[ v20 p505 ]
20:0505(59)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
20 FLRA No. 59 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1363 Union and DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, HEADQUARTERS, U.S. ARMY GARRISON, YONGSAN, KOREA Agency Case No. 0-NG-596 ORDER The petition for review in this case comes before the Authority pursuant to section 7105(a)(2)(E) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute), and raises issues with respect to the negotiability of 46 Union proposals. The Agency appears to contend that to negotiate on any of the proposals set forth in the petition for review would contravene the general policies of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the governments of the United States and the Republic of Korea. Subsequent to the filing of the petition for review in this case, the President issued Executive Order 12391, "Partial Suspension of Federal Service Labor-Management Relations" which provided in relevant part: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and statutes of the United States of America, including Section 7103(b)(2) of Title 5 and Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, and having determined that it is necessary in the interest of national security to suspend certain labor-management relations provisions with respect to overseas activities of the Department of Defense, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Suspensions. With regard to United States citizen employees of the Department of Defense, including the Military Departments, who are employed outside the United States as defined in 5 U.S.C. 7103(a)(18), with the exception of those employed in the Republic of Panama: (a) The provisions of 5 U.S.C. 7105(a)(2)(D), (E), (G), and (H) and of 5 U.S.C. 7123(b) are suspended with respect to any matter which substantially impairs the implementation by the United States Forces of any treaty or agreement, including any minutes or understandings thereto, between the United States and the Government of the host nation; (b) The provisions of 5 U.S.C. 7102(2), 7114(a)(1), 7114(a)(4), 7116(a)(5), and 7117(c) are suspended with respect to any matter proposed for bargaining which would substantially impair the implementation by the United States Forces of any treaty or agreement, including any minutes or understandings thereto, between the United States and the Government of the host nation: (c) The provisions of 5 U.S.C. 7116(a)(7) and 7117(b) are suspended with regard to any regulation governing the implementation by the United States Forces of any treaty or agreement, including any minutes or understandings thereto, between the United States and the Government of the host nations(.) . . . . Sec. 2. Disputes. Disputes between a labor organization and the United States Forces as to whether a particular matter is covered by one or more of the suspensions set forth in this Order shall be referred to the Secretary of Defense. The decision of the Secretary in such disputes shall be made after consultation with the Secretary of State and shall be final. The Secretary of Defense may delegate this authority, but only to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, an Under Secretary of Defense, or an Assistant Secretary of Defense. The functions assigned to the Secretary of State may not be delegated or assigned to anyone below the rank of an Assistant Secretary of State. In view of the apparent relationship between the SOFA and the dispute in this case, the Authority requests a statement of the position from each party with respect to the applicability of Executive Order 12391 as it may pertain to the jurisdiction of the Authority over the instant case. Consequently, IT IS ORDERED that: The parties shall, no later than 30 days from the date of this Order, file with the Authority, and serve the other party with, a statement of position which addresses the applicability, if any, of Executive Order 12391 to the instant proceeding. Issued, Washington, D.C., October 17, 1985 Henry B. Frazier III, Acting Chairman William J. McGinnis, Jr., Member FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY