[ v03 p564 ]
03:0564(92)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
3 FLRA No. 92 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL=CIO, LOCAL 2578 (Union) and GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE, WASHINGTON, D.C. (Activity) Case No. 0-NG-164 DECISION ON NEGOTIABILITY APPEAL THIS CASE COMES BEFORE THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY (THE AUTHORITY) PURSUANT TO SECTION 7105(A)(2)(E) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE) (5 U.S.C. 7101 ET SEQ.). DURING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES TO RENEW THEIR EXPIRING BASIC AGREEMENT, THE UNION SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL WHICH PERTAINS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AGENCY'S PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING THE FEDERAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM (FEORP) AS PROVIDED IN 5 U.S.C. SECTION 7201 /1/ : UNION PROPOSAL THOSE SECTIONS OF THIS CONTRACT THAT AFFECT PROMOTION, SELECTION, AND RETENTION OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MINORITIES (E.G., PROMOTION, TRAINING, EVALUATION, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND DISCIPLINE) CONSTITUTE THE AGENCY'S PROGRAM UNDER 5 U.S.C. 7201(C) FOR THE ELIMINATION OF UNDERREPRESENTATION OF WOMEN OR MINORITIES AT ANY GRADE AND OCCUPATIONAL GROUP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE AGENCY ALLEGED THAT THE PROPOSAL CONFLICTS WITH THE STATUTE AND IS INCONSISTENT WITH REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THE FEORP. THE UNION ARGUED PRINCIPALLY THAT THE PROPOSAL IS WITHIN THE MANDATORY SCOPE OF BARGAINING AS IT CONCERNS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT. THE FEDERAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INSURE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY BY ELIMINATING "UNDERREPRESENTATION" OF MINORITY GROUPS WITHIN THE FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE THROUGH A CONTINUING PROGRAM OF MINORITY RECRUITMENT. /2/ EXECUTIVE AGENCIES WHICH FALL WITHIN THE COVERAGE OF THE FEORP ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY RECRUITMENT PLANS COVERING POSITIONS AT VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONAL LEVELS AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS WITHIN THE AGENCY. WHILE SUCH PLANS ARE MONITORED BY OR RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION AND THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, AGENCIES HAVE WIDE DESCRETION IN ESTABLISHING AND ADMINISTERING THEM. AS SET FORTH ABOVE, THE UNION'S PROPOSAL IN THE INSTANT CASE IN EFFECT SEEKS TO NEGOTIATE, AS APPLICABLE TO BARGAINING UNIT EMPLOYEES, THE CONTENTS OF THE ACTIVITY'S PLAN TO ELIMINATE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES. THAT IS, THE PROPOSAL IN THE INSTANT CASE PROVIDES, IN ESSENCE, THAT CERTAIN OTHER SECTIONS OF THE PARTIES' AGREEMENT WILL CONSTITUTE THE AGENCY'S FEORP PLAN. THESE OTHER CONTRACT PROVISIONS ARE NOT PRESENTLY BEFORE THE AUTHORITY NOR IS THERE ANY INDICATION AS TO THEIR SPECIFIC CONTENT. IN FACT, THE RECORD DOES NOT DISCLOSE WHETHER THESE CONTRACT PROVISIONS REFERRED TO BY THE DISPUTED PROPOSAL HAVE BEEN FINALIZED OR WHETHER THEY ARE STILL BEING NEGOTIATED BY THE PARTIES. IN ANY EVENT, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE PROPOSAL INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE OTHER PROVISIONS WHICH MAY IN AND OF THEMSELVES RAISE QUESTIONS REGARDING THEIR CONSISTENCY WITH LAWS, REGULATIONS OR THE STATUTE, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THE INSTANT PROPOSAL IS NOT SPECIFICALLY DELINEATED TO FORM THE BASIS OF A NEGOTIABILITY DETERMINATION. IN THIS REGARD, IT IS WELL ESTABLISHED THAT A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF A NEGOTIABILITY ISSUE WHICH DOES NOT PRESENT A PROPOSAL SUFFICIENTLY SPECIFIC AND DELIMITED IN FORM AND CONTENT AS TO PERMIT THE AUTHORITY TO RENDER A NEGOTIABILITY DECISION THEREON DOES NOT MEET THE CONDITIONS FOR REVIEW SET FORTH IN SECTION 7117 OF THE STATUTE AND SECTION 2424.1 OF THE AUTHORITY'S REGULATIONS. ASSOCIATION OF CIVILIAN TECHNICIANS, ALABAMA ACT AND STATE OF ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD, CASE NO. O-NG-27, 2 FLRA NO. 39 (DEC. 28, 1979) REPORT NO. 25. IN THE INSTANT CASE, THE PROPOSAL IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY SPECIFIC AND DELIMITED IN FORM AND CONTENT AT THIS TIME TO PERMIT THE AUTHORITY TO RENDER A NEGOTIABILITY DETERMINATION. ACCORDINGLY, AND APART FROM OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE APPEAL IS HEREBY DISMISSED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 30, 1980 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY /1/ 5 U.S.C. 7201 PROVIDES IN PERTINENT PART: SECTION 7201. ANTIDISCRIMINATION POLICY; MINORITY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM . . . . (B) IT IS THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES TO INSURE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYEES WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. THE PRESIDENT SHALL USE HIS EXISTING AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT THIS POLICY. (C) NOT LATER THAN 180 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE ENACTMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978, THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT SHALL, BY REGULATION, IMPLEMENT A MINORITY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM WHICH SHALL PROVIDE, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE -- (1) THAT EACH EXECUTIVE AGENCY CONDUCT A CONTINUING PROGRAM FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF MEMBERS OF MINORITIES FOR POSITIONS IN THE AGENCY TO CARRY OUT THE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION (B) IN A MANNER DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF MINORITIES IN THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE FEDERAL SERVICE, WITH SPECIAL EFFORTS DIRECTED AT RECRUITING IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES, IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND FROM OTHER SOURCES FROM WHICH MINORITIES CAN BE RECRUITED; . . . . /2/ "UNDERREPRESENTATION" IS DEFINED IN OPM' IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS, 5 C.F.R. 720.202(A)(1979), AS: (A) SITUATION IN WHICH THE NUMBER OF WOMEN OR MEMBERS OF A MINORITY GROUP WITHIN A CATEGORY OF CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYMENT CONSTITUTES A LOWER PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY THAN THE PERCENTAGE WOMEN OR THE MINORITY CONSTITUTES WITHIN THE CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE OF THE UNITED STATES . . . .