[ v02 p690 ]
02:0690(87)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
2 FLRA No. 87 FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Activity and FEDERAL AVIATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Union FLRC No. 78A-147 DECISION ON APPEAL FROM ARBITRATION AWARD BACKGROUND OF CASE ACCORDING TO THE ARBITRATOR, THE DISPUTE IN THIS MATTER CONCERNED A CLAIM FOR OVERTIME PAY BY TWO GS-12 EMPLOYEES (THE GRIEVANTS) WORKING AT THE AGENCY'S FACILITY NEAR ASHTON, IDAHO. THE DISPUTE AROSE WHEN A SNOWSTORM MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE NEXT SCHEDULED CREW TO RELIEVE THE GRIEVANTS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE GRIEVANTS WERE DIRECTED TO WORK AN ADDITIONAL TOUR OF DUTY WHICH ENCOMPASSED AN 8 HOUR PERIOD OF STANDBY TIME. DURING THE STANDBY PERIOD, THE GRIEVANTS DID NOT PERFORM ANY WORK. FOLLOWING THE STANDBY PERIOD, THE GRIEVANTS RETURNED TO WORK. THEREAFTER, THEY CLAIMED AN ENTITLEMENT TO OVERTIME PAY FOR THE TIME SPENT ON STANDBY. THE AGENCY, HOWEVER, REJECTED THE CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION RELYING ON THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL'S TWO-THIRDS RULE WHICH PERMITS AN AGENCY TO TREAT 8 HOURS OF STANDBY TIME OUT OF A 24 HOUR PERIOD OF WORK AS EATING AND SLEEPING TIME AND THUS NOT COMPENSABLE TIME. THE MATTER ULTIMATELY WENT TO ARBITRATION. ARBITRATOR'S AWARD THE ARBITRATOR ISSUED A 2-PART AWARD. PART 2 OF HIS AWARD, DENYING A THIRD GRIEVANT'S CLAIM FOR OVERTIME PAY, IS NOT AT ISSUE IN THIS CASE. IN PART 1 OF THE AWARD, THE ARBITRATOR DETERMINED THAT THE AGENCY VIOLATED THE PARTIES' NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT /1/ IN APPLYING THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL'S TWO-THIRDS RULE. IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE VIOLATION, THE ARBITRATOR DIRECTED THE AGENCY TO PAY THE GRIEVANTS OVERTIME FOR THE 8 HOURS OF STANDBY TIME IN DISPUTE. THE ARBITRATOR REASONED THAT THE STANDBY TIME IN DISPUTE WAS "UNSCHEDULED STANDBY TIME" AS OPPOSED TO "SCHEDULED STANDBY TIME," BUT THAT THERE WAS "NO REASON TO DISTINGUISH" ONE FROM THE OTHER. THUS, HE FOUND THAT "(S)INCE THE GRIEVANTS DO NOT RECEIVE PREMIUM PAY (UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5545(C)(1)) IN LIEU OF OVERTIME FOR UNSCHEDULED STANDBY TIME, THEY ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE ACTUAL OVERTIME PAYMENT (UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5542) FOR THE STANDBY TIME SPENT ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 5-6, 1978." AGENCY'S APPEAL THE AGENCY FILED A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD WITH THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS COUNCIL. THIS CASE WAS PENDING BEFORE THE COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 31, 1978. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2400.5 OF THE TRANSITION RULES OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY (44 FED.REG. 44741) AND SECTION 7135(B) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (92 STAT. 1215), THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS COUNCIL, 5 C.F.R.PART 2411(1978), REMAIN OPERATIVE WITH RESPECT TO THE PRESENT CASE EXCEPT THAT THE WORD "AUTHORITY" IS SUBSTITUTED, AS APPROPRIATE, WHEREVER THE WORD "COUNCIL" APPEARS IN SUCH RULES. UNDER SECTION 2411.32 OF THE RULES AS SO AMENDED, THE AUTHORITY ACCEPTED THE AGENCY'S PETITION FOR REVIEW WHICH EXCEPTED TO THE AWARD ON THE GROUND THAT THE AWARD VIOLATES APPLICABLE LAW. /2/ THE UNION FILED A BRIEF. OPINION SECTION 2411.37(A) OF THE AMENDED RULES OF PROCEDURE PROVIDES: (A) AN AWARD OF AN ARBITRATOR SHALL BE MODIFIED, SET ASIDE IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OR REMANDED ONLY ON GROUNDS THAT THE AWARD VIOLATES APPLICABLE LAW, APPROPRIATE REGULATION, OR THE ORDER, OR OTHER GROUNDS SIMILAR TO THOSE APPLIED BY THE COURTS IN PRIVATE SECTOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THE AUTHORITY ACCEPTED THE AGENCY'S PETITION FOR REVIEW WHICH EXCEPTED TO THE AWARD ON THE GROUND THAT THE AWARD VIOLATES APPLICABLE LAW. SINCE THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PRESCRIBING REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE MATTERS INVOLVED IN THIS CASE, AND SINCE UNDER SECTION 902(B) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978 /3/ THIS APPEAL MUST BE RESOLVED AS IF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT HAD NOT BEEN ENACTED, THE AUTHORITY REQUESTED FROM THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO THE MATTERS INVOLVED HEREIN) AN INTERPRETATION OF CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION REGULATIONS AS THEY PERTAIN TO PART 1 OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD. THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT REPLIED IN RELEVANT PART AS FOLLOWS: THE GRIEVANTS IN THIS CASE, JOHN STEVENS AND RUSSELL HUNTER, ARE ELECTRONIC TECHNICIANS ASSIGNED TO AN FAA LONG RANGE RADAR SITE IN IDAHO. THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED WEEKLY TOUR OF DUTY IS PERFORMED IN TWO INTERVALS OF 28 HOURS, EACH CONSISTING OF A 10-HOUR PERIOD OF ACTUAL WORK, FOLLOWED BY AN 8-HOUR PERIOD OF STANDBY DUTY (SLEEP PERIOD) AND ANOTHER 10-HOUR PERIOD OF ACTUAL WORK. FOR THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOUR OF DUTY THE GRIEVANTS RECEIVE THEIR BASIC RATE OF PAY (GS-12) PLUS ANNUAL PREMIUM PAY AT A RATE OF 25 PERCENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH 5 U.S.C. 5545(C)(1) AND 5 C.F.R. 550.141-144. THIS ANNUAL PREMIUM PAY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER PAY UNDER SUBCHAPTER V OF CHAPTER 55 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, EXCEPT FOR "IRREGULAR, UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME DUTY IN EXCESS OF (THEIR) REGULARLY SCHEDULED WEEKLY TOUR OF DUTY." IN THIS CASE, THE ANNUAL PREMIUM PAY UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5545(C)(1) IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER PREMIUM PAY FOR THE TWO HOURS OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED OVERTIME WORK PERFORMED DURING EACH OF THE FOUR 10-HOUR PERIODS OF ACTUAL WORK; FOR SUNDAY, HOLIDAY, AND NIGHT WORK; AND FOR REMAINING AT THEIR DUTY STATION FOR LONGER THAN ORDINARY PERIODS OF DUTY INVOLVING STANDBY DUTY. ON JANUARY 5, 1978, THE GRIEVANTS WERE NEARING THE END OF A REGULARLY SCHEDULED 28-HOUR TOUR OF DUTY WHEN, DUE TO A SEVERE STORM WHICH IMPEDED ACCESS BY A RELIEF CREW, THE GRIEVANTS WERE REQUESTED BY THEIR SUPERVISOR TO PERFORM AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF "IRREGULAR, UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME DUTY" WHICH INVOLVED BOTH ACTUAL WORK AND STANDBY DUTY. MR. STEVENS' ADDITIONAL TOUR OF DUTY OF 20 HOURS CONSISTED OF 6 HOURS OF ACTUAL WORK, 8 HOURS OF STANDBY DUTY, AND 6 HOURS OF ACTUAL WORK. HE THEN RESUMED HIS NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED 28-HOUR TOUR OF DUTY. MR. HUNTER'S ADDITIONAL TOUR OF DUTY OF 24 1/2 HOURS CONSISTED OF 6 HOURS OF ACTUAL WORK, 8 HOURS OF STANDBY DUTY AND 10 1/2 HOURS OF ACTUAL WORK. IT IS UNDISPUTED THAT THE GRIEVANTS PERFORMED NO ACTUAL WORK DURING THE STANDBY PERIOD OF THEIR ADDITIONAL TOUR OF DUTY. THE AGENCY PAID THE GRIEVANTS OVERTIME PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF "IRREGULAR, UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME DUTY" AS PROVIDED IN 5 U.S.C. 5542. IN COMPUTING THE "HOURS OF WORK" FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE AGENCY APPLIED THE TWO-THIRDS RULE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH S1-3D OF BOOK 610 OF FPM SUPPLEMENT 990-2. THUS, MR. STEVENS WAS PAID OVERTIME UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5542 FOR 12 HOURS OF HIS 20-HOUR TOUR OF DUTY AND MR. HUNTER WAS PAID FOR 16 1/2 HOURS OF HIS 24 1/2-HOUR TOUR OF DUTY. THE GRIEVANTS ALLEGED THAT THEY WERE ENTITLED TO OVERTIME PAY FOR THE 8 HOURS OF UNSCHEDULED STANDBY DUTY IN ADDITION TO THE OVERTIME PAY THEY RECEIVED FOR THE REMAINING HOURS OF THE ADDITIONAL TOUR OF DUTY WHICH THEY PERFORMED ON JANUARY 5-6, 1978. THE ARBITRATOR FOUND NO REASON TO DISTINGUISH UNSCHEDULED STANDBY TIME FROM SCHEDULED STANDBY TIME IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE. ACCORDINGLY, THE ARBITRATOR AWARDED THE GRIEVANTS ACTUAL OVERTIME PAYMENT UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5542 FOR THE 8 HOURS OF STANDBY TIME THEY SPENT ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 5-6, 1978. IT IS A WELL ESTABLISHED PRINCIPLE THAT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORM LONGER THAN ORDINARY TOURS OF DUTY INVOLVING STANDBY STATUS ARE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION FOR SUCH TIME UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF EITHER 5 U.S.C. 5545 OR 5 U.S.C. 5542. SECTION 5545(C)(1) PROVIDES THAT AN EMPLOYEE WHO SPENDS TIME IN A "STANDBY STATUS RATHER THAN PERFORMING WORK" MAY BE COMPENSATED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS INSTEAD OF RECEIVING PREMIUM PAY PROVIDED BY OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBCHAPTER. THOSE "OTHER PROVISIONS" OF THE SUBCHAPTER HAVE BEEN INTERPRETED TO MEAN THE REGULAR OVERTIME PROVISION CONTAINED IN 5 U.S.C. 5542. SEE COMP. GEN. UNPUB. DEC. B-170264, DECEMBER 21, 1973. SEE ALSO FARLEY V. U.S., 131 CT.CL. 776(1955). FURTHERMORE, THE COURTS HAVE RULED THAT AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS REQUIRED TO REMAIN FOR A 24-HOUR PERIOD AT HIS DUTY STATION IN A STANDBY STATUS IS ENTITLED ON THE BASIS OF THE TWO-THIRDS RULE TO COMPENSATION FOR 16 OF THOSE HOURS. ENGLAND ET. AL. V. U.S., 133 CT.CL. 768(1956) AND DETLING V. U.S., 193 CT.CL. 125(1970). UNDER THE TWO-THIRDS RULE, TIME SPENT SLEEPING OR EATING, DURING WHICH NO SUBSTANTIAL LABOR IS PERFORMED, IS NOT COMPENSABLE. GAEKE V. U.S., 136 CT.CL. 756(1956). ARMSTRONG V. U.S., 144 CT.CL. 659(1959); AND COLLINS V. U.S., 141 CT.CL. 573 (1958). IN COLLINS, THE PLAINTIFFS WERE PAID UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE TWO-THIRDS RULE WHICH HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION (NOW THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT) AS "A CONVENIENT METHOD OF DETERMINING THE COMPENSATION OF MEN ENGAGED IN DUTIES REQUIRING ROUND-THE-CLOCK PRESENCE." SUPRA, AT 575. IN THE INSTANT CASE, THE GRIEVANTS ARE IN RECEIPT OF ANNUAL PREMIUM PAY FOR THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOUR OF DUTY UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5545(C)(1). THE ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF "IRREGULAR, UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME DUTY" MEETS THE EXCEPTION TO SECTION 5545 AND THEREFORE MUST BE PAID PURSUANT TO 5 U.S.C. 5542. IN SECTION 5542, "HOURS OF WORK" IN EXCESS OF 40 HOURS IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE WORKWEEK, OR IN EXCESS OF 8 HOURS IN A DAY ARE OVERTIME WORK. FOR DETERMINING THE "HOURS OF WORK" FOR OVERTIME PAY UNDER THAT SECTION, THE AGENCY MAY PROPERLY APPLY THE TWO-THIRDS RULE TO A TOUR OF DUTY OF 24 HOURS (OR MULTIPLES THEREOF). THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE OF THE TWO-THIRDS RULE ARE CONTAINED IN PARAGRAPH S1-3D BOOK 610 OF FPM SUPPLEMENT 990-2. THE ARBITRATOR FOUND THAT THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL DECISIONS THAT ESTABLISH THE PRINCIPLE OF THE TWO-THIRDS RULE, AND PARAGRAPH S1-3D OF BOOK 610 OF FPM SUPPLEMENT 990-2 ADDRESS ONLY REGULARLY SCHEDULED STANDBY DUTY, AND THEREFORE ARE NOT DIRECTLY APPLICABLE TO PERIODS OF UNSCHEDULED STANDBY DUTY. WE DO NOT AGREE. AS PREVIOUSLY ARGUED, EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORM STANDBY DUTY ARE ENTITLED TO OVERTIME PAY UNDER EITHER 5 U.S.C. 5542 OR 5545(C)(1), AND A PERIOD OF "IRREGULAR, UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME DUTY" WHICH MEETS THE EXCEPTION TO SECTION 5545 MUST BE PAID UNDER SECTION 5542. MOREOVER, THE TWO-THIRDS RULE IS PROPER FOR DETERMINING THE "HOURS OF WORK" FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOURS OF DUTY OF 24 HOURS (ROUND-THE-CLOCK PRESENCE) COMPENSABLE UNDER SECTION 5542. IT THEREFORE FOLLOWS THAT THE TWO-THIRDS RULE WOULD BE PROPER FOR DETERMINING "HOURS OF WORK" FOR AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF "IRREGULAR, UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME DUTY" UNDER SECTION 5542 AS WELL. THIS PRINCIPLE HAS BEEN EXPRESSED IN OPM INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPARING THE OVERTIME PAY ENTITLEMENTS UNDER TITLE 5 AND THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) FOR EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FIRE PROTECTION ACTIVITIES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES IN FPM LETTER 551-5, DATED JANUARY 15, 1975 (SEE SECTION B OF ATTACHMENT 3, AND EXAMPLE 1, SITUATIONS B AND D, AND EXAMPLE 2, SITUATIONS B AND D, IN ATTACHMENT 4 OF FPM LETTER 551-5). IN HIS AWARD, THE ARBITRATOR FOCUSED ON THE NARROW ISSUE OF THE PERIOD OF UNSCHEDULED STANDBY DUTY, RATHER THAN ON THE ENTIRE ADDITIONAL TOUR OF DUTY PERFORMED BY THE GRIEVANTS IN THIS CASE. IT IS CLEAR FROM THE FACTS OUTLINED ABOVE THAT THE GRIEVANTS PERFORMED ACTUAL WORK AND STANDBY DUTY DURING THIS ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF "IRREGULAR, UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME DUTY", AND THAT THEY PERFORMED NO SUBSTANTIAL LABOR DURING THE PERIOD OF UNSCHEDULED STANDBY DUTY. THE FACT THAT THE GRIEVANTS RECEIVED ANNUAL PREMIUM PAY UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5545(C)(1) FOR THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOUR OF DUTY DOES NOT CREATE, BY ANALOGY OR OTHERWISE, AN OBLIGATION FOR THE AGENCY TO PAY OVERTIME UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5542 FOR THE PERIOD OF UNSCHEDULED STANDBY DUTY WHEN NO WORK IS PERFORMED. THE ANNUAL PREMIUM PAY WHICH THE GRIEVANTS RECEIVE FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOURS OF DUTY, INCLUDING REGULARLY SCHEDULED STANDBY PERIODS, IS NOT OVERTIME PAYMENT FOR THE HOURS SPENT IN STANDBY DUTY PER SE. RATHER, THIS ANNUAL PREMIUM PAY UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5545 IS PAYMENT IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER PREMIUM PAY THAT THEY WOULD OTHERWISE RECEIVE DURING THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOURS OF DUTY, INCLUDING STANDBY DUTY. THUS, THE AGENCY PROPERLY DEDUCTED 8 HOURS FROM THE ADDITIONAL UNSCHEDULED TOUR OF DUTY FOR WHICH THE GRIEVANTS RECEIVED OVERTIME PAY UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5542. MR. HUNTER PERFORMED ADDITIONAL DUTY OF 24 1/2 HOURS, AND THE APPLICATION OF THE TWO-THIRDS RULE IN HIS CASE ENTITLED HIM TO 16 1/2 HOURS OF OVERTIME PAY. WHILE THE ADDITIONAL TOUR OF DUTY OF MR. STEVENS WAS ONLY 20 HOURS, HE IMMEDIATELY COMMENCED ANOTHER REGULARLY SCHEDULED 28-HOUR TOUR OF DUTY AT "STRAIGHT TIME PAY" (BASIC RATE OF PAY). THUS, THE 20 HOURS OF "IRREGULAR, UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME DUTY," WHEN COMBINED WITH THE FIRST 4 HOURS OF REGULAR DUTY WHICH IS COMPENSABLE AT THE EMPLOYEE'S BASIC RATE OF PAY, RESULTS IN A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF DUTY OF 24 HOURS WHICH IS NOT COMPENSABLE UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5545(C)(1). THEREFORE, THE APPLICATION OF THE TWO-THIRDS RULE ENTITLED HIM TO 12 HOURS OVERTIME PAY PURSUANT TO 5 U.S.C. 5542 IN ADDITION TO HIS BASIC RATE OF PAY FOR 4 HOURS OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED WORK DURING THIS 24-HOUR PERIOD. FOR THE REASONS STATED ABOVE, THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD OF "ACTUAL OVERTIME" PURSUANT TO 5 U.S.C. 5542 FOR THE 8 HOURS DURING WHICH THE GRIEVANTS PERFORMED NO LABOR VIOLATES 5 U.S.C. 5542, AS INTERPRETED IN COURT DECISIONS AND DECISIONS OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL, AS WELL AS IN SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDANCE ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION (OPM). BASED ON THE FOREGOING INTERPRETATION OF THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, WE CONCLUDE THAT PART 1 OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD VIOLATES APPLICABLE LAW AND, THEREFORE, MUST BE SET ASIDE. CONCLUSION FOR THE FOREGOING REASONS, AND PURSUANT TO SECTION 2411.37(B) OF THE AMENDED RULES OF PROCEDURE, WE HEREBY SET ASIDE PART 1 OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD. /4/ ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., FEBRUARY 21, 1980 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY /1/ THE PROVISION OF THE PARTIES' AGREEMENT FOUND TO HAVE BEEN VIOLATED WAS ARTICLE 33, SECTIONS 1 AND 9. SECTION 1 PROVIDES: EMPLOYEES SHALL BE COMPENSATED FOR OVERTIME WORK PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND REGULATIONS, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE LAW AND REGULATIONS WHICH PRODUCE THE MAXIMUM COMPENSATION. SECTION 9 PROVIDES: WHENEVER AN EMPLOYEE IS HELD ON DUTY BEYOND HIS/HER REGULAR SHIFT, THE EMPLOYEE WILL BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS WORK IN SIX (6) MINUTE INCREMENTS. ANY IRREGULAR OVERTIME OF LESS THAN THE SIX (6) MINUTE INCREMENT SHALL BE DROPPED ON A WEEKLY BASIS. /2/ THE AGENCY REQUESTED AND THE AUTHORITY GRANTED, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2411.47(F) OF THE AMENDED RULES OF PROCEDURE, A STAY OF THE AWARD PENDING DETERMINATION OF THE APPEAL. /3/ THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978, PUB. L. NO. 95-454, SEC. 902(B), 92 STAT. 1224, PROVIDES: (B) NO PROVISION OF THIS ACT SHALL AFFECT ANY ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS PENDING AT THE TIME SUCH PROVISION TAKES EFFECT. ORDERS SHALL BE ISSUED IN SUCH PROCEEDINGS AND APPEALS SHALL BE TAKEN THEREFROM AS IF THIS ACT HAD NOT BEEN ENACTED. /4/ IN CONFORMITY WITH SECTION 902(B) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978 (92 STAT. 1224), THE INSTANT CASE WAS DECIDED SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF E.O. 11491, AS AMENDED, AND AS IF THE NEW FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (92 STAT. 1191) HAD NOT BEEN ENACTED. THE DECISION DOES NOT PREJUDGE IN ANY MANNER EITHER THE MEANING OR APPLICATION OF RELATED PROVISIONS OF THE NEW STATUTE OR THE RESULT WHICH WOULD BE REACHED BY THE AUTHORITY IF THE CASE HAD ARISEN UNDER THE STATUTE RATHER THAN THE ORDER.