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33:0015(2)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
33 FLRA No. 2
FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY
WASHINGTON, D.C.
PANAMA CANAL COMMISSION
and
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MASTERS, MATES
AND PILOTS MARINE DIVISION ILA, AFL-CIO
PANAMA CANAL PILOTS BRANCH
0-AR-1516
DECISION
October 11, 1988
Before Chairman Calhoun and Member McKee.
I. Statement of the Case
This matter is before the Authority on exceptions to the award of Arbitrator Robert G. Williams. The issue before the Arbitrator was whether a decision to suspend the grievant for 10 days was for just cause. The Arbitrator sustained the grievance and directed that the suspension be deleted from the grievant's record.
Exceptions were filed by the Panama Canal Commission (the Agency) under section 7122(a) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute) and part 2425 of the Authority's Rules and Regulations. The International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots Marine Division ILA, AFL-CIO, Panama Canal Pilots Branch (the Union) filed an opposition to the Agency's exceptions. We find that the Union's opposition is untimely. On April 19, 1988, we granted the Union until April 22, 1988, to file its opposition to the Agency's exceptions. However, the Union did not file its opposition until April 23, 1988. Therefore, we have not considered the Union's submission in reaching our decision.
For the reasons discussed below, we remand the award to the parties for resubmission to arbitration.
II. Background
The grievant, a Panamanian citizen, has served 4 years as a pilot for the Panama Canal Commission (the Commission). On June 11, 1987, while at a shopping center, he observed a political demonstration during a period of civil unrest in Panama. Award at 2. Later that day, the grievant transmitted the following message over a Commission radio channel while he was operating a vessel in the Canal:
Transit, this is north 23
23 transit
Please pay attention, north; I mean, transit, Is . . .. . . I suppose that [sic] I'm going to say is taped, over.
Correct.
OK, roger. North 23 to transit. North 23 is going to be stopped for 30 minutes. I repeat, I'm going to stop for 30 minutes at Tavernilla Reach in solidarity with the rest of the Republic of Panama that is today fighting for our democracy. No alternation or operational delay in lockage timing will be the goal of this protest. . . . . . but to tell the Panamanians out there, the Panamanians working in the Panama Canal share their feeling of impotence against the National Guard trained and equipped to defend our country, and mainly to defend this canal. But instead it's being used to terrorize our own people. Anybody that wants to, I mean, [sic] join this, but, . . . . . . . this pacific protest of solidarity is welcome. Just 30 minutes for Panama, Over.
Award at 3.
According to the Agency, the grievant stopped the vessel he was piloting for 30 minutes following this message. Agency's Exceptions at 4. However, no other vessel stopped, according to the Union. In addition, the Union asserted that at most 50 employees heard the grievant's statement. Award at 4.
The Agency charged the grievant with violations of the Employee Code of Conduct. The sections cited by the Agency were:
Employees will abstain from any Panamanian or United States political activity during hours of duty or service with the Commission and will not use their positions with the Commission in the furtherance of Panamanian political activity. (Section XXVII); and
Employees will not do anything which might result in, or create the appearance of, acting in a manner inconsistent with the best interest of the Commission. (Section I(c)).
Agency's Exceptions at 5. The Agency also states that the notice of proposed suspension included references to the "deliberate stopping of the vessel, his [grievant's] use of the radio for an improper purpose, his political speech and his invitation to others to join in his protest." Id.
On June 29, 1987, the Agency notified the grievant of a proposed 10-day suspension. After the grievant replied, the Agency decided to suspend the grievant from July 19, 1987 to July 28, 1987. A grievance, filed on July 15, 1987, was denied, and the grievance was referred to arbitration on July 20, 1987. The Agency approved a stay of the suspension on July 28, 1987. An arbitration hearing was held on November 20, 1987. Award at 1-2.
III. Arbitrator's Award
According to the Arbitrator, the issue presented at the hearing was:
Whether the Grievant was disciplined for just cause and, if not, what shall be the remedy? Award at 2.
The Arbitrator noted the definition of just cause in Article 11, section 2 of the parties' agreement:
"Just cause" means that the evidence produced from the investigation of an incident supports the conclusion that the offense was committed by the charged pilot and that the disciplinary action taken is appropriate under all the circumstances.
Agency's Exceptions at 6, n.2. However, the arbitrator did not apply the just cause provision in the parties' agreement. Rather, he concluded that this provision was subject to the U.S. Constitution. Award at 5. Relying on the Supreme Court's decision in Rankin v. McPherson, 107 S. Ct. 2891 (1987) (Rankin), the Arbitrator found that the grievant "clearly was commenting on a matter of public concern." Award at 5.
Since the grievant spoke about a matter of public concern, the Arbitrator concluded that the grievant's statement on June 11, 1987, was protected free speech. Id. at 6. Thus, the Arbitrator sustained the grievance and ordered the 10-day suspension deleted from the grievant's record.
IV. The Agency's Exceptions
The Agency argues that the Arbitrator's award should be set aside because it is contrary to law. The Agency makes three arguments. First, the Agency argues that the Arbitrator erroneously determined that the U.S. Constitution is applicable to the grievant, a Panamanian citizen. Second, the Agency states that if the U.S. Constitution were applicable, it would not protect the grievant's speech and actions. Third, the Agency states that the Panamanian Constitution is not applicable in this case.
The Agency asserts that the grievant is not protected by the U.S. Constitution. Citing early Supreme Court decisions, the Agency states that the operation of the Constitution is "coextensive with the political jurisdiction of the United States and has no extraterritorial effect." Agency's Exceptions at 7-8. Therefore, according to the Agency, the grievant "has no defense for his violations of the Employee Code of Conduct and the resulting interference with the Commission's mission." Id. at 9.
In support of its second argument, the Agency states that the Arbitrator failed to apply the Supreme Court's "balancing test" to determine whether speech by a public-sector employee is protected under the First Amendment. According to the Agency, the Arbitrator incorrectly limited the test to whether the speech involves a matter of public concern. Id. at 10. The Agency states that such issue is only a threshold question under Rankin. The Agency asserts that the second prong of the Rankin test must be applied if the employee's speech is found to involve a matter of public concern. According to the Agency, Rankin requires a balancing between the employer's interest in promoting the efficiency of public services and the employee's interest in commenting on matters of public concern.
Comparing the facts of this case to those in Rankin, the Agency concludes that if the Supreme Court's balancing test were properly applied, the grievant's speech and action would not be protected. The Agency notes that the grievant's statements were made in "a highly volatile political context in which they could have both internal Panamanian and international ramifications." Agency's Exceptions at 12. Furthermore, the Agency asserts that the grievant spoke over the radio channel used to facilitate the orderly transit of vessels through the Canal and used a privately-owned vessel under temporary control of the Commission as a political platform. Finally, his statements could be heard by ship's officers and crews, and the grievant encouraged others to stop work. Agency's Exceptions at 12-13. The Agency adds that the grievant's actions could "impair harmony among fellow employees, and more importantly, between the Commission and the Government of Panama." Id. at 13.
The Agency's third argument responds to the issue of Panamanian constitutional free speech protections which arose at the arbitration hearing. The Agency argues that the Panamanian Constitution is not applicable in this case.
In support, the Agency asserts that the application of the Panamanian Constitution to the Panama Canal is limited by the Panama Canal Treaty. Panama Canal Treaty, Sept. 7, 1977, United States-Panama, T.I.A.S. No. 10030 (hereinafter Treaty). The Agency relies on three articles in the Treaty. First, article III grants the United States the right "to provide for the orderly transit of vessels through the Panama Canal" and "to manage, operate, and maintain" the Canal. Treaty, art. III, sec. 1 at 12 . Second, article VIII of the Treaty provides that United States agencies and instrumentalities operating in Panama pursuant to the Treaty are "immune from the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama." Id. art. VIII, sec. 2 at 22-23. Finally, article IX states that "[t]he Republic of Panama shall not issue, adopt or enforce any law, decree, regulation, or international agreement or take any other action which purports to regulate or would otherwise interfere with the exercise on the part of the United States of America of any right granted under this Treaty or related agreements." Id. art. IX, sec. 8 at 25-26. According to the Agency, these three articles prevent the enforcement of Panamanian free speech guarantees "if to do so interferes with the Commission's rights and responsibilities." Agency's Exceptions at 15.
V. Analysis and Discussion
We conclude that the Arbitrator's award is contrary to law. We find that the Arbitrator misapplied the Supreme Court's balancing test in Rankin and incorrectly concluded that the grievant's speech was protected by the First Amendment. The record does not disclose whether, apart from his incorrect application of Rankin, the Arbitrator would have found that the Agency had just cause to discipline the grievant. Thus, we remand the award to the parties for resubmission to arbitration.
A. The Agency Must Apply the U.S. Constitution in Exercising Its Management Right to Discipline
The Agency's initial argument is that First Amendment protections cannot be applied to the grievant, a Panamanian citizen, because the U.S. Constitution has no extraterritorial effect. For the following reasons, we find the Panama Canal Commission is required to exercise its management right to discipline in accordance with applicable laws, including the U.S. Constitution.
The Panama Canal Commission was created by the Panama Canal Treaty to operate the Canal. This Treaty was signed by the Republic of Panama and the United States on September 7, 1977, and became effective on October 1, 1979. The Treaty restored territorial sovereignty over the Canal Zone to Panama. Also, the Treaty granted the United States, operating through the Commission, the rights necessary to manage, operate, and maintain the Canal until the year 2000. The Treaty also conferred on the United States, as the employer, the responsibility of establishing employment and labor regulations for Commission employees. Treaty, art. X, sec. 1 at 27.
Consistent with the Treaty provisions, Congress provided a system of labor-management relations for the Commission in the Panama Canal Act (the Act), 22 U.S.C. §§ 3601-3871 (1982). The Act requires that "[l]abor-management and employee relations of the Commission . . . shall be governed and regulated solely by the applicable laws, rules, and regulations of the United States." 22 U.S.C. § 3701(b). Commission employees are specifically placed under chapter 71 of title 5, the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute). See 22 U.S.C. § 3701(a) (1982). The Act states that in applying the Statute the definition of "employee" will be applied without regard to the definition in section 7103(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Statute which excludes aliens or noncitizens of the United States who occupy positions outside the United States. Id. Therefore, the Commission's labor-management relations are governed by applicable laws, which include the U.S. Constitution, and by the Statute.
Also, the Statute requires that Federal agencies exercise their management rights "in accordance with applicable laws." See section 7106(a)(2). Of course, applicable laws include the U.S. Constitution. Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137, 176-77 (1803) (finding that the Constitution is a paramount law). Furthermore, we note that one of the grounds for finding an arbitrator's award deficient under section 7122(a) is that the award conflicts with law. Thus, in determining whether an arbitrator's award violates law, we have considered whether awards are contrary to the U.S. Constitution. In San Antonio Air Logistics Center, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas and American Federation of Government Employees (AFL-CIO), Local Union 1617, San Antonio, Texas, 6 FLRA 412 (1981), the Authority considered a union's allegation that the arbitrator's award violated the First Amendment right of free speech. The Authority upheld the arbitrator's conclusion that the union's instructions to its members to respond to a management survey in a manner intended to invalidate the survey exceeded the limits and bounds of freedom of speech and were unprotected by the First Amendment. See also American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Local 916 and Tinker Air Force Base, AFLC, 30 FLRA 1204 (1988) (union failed to established that arbitration award was contrary to U.S. Constitution).
We conclude that the Commission must operate within the confines of the U.S. Constitution in disciplining a Commission employee for speech and a work stoppage during the performance of his duties as a Panama Canal pilot. Therefore, we find that the Arbitrator appropriately found that the Commission was limited by the guarantees of the First Amendment in disciplining the grievant for his speech on June 11, 1987. However, we disagree with the Arbitrator's conclusion that the Commission could not discipline the grievant because his speech was protected by the First Amendment.
B. The First Amendment Does Not Protect the Grievant's Speech
The Agency's second argument is that if the U.S. Constitution is applicable, a complete analysis under the Supreme Court's balancing test in Rankin would result in a finding that the grievant's speech was unprotected. We agree. Based on the discussion which follows, we find that under the factors set forth in Rankin the grievant's speech was not protected free speech because the Agency's interest in the effective functioning of the Canal outweighs the grievant's right to express himself freely while on duty.
1. The Supreme Court's "Balancing Test"
In Rankin, the Supreme Court stated that whether a public employer has properly discharged an employee for engaging in speech requires "'a balance between the interests of the [employee], as a citizen, in commenting upon matters of public concern and the interest of the State, as an employer, in promoting the efficiency of the public services it performs through its employees.'" Rankin, 107 S. Ct. at 2896 (quoting Pickering v. Board of Education, 391 U.S. 563, 568 (1968)). The threshold question, according to the Court, is whether the employee's speech may be "'fairly characterized as constituting speech on a matter of public concern.'" Id. at 2896-97 (quoting Connick v. Myers, 461 U.S. 138, 146). The Court stated that this determination requires an examination of "'the content, form, and context of a given statement, as revealed by the whole record.'" Id. at 2897 (quoting Connick at 147-48).
The Court determined that the remark at issue in Rankin was a matter of public concern. In that case, a clerical employee in a county constable's office said to a co-worker, after hearing of an attempt on the President's life, "'If they go for him again, I hope they get him.'" Id. at 2894. The employee's statement was overheard and reported to the constable, who fired her. In concluding that the employee spoke on a matter of public concern, the Court noted that the statement was made in the course of a conversation about the policies of the President's administration and that the statement immediately followed a news bulletin concerning the attempted assassination.
The second prong of the Rankin analysis "focuses on the effective functioning of the public employer's enterprise." Id. at 2899. The Court stated that "the manner, time, and place of the employee's expression are relevant, as is the context in which the dispute arose." Id. at 2898. Pertinent considerations include "whether the statement impairs discipline by superiors or harmony among coworkers, has a detrimental impact on close working relationships for which personal loyalty and confidence are necessary, or impedes the performance of the speaker's duties or interferes with the regular operation of the enterprise." Id. at 2899.
In Rankin, the Court concluded that the State's interest in effective operation did not outweigh the employee's free speech rights. The Court noted that there was no evidence that the employee's statement interfered with the effective functioning of the office or that management was concerned that other employees were interrupted or disturbed by the employee's remark. Furthermore, the employee spoke in an area which was not open to the public, and there was no suggestion that any member of the general public had heard her statement. The court noted that the constable discharged the employee because of the content of her speech. Id.
Finally, the Court examined the employee's position in the constable's office in relation to her speech. The Court stated that "[t]he burden of caution employees bear with respect to the words they speak will vary with the extent of authority and public accountability the employee's role entails." Id. at 2900. The Court found that the clerical employee had no confidential, policymaking, or public contact role. After weighing the constable's interest in the effective functioning of his office, the Court concluded that his interest was not greater than the employee's free speech rights under the First Amendment.
2. Application of the Rankin Factors
The threshold question is whether the grievant's speech may be characterized as a matter of public concern. We note first that the grievant spoke while on duty as a Panama Canal pilot and that this case is limited to the question of whether the grievant's speech while on duty was protected free speech under the First Amendment.
We find, as did the Arbitrator, that the grievant's speech involved a matter of public concern. The grievant spoke at a time of civil unrest in Panama and shortly after witnessing a political demonstration. In his speech, he stated his intent to stop the vessel he was piloting as a protest against certain events in Panama. Additionally, he directed his speech to other Panamanians employed by the Agency and invited them to join his protest action. Considering these facts, we conclude that the grievant discussed a matter of public concern in his statement.
The second prong of the Supreme Court's analysis focuses on the public employer's interest in the effective functioning of the enterprise. In this case, the Agency disciplined the grievant for violating provisions of the Employee Code of Conduct which are designed to protect the ability of the Commission to operate the Canal. In this regard, we note that under the Treaty the United States specifically accepted the obligation "to provide for the orderly transit of vessels through the Panama Canal." Treaty, art. III, sec. 1 at 12. Consistent with this obligation, Section XXVII of the Employee Code of Conduct requires that employees abstain from any Panamanian or United States political activity during duty hours.
In addition to the content of the grievant's speech, the Agency considered other circumstances surrounding his statement in issuing its notice of proposed suspension. The Agency noted that the grievant addressed fellow employees in his speech and invited them to join his action. Furthermore, the grievant's speech was made at a time of civil unrest in Panama.
The Agency also noted that the grievant used the Commission's radio channel. Agency's Exceptions at 5. This action made his remarks accessible to others in addition to Agency employees. The Agency explained that the radio channel used by the grievant serves to "facilitate the orderly transit of vessels through the Canal by traffic controllers, other pilots, ships's officers and crews, tugboat personnel and other Commission employees." Agency's Exceptions at 12. Finally, the Agency included in its notice of suspension that the grievant had stopped the vessel he was piloting for 30 minutes. In our opinion, these considerations show that the Agency's concern for the orderly and efficient operation of the Canal prompted its disciplinary action against the grievant.
The grievant's position with the Commission as a Canal pilot is also a factor under Rankin. A pilot is directly responsible for carrying out the mission of the Commission. He is required to "board vessels transiting the Canal, take operational control of those vessels and pilot them through the Canal from ocean to ocean." Agency's Exceptions at 3. See also 35 C.F.R. § 105.1(a), (b) (1987). A pilot assigned to a vessel has "control of the navigation and movement of such vessel." See 35 C.F.R. § 105.6 (1987). We note also that the grievant spoke from a privately-owned vessel which was under the temporary control of the Agency. In contrast to the clerical employee in Rankin who had no confidential, policymaking or public contact role, the grievant here was in a position of responsibility and in direct contact with customers using the Canal.
We also note that the Agency charged the grievant with violating Section I(c) of the Employee Code of Conduct which states that "[e]mployees will not do anything which might result in, or create the appearance of, acting in a manner inconsistent with the best interest of the Commission." Agency's Exceptions at 5. Given the content and context of the grievant's remarks, it is not unreasonable for the Agency to conclude that the grievant's statements and actions could appear to constitute intervention in internal Panamanian politics. Such an appearance conflicts with the Agency's mission under the Treaty. We also note that the United States and Panama are parties to a treaty preserving the neutrality of the Panama Canal. See Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, United States-Panama, Sept. 7, 1977, T.I.A.S. 10029. Thus, if the Agency had not acted to discipline the grievant, its ability to fulfill its mission might well be impaired. In these circumstances, we conclude that the Agency's interest in the orderly and effective functioning of the Canal outweighs the grievant's interest in speaking freely on a matter of public concern.
In summary, we conclude that although the grievant's statement involved a matter of public concern, it was not protected speech under the First Amendment. We note particularly that the grievant occupied a position critical to the effective functioning of the Commission. He spoke during a time of civil unrest and included an appeal to other employees to join in stopping work as a political action. Furthermore, his message could be heard by anyone with access to the Commission's radio channel. Inasmuch as the Arbitrator misapplied the Supreme Court's decision in Rankin and, thus, incorrectly determined that the grievant's speech was protected under the First Amendment, we find that his award is deficient as contrary to law.
C. The Panamanian Constitution is Inapplicable
The Agency's final argument is that the Panamanian Constitution is not applicable to this case. Although the Arbitrator did not rely on the Panamanian Constitution in reaching his decision, his award suggests its applicability. Specifically, the Arbitrator stated that the Commission's Panamanian employees have "not only . . . a right, but an obligation to participate in Panamanian affairs." Award at 5.
However, the issue in this case concerns only disciplinary action arising from the grievant's conduct while performing his duties as a Commission pilot. There is no contention that this case involves the grievant's rights to speak and act on matters of public concern when he is not on-duty as an employee of the Commission. See Agency's Exceptions at 12, n.5.
As we previously noted, the Treaty between Panama and the United States gives the United States the right, through the Commission, to provide for the orderly transit of ships through the Canal. Treaty, art. III, secs. 1, 3 at 12-14. In addition, the Treaty obliged the United States to establish a system of labor-management relations for all Commission employees. Treaty, art. X, sec. 1 at 27. As a consequence, Congress provided in the Panama Canal Act that labor-management and employee relations are governed solely by the applicable laws, rules, and regulations of the United States. See 22 U.S.C. § 3701(b). We also note that the Treaty between Panama and the United States provides that the Commission is immune from the jurisdiction of the Republic of Panama. Treaty, art. VIII, sec. 2 at 22-23. Considering these facts, we conclude that the Commission is obligated to operate only under the applicable laws, rules, and regulations of the United States in conducting its labor-management and employee relations.
As we stated previously, the issue here is confined to a labor-management relations matter--a disciplinary action and ensuing grievance--which arose from the speech and actions of a Commission employee while he was on duty as a Canal pilot. In these circumstances, we conclude that the provisions of the Treaty preclude the application of the Panamanian Constitution.
VI. Decision
Based on the record in this case, we are unable to determine whether the Arbitrator would have found that the Agency had just cause to discipline the grievant if he had not incorrectly applied Supreme Court precedent. We also note that it is not clear whether the Arbitrator considered the grievant's action of stopping his vessel for 30 minutes. Therefore, we find that a remand of this case is appropriate.
Accordingly, we remand the Arbitrator's award to the parties with the direction that they resubmit the award to arbitration for further proceedings consistent with this decision. On receipt of an award, either party may file exceptions with the Authority to that award.
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