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39 FLRA No. 119

FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

SACRAMENTO AIR LOGISTICS CENTER

McCLELLAN AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA

(Respondent)

and

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT

EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1857, AFL-CIO

(Charging Party)

89-CA-90477

DECISION

March 22, 1991

Before Chairman McKee and Members Talkin and Armendariz.

I. Statement of the Case

The Administrative Law Judge issued the attached decision finding that the Respondent violated section 7116(a)(1) and (5) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute) by unilaterally changing the working conditions of certain unit employees by implementing a new Mobility Plan 28-4, MOP 31, without first notifying the Charging Party (the Union) and providing it with an opportunity to bargain over the procedures to be used in implementing the mobility plan and appropriate arrangements for employees adversely affected by the new mobility plan. The Judge found that the Respondent had violated the Statute and, as a remedy, issued a cease and desist order and the posting of an appropriate notice.

The General Counsel filed an exception only to the Judge's recommended Order. The Respondent did not file an exception or an opposition to the General Counsel's exception.

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, as modified below.

II. General Counsel's Exception

The General Counsel excepts to the Judge's conclusion that a cease and desist order and the posting of an appropriate notice throughout the bargaining unit would fully effectuate the purposes and objectives of the Statute. General Counsel's Brief at 1. The General Counsel asserts that the Judge erred by failing to provide for bargaining between the Respondent and the Union at the local level. Accordingly, the General Counsel seeks the issuance of an order directing bargaining at the local level over the impact and implementation of the unilaterally issued Mobility Plan 28-4, MOP 31, in order to fully effectuate the purposes and objectives of the Statute.

III. Analysis and Conclusions

We agree with the General Counsel that issuance of an order requiring bargaining at the local level over the impact and implementation of the unilaterally implemented Mobility Plan, MOP 31, is necessary to remedy the violation found by the Judge and will fully effectuate the purposes and objectives of the Statute.

The Judge recommended a cease and desist order and the posting of an appropriate notice throughout the bargaining unit "[b]ased particularly on the fact that the AFGE and the Respondent have agreed to participate in mid-term bargaining on MOP 31 at the Command level, and since a status quo ante order would, given the existing budgetary constraints, disrupt or impair the efficiency and effectiveness of the Respondent's Mobility Augmentation Program[.]" Judge's Decision at 10 (footnotes omitted). In so doing, the Judge found that the Respondent's subsequent elevation of the matter for negotiations at the Command level was not a defense to the Respondent's unilateral implementation of the MOP 31 at McClellan AFB without giving the Union notice and an opportunity to request impact and implementation bargaining at the local level. Id. at 10 n.1. The Judge also noted that the General Counsel had sought as a remedy only a cease and desist order and a posting, not a status quo ante remedy. Id. at 10 n.2.

We find, as an initial matter, that the Judge failed to note that the General Counsel specifically requested a bargaining order in this case. See General Counsel's Brief to the Judge at 10-11. Further, we agree with the General Counsel that the current Command-level negotiations do not provide an adequate remedy in this case. There is no assurance that those negotiations would remedy the violation of the locally implemented policy. Inasmuch as the violation in this case involved a locally implemented policy, the appropriate remedy for this violation should include an order to bargain at the local level. See Department of the Air Force, Air Force Logistics Command, Sacramento Air Logistics Center, McClellan Air Force Base, California, 35 FLRA 217 (1990). Accordingly, we will order the Respondent to bargain at the local level, upon request of the Union, regarding the impact and implementation of Mobility Plan 28-4, MOP 31.

IV. Order

Pursuant to section 2423.29 of the Federal Labor Relations Authority's Rules and Regulations, and section 7118 of the Statute, the Department of the Air Force, Sacramento Air Force Logistics Center, McClellan Air Force Base, California, shall:

1. Cease and desist from:

(a) Implementing Mobility Plan 28-4, MOP 31, or any other mobility plan, without first notifying the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1857, AFL-CIO, an affiliate of the employees' exclusive representative, and affording it the opportunity to bargain concerning the procedures which management will observe in effecting such change and appropriate arrangements for employees affected by such change.

(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 Statute:

(a) Upon request, negotiate in good faith with the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1857, AFL-CIO, an affiliate of the exclusive representative of its employees, concerning the procedures to be observed in implementing the new Mobility Plan 28-4, MOP 31, and concerning the appropriate arrangements for employees adversely affected by such changes.

(b) Notify the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1857, AFL-CIO of any future mobility plan, and prior to implementation, afford it an opportunity to bargain concerning the procedures which management will observe in effecting such change and appropriate arrangements for employees adversely affected by such change.

(c) Post at its facilities where unit employees are located, 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 Commander of the Sacramento Air Logistics Center, McClellan Air Force Base, California 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, San Francisco, California Regional Office, Federal Labor Relations Authority, in writing, within 30 days from the date of this Order, as to what steps have been taken to comply.

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 implement Mobility Plan 28-4, MOP 31, or any other mobility plan, without first notifying the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1857, AFL-CIO, an affiliate of the exclusive representative of our employees, and affording it the opportunity to bargain concerning the procedures which management will observe in effecting such change and appropriate arrangements for employees adversely affected by such change.

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 upon request, negotiate with the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1857, AFL-CIO, an affiliate of the exclusive representative of our employees, concerning the procedures to be observed in implementing new Mobility Plan 28-4, MOP 31, and concerning the appropriate arrangements for employees adversely affected by such changes.

WE WILL notify the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1857, AFL-CIO of any future mobility plan, and prior to implementation, afford it an opportunity to bargain concerning the procedures which management will observe in effecting such change and appropriate arrangements for employees adversely affected by such change.

_________________________
(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 of compliance with any of its provisions, they may communicate directly with the Regional Director, San Francisco, California Regional Office, Federal Labor Relations Authority, whose address is: 901 Market Street, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94103, and whose telephone number is: (415) 744-4000.

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

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