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35 FLRA No. 10

FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

WARNER ROBINS AIR FORCE

LOGISTICS CENTER

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, GEORGIA

(Respondent)

and

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

LOCAL 987

(Charging Party)

4-CA-70463

DECISION AND ORDER

March 9, 1990

Before Chairman McKee and Members Talkin and Armendariz.

The Administrative Law Judge issued the attached decision in the above-entitled proceeding finding that the Respondent had violated section 7116(a)(1) and (5) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute) by its failure to provide the Charging Party with notice and opportunity to bargain about the decision to change the color and style of protective coveralls to be used by certain bargaining unit employees. The Respondent filed exceptions to the Judge's Decision and the General Counsel filed an opposition to the Respondent's exceptions.

Pursuant to section 2423.29 of the Authority's Rules and Regulations and section 7118 of the Statute, we have reviewed the rulings of the Judge made at the hearing and find that no prejudicial error was committed. We affirm the rulings. Upon consideration of the Judge's Decision and the entire record, we adopt the Judge's findings, conclusions and recommended Order.

We agree with the Judge's finding that the Respondent committed an unfair labor practice by changing the style of protective coveralls provided to employees without notifying the Union and giving it an opportunity to bargain over the change and its impact and implementation. As set forth by the Judge, the new style of coveralls differed in several significant respects from the old style and the changes affected, among other things, the employees' safety. Accordingly, we reject the Respondent's contention that "the most significant difference" in the two kinds of coveralls is the color and that "[t]he circumstance here is simply that the color of coveralls changed." Respondent's Exceptions at 5.

Insofar as the Respondent asserts that it had no duty to bargain over the change in the style of protective clothing because the change involved its choice of the methods and means of performing work, that defense is without merit. The Authority uses a two-part test for determining whether requiring an agency to bargain under particular circumstances would violate its right to determine the methods and means of performing work under section 7106(b)(1) of the Statute. An agency must show that there is (1) a direct and integral relationship between the particular method or means chosen by the agency and the agency's mission, and (2) a direct interference by a proposal with the mission-related purpose for which the agency chose such method or means. For example, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Council of Prison Locals, Local 1661 and U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury, Connecticut, 29 FLRA 990, 1000 (1987), petition for review filed as to other matters sub nom. U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury, Conn. v. FLRA, No. 87-1762 (D.C. Cir. Dec. 14, 1987).

We will assume that part one of the Authority's test is met because the Agency's choice to use protective coveralls as a method or means is directly and integrally related to the Agency's mission. As to the second part, however, the Respondent has not shown, or even alleged, that bargaining over the change in the style of the protective coveralls would directly interfere with the mission-related purpose of protecting employees for which the Agency chose to use coveralls. Therefore, we reject the Respondent's "methods and means" defense.

We note that, after the Administrative Law Judge's decision in this case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit stated its approval of the Authority's two-part test. See Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, Oklahoma City v. FLRA, 885 F.2d 911 (D.C. Cir. 1989). See also American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2441 v. FLRA, 864 F.2d 178 (D.C. Cir. 1988). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit also issued a decision involving a "methods and means" assertion under section 7106(b)(1) of the Statute after the Administrative Law Judge issued his decision in the instant case. See Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service v. FLRA, 881 F.2d 636 (9th Cir. 1989), relying on Immigration and Naturalization Service v. FLRA, 855 F.2d 1454 (9th Cir. 1988). In that decision, the Ninth Circuit did not address the Authority's two-part test for "methods and means" assertions.

ORDER

Pursuant to section 2423.29 of the Authority's Rules and Regulations and section 7118 of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, the Department of Defense, Warner Robins Air Force Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia shall:

1. Cease and desist from:

(a) Unilaterally instituting any changes in policy regarding the color and style of protective coveralls to be used by employees in the Civil Engineering Waste Treatment Division without first notifying the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 987, AFL-CIO, the agent of the exclusive representative of its employees, and providing it with an opportunity to negotiate concerning the above changes.

(b) In any like or related manner, interfering with, restraining, or coercing its employees in the exercise of 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 Statute:

(a) Rescind the change in policy effectuated on or about February 1, 1987 regarding the color and style of protective coveralls to be used by unit employees and restore the previously existing policy which involved the use of white coveralls.

(b) Notify and, upon request, negotiate with the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 987, AFL-CIO, or any other exclusive representative of the employees in the Civil Engineering Waste Treatment Division concerning any further change in the color and style of protective coveralls to be used by unit employees.

(c) Post at its facility at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, copies of the attached Notice on forms to be furnished by the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Upon receipt of such forms, they shall be signed by the Commanding Officer, Warner Robins Air Force Logistics Center, 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. Reasonable steps shall be taken to ensure that such notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.

(d) Pursuant to section 2423.30 of the Authority's Rules and Regulations, notify the Regional Director, Region IV, in writing, within 30 days from the date of this Order, as to what steps have been taken to comply.

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NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES

AS ORDERED BY THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY

AND TO EFFECTUATE THE POLICIES OF THE

FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE

WE NOTIFY OUR EMPLOYEES THAT:

WE WILL NOT unilaterally institute any changes in policy regarding the color and style of protective coveralls to be used by employees in the Civil Engineering Waste Treatment Division without first notifying the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 987, AFL-CIO, the agent of the exclusive representative of our employees, and providing it with an opportunity to negotiate concerning the above changes.

WE WILL NOT, in any like or related manner, interfere with, restrain, or coerce our employees in the exercise of the rights assured them by the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute.

WE WILL rescind the change in policy effectuated on or about February 1, 1987 regarding the color and style of protective coveralls to be used by unit employees and restore the previously existing policy which involved the use of white coveralls.

WE WILL notify and, upon request, negotiate with the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 987, AFL-CIO, or any other exclusive representative of the employees in the Civil Engineering Waste Treatment Division concerning any further change in the color and style of protective coveralls to be used by unit employees.

______________________
(Activity)

Dated:_________By:______________________________

(Signature) (Title)

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 IV, Federal Labor Relations Authority, whose address is: 1371 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 736, Atlanta, Georgia 30367, and whose telephone number is: (404) 347-2324.

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FOOTNOTES:
(If blank, the decision does not have footnotes.)
 

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