[ v02 p917 ]
02:0917(116)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
2 FLRA No. 116 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO LOCAL 2118 Union and DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, ALBUQUERQUE OPERATIONS, LOS ALAMOS AREA OFFICE Activity Case No. 0-NG-153 DECISION ON NEGOTIABILITY APPEAL THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY AS THE RESULT OF A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF A NEGOTIABILITY ISSUE FILED BY THE UNION UNDER SECTION 7117(C) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (5 U.S.C. SEC. 7117(C)). BY LETTER DATED JANUARY 17, 1980, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IN EFFECT MOVED TO DISMISS THE UNION'S PETITION, ASSERTING, AMONG OTHER GROUNDS, THAT THE AGENCY SUBDIVISION HERE INVOLVED WAS EXCLUDED FROM COVERAGE OF THE STATUTE UNDER SECTION 1-210 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 12171, NOVEMBER 19, 1979 (44 FED.REG. 66565), /1/ AND THAT THE AUTHORITY IS THEREFORE WITHOUT JURISDICTION IN THIS MATTER. /2/ AS APPEARS FROM THE UNION'S PETITION, THE ACTIVITY INVOLVED IN THE PRESENT PROCEEDING IS THE SAME AS THAT WHICH WAS BEFORE THE FEDERAL SERVICE IMPASSES PANEL IN DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, LOS ALAMOS AREA OFFICE, LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO AND LOCAL 2118, SECURITY INSPECTORS' UNIT, AFGE, 79 FSIP 45. THE RECORD IN THE PANEL CASE, OF WHICH THE AUTHORITY TAKES OFFICIAL NOTICE, INDICATES THAT THE ACTIVITY IS PART OF THE ALBUQUERQUE OPERATIONS OFFICE WHICH REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR DEFENSE PROGRAMS. THE PRESIDENT, AS ALREADY MENTIONED (NOTE 1, SUPRA), SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED THE OFFICES OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR DEFENSE PROGRAMS FROM COVERAGE OF THE STATUTE UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 12171. IN VIEW OF THE EXCLUSION OF THE ACTIVITY FROM COVERAGE OF THE STATUTE, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT IT IS WITHOUT JURISDICTION IN THE PRESENT CASE, AND THAT THE UNION'S PETITION MUST THEREFORE BE DISMISSED. /3/ ACCORDINGLY, THE AGENCY'S MOTION TO DISMISS IS GRANTED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 21, 1980 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY /1/ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 12171, ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENT PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY CONTAINED IN 5 U.S.C. 7103(B), EXCLUDES CERTAIN AGENCIES AND AGENCY SUBDIVISIONS FROM COVERAGE UNDER THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE ON THE BASIS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO HAVE AS A PRIMARY FUNCTION INTELLIGENCE, COUNTERINTELLIGENCE, INVESTIGATIVE, OR NATIONAL SECURITY WORK AND THAT THE STATUTE CANNOT BE APPLIED TO THEM CONSISTENT WITH NATIONAL SECURITY REQUIREMENTS. SECTION 1-210 OF THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER EXCLUDES THE OFFICES OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR DEFENSE PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. /2/ INSOFAR AS THE AGENCY'S LETTER RAISES ADDITIONAL ISSUES, THOSE ISSUES HAVE NOT BEEN CONSIDERED AND THEY WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED IN THIS DECISION. /3/ THE PANEL, IN CASE NO. 79 FSIP 45, LIKEWISE DECLINED TO ASSERT JURISDICTION IN THE MATTER THERE INVOLVED BECAUSE EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 12171 HAD EXCLUDED THE ACTIVITY FROM COVERAGE OF THE STATUTE.