 CONSECUTIVE DAYS THEREAFTER, IN CONSPICUOUS PLACES, INCLUDING ALL BULLETIN BOARDS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE NOTICES TO EMPLOYEES ARE CUSTOMARILY POSTED. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO INSURE THAT SUCH NOTICES ARE NOT ALTERED, DEFACED, OR COVERED BY ANY OTHER MATERIAL. (C) PURSUANT TO SECTION 2423.30 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS, NOTIFY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, REGION V, 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. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT THE SECTION 7116(A)(1) AND (5) ALLEGATION OF THE COMPLAINT BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, DISMISSED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPTEMBER 30, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY 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 FAIL OR REFUSE TO PROVIDE TRAVEL AND PER DIEM EXPENSES TO EMPLOYEE JOHN SCHMAL INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS PARTICIPATION ON OFFICIAL TIME, PURSUANT TO SECTION 7131(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE, AS A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, OUR EMPLOYEES' EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE, IN IMPACT BARGAINING. WE WILL NOT IN ANY LIKE OR RELATED MANNER INTERFERE WITH, RESTRAIN, OR COERCE OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR RIGHTS ASSURED BY THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE. WE WILL REIMBURSE EMPLOYEE JOHN SCHMAL, BASED UPON HIS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED VOUCHER, FOR HIS TRAVEL AND PER DIEM EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS PARTICIPATION, PURSUANT TO SECTION 7131(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE, AS DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, OUR EMPLOYEES' EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE, IN IMPACT BARGAINING. (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 MATERIAL. IF EMPLOYEES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS NOTICE, OR COMPLIANCE WITH ITS PROVISIONS, THEY MAY COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, REGION V, FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, WHOSE ADDRESS IS: SUITE 1359-A, 175 W. JACKSON BLVD., CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604, AND WHOSE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS: (312) 353-0139. --------------- FOOTNOTES$ --------------- /1/ THE COMPLAINT ALSO ALLEGES THAT RESPONDENT'S REFUSAL WAS A VIOLATION OF SECTION 7116(A)(1) AND (5) OF THE STATUTE AS IT CONSTITUTED A PATENT BREACH OF A CONTRACT CLAUSE AGREED UPON AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. NOTING PARTICULARLY THAT THE CONTRACT CLAUSE IN QUESTION WAS TIMELY DISAPPROVED BY THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7114(C) OF THE STATUTE, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THIS ALLEGATION TO BE WITHOUT MERIT. /2/ BUT SEE DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS, STATE OF NEW YORK (ALBANY, NEW YORK), 7 FLRA NO. 69(1981), REVERSED SUB NOM. DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS V. FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, 683 F.2D 45 (2D CIR. 1982) AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, NORTH CENTRAL REGION, DAKOTAS-ALASKA AREA, 6 FLRA NO. 45(1981), REVERSED SUB NOM. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE V. FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, NO. 81-1948 (8TH CIR. AUGUST 9, 1982). /3/ ACCORD, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE, REGION IX, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 9 FLRA NO. 98(1982).