[ v02 p320 ]
02:0320(40)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
2 FLRA No. 40 NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, CHAPTER 66 (Union) and DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, KANSAS CITY SERVICE CENTER, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (Activity) Case No. 0-NG-100 DECISION ON NEGOTIABILITY APPEAL NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION CHAPTER 66 (THE UNION) IS THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF A UNIT OF EMPLOYEES AT THE KANSAS CITY SERVICE CENTER OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (THE ACTIVITY). THE UNION AND THE ACTIVITY ARE PARTIES TO A MULTI-CENTER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WHICH PROVIDES, IN PART, THAT UNIT EMPLOYEES WILL BE RANKED FOR PROMOTION ON THE BASIS OF SEVERAL "EVALUATION FACTORS" PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED BY MANAGEMENT, TO WHICH FACTORS WILL BE APPLIED "WEIGHTS" PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED BY MANAGEMENT, TO WHICH FACTORS WILL BE APPLIED "WEIGHTS" PREVIOUSLY NEGOTIATED WITH THE UNION. THE AGREEMENT ALSO PROVIDES, IN ARTICLE 6, SECTION 7(G), THAT "(I)F THE EMPLOYER ELECTS TO CHANGE THE EVALUATION FACTORS, HE SHALL NOTIFY THE UNION," AND THAT "(I)F THE UNION INDICATES A DESIRE TO NEGOTIATE WEIGHTS FOR THE REVISED EVALUATION FACTORS, NEGOTIATIONS WILL BEGIN AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE." THE ACTIVITY NOTIFIED THE UNION THAT IT INTENDED TO CHANGE THE EVALUATION FACTORS FOR THE GS-592-8 TAX EXAMINER WORKING LEADER POSITION, WHEREUPON THE UNION REQUESTED TO NEGOTIATE THE WEIGHTS ASSIGNED TO THOSE FACTORS. THE ACTIVITY DECLINED TO NEGOTIATE, ALLEGING THAT THE UNION'S REQUEST "CONCERNS MANAGEMENT'S RIGHT TO DIRECT OR ASSIGN WORK TO ITS EMPLOYEES WHICH IS EXCLUDED FROM THE OBLIGATION TO BARGAIN" UNDER SECTION 7106(A)(2)(A) AND (B) OF THE STATUTE AND ADDITIONALLY ALLEGING THAT SUCH EVALUATION FACTORS AND THE WEIGHTS ASSIGNED THEM WERE OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER SECTION 7117. THE UNION THEN FILED ITS PETITION FOR REVIEW WITH THE AUTHORITY, ASSERTING PRINCIPALLY THAT "THE RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE IS SPECIFICALLY GRANTED BY ARTICLE 6, SECTION 7(G) OF THE (PARTIES') COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT." HOWEVER, THE UNION'S PETITION FOR REVIEW NEITHER IDENTIFIED THE WEIGHTS WHICH IT SOUGHT TO APPLY TO THE EVALUATION FACTORS IN THIS CASE NOR DID IT OTHERWISE SET FORTH ANY SPECIFIC PROPOSAL FOR NEGOTIATION. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE UNION'S PETITION FOR REVIEW DISCLOSED CERTAIN DEFICIENCIES IN MEETING THE AUTHORITY'S APPLICABLE RULES OF PROCEDURE. ACCORDINGLY, THE UNION WAS ADVISED BY AUTHORITY LETTER OF JULY 13, 1979, THAT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ITS PETITION FAILED TO "INCLUDE A STATEMENT SETTING FORTH THE MATTERS PROPOSED TO BE NEGOTIATED AS SUBMITTED TO THE AGENCY," AND WAS GRANTED UNTIL AUGUST 1, 1979, TO FILE WITH THE AUTHORITY ANY ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION CURING THIS DEFICIENCY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (THE AGENCY) FILED ITS STATEMENT WITH THE AUTHORITY, DENYING THAT THE ACTIVITY WAS OBLIGATED TO NEGOTIATE THE WEIGHTS ASSIGNED TO EVALUATION FACTORS, AND THE UNION FILED A RESPONSE TO THE AGENCY'S STATEMENT. AT NO TIME, HOWEVER, DID THE UNION RESPOND TO THE AUTHORITY'S JULY 13, 1979, LETTER, NOR DID IT OTHERWISE INCLUDE IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE AGENCY'S STATEMENT A SPECIFIC PROPOSAL FOR NEGOTIATION. THE AGENCY HAS NOW FILED A MOTION TO DISMISS THE UNION'S PETITION, CITING THE UNION'S FAILURE TO SET FORTH A STATEMENT OF THE MATTERS PROPOSED TO BE NEGOTIATED. IN ASSOCIATION OF CIVILIAN TECHNICIANS, ALABAMA ACT AND STATE OF ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD, CASE NO. O-NG-27, 2 FLRA NO. 39(DECEMBER 28, 1979), REPORT NO. , THE AUTHORITY DECIDED, WITH RESPECT TO A QUESTION SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TO THAT PRESENTED HERE, THAT A PETITION WHICH NEVER PRESENTED A PROPOSAL SUFFICIENTLY SPECIFIC AND DELIMITED IN FORM AND CONTENT AS TO PERMIT THE AUTHORITY TO RENDER A NEGOTIABILITY DECISION DID NOT MEET THE CONDITIONS FOR REVIEW. FOR THE REASONS FULLY SET FORTH IN THAT DECISION, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE INSTANT PETITION DOES NOT MEET THE CONDITIONS FOR REVIEW PRESCRIBED IN SECTION 7117 OF THE STATUTE AND PART 2424.1 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES OF PROCEDURE, AND MUST, THEREFORE, BE DENIED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., DECEMBER 28, 1979 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY