[ v09 p883 ]
09:0883(118)CU
The decision of the Authority follows:
9 FLRA No. 118 2750TH AIR BASE WING, AIR FORCE LOGISTICS COMMAND, WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO Activity and LOCAL, F-88, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS Petitioner Case No. 5-CU-34 DECISION AND ORDER CLARIFYING UNIT UPON A PETITION DULY FILED WITH THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY UNDER SECTION 7111(B)(2) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE), A HEARING WAS HELD BEFORE A HEARING OFFICER OF THE AUTHORITY. THE HEARING OFFICER'S RULINGS MADE AT THE HEARING ARE FREE FROM PREJUDICIAL ERROR AND HEREBY AFFIRMED. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY FINDS: LOCAL F-88, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS (PETITIONER) WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE ACTIVITY ON JULY 21, 1964, AS THE EXCLUSIVE BARGAINING REPRESENTATIVE FOR A UNIT OF ALL NON-SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES OF THE FIRE PROTECTION DIVISION DIRECTORATE OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, 2750TH AIR BASE WING, WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO. ESSENTIALLY, THE PETITION SEEKS TO CLARIFY THE BARGAINING UNIT STATUS OF THE INCUMBENTS IN THE JOB CLASSIFICATION OF SUPERVISORY FIREFIGHTER, GS-081-08 (STATION CHIEF) BASED ON THE ACTIVITY'S CONTENTION THAT THEY ARE SUPERVISORS. /1/ THE RECORD ESTABLISHES THAT THE STATION CHIEFS ASSIGN WORK, ADJUST GRIEVANCES, DISCIPLINE SUBORDINATES AND HAVE EFFECTIVELY RECOMMENDED SUBORDINATES FOR PROMOTIONS AND AWARDS. FURTHER, THE RECORD REFLECTS AND THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE STATION CHIEFS DEVOTE A PREPONDERANCE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT TIME IN EXERCISING SUCH DUTIES WHICH ARE NOT MERELY ROUTINE OR CLERICAL IN NATURE, BUT REQUIRE THE CONSISTENT EXERCISE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT. /2/ ACCORDINGLY THESE INCUMBENTS ARE SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE AND SHALL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE UNIT. ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT THE PETITION HEREIN BE DISMISSED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 6, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES$ --------------- /1/ SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE DEFINES A "SUPERVISOR" AS: . . . AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYED BY AN AGENCY HAVING AUTHORITY IN THE INTEREST OF THE AGENCY TO HIRE, DIRECT, ASSIGN, PROMOTE, REWARD, TRANSFER, FURLOUGH, LAYOFF, RECALL, SUSPEND, DISCIPLINE, OR REMOVE EMPLOYEES, TO ADJUST THEIR GRIEVANCES, OR TO EFFECTIVELY RECOMMEND SUCH ACTION, IF THE EXERCISE OF THE AUTHORITY IS NOT MERELY ROUTINE OR CLERICAL IN NATURE BUT REQUIRES THE CONSISTENT EXERCISE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT, EXCEPT THAT, WITH RESPECT TO ANY UNIT WHICH INCLUDES FIREFIGHTERS OR NURSES, THE TERM 'SUPERVISOR' INCLUDES ONLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DEVOTE A PREPONDERANCE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT TIME TO EXERCISING SUCH AUTHORITY(.) /2/ SEE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER, FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, 8 FLRA NO. 115(1982) WHERE THE AUTHORITY APPLIED THE PHRASE "PREPONDERANCE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT TIME" AS CONTAINED IN THE SUPERVISORY DEFINITION WITH REGARD TO THE DUTIES OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS CLASSIFIED AS HEAD NURSES.