[ v05 p542 ]
05:0542(66)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
5 FLRA No. 66 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE LOCALS Union and THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE Agency Case No. 0-AR-72 DECISION THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON EXCEPTIONS TO THE AWARD OF ARBITRATOR WILLIAM H. COBURN FILED BY BOTH THE AGENCY AND THE UNION UNDER SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (5 U.S.C. 7122(A)). ACCORDING TO THE ARBITRATOR, THE DISPUTE IN THIS MATTER AROSE WHEN THE AGENCY CHANGED THE TOURS OF DUTY FOR CERTAIN DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHALS BY ESTABLISHING "EARLY" AND "LATE" SHIFTS IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING NORMAL DAILY TOUR OF DUTY AND BY REASSIGNING MARSHALS FROM THE NORMAL TOUR TO THOSE SHIFTS. PRIOR TO THIS ACTION, DEPUTY MARSHALS RECEIVED PREMIUM PAY UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVELY UNCONTROLLABLE OVERTIME PROVISIONS OF 5 U.S.C. 5545(C)(2) FOR FREQUENT OVERTIME WORK CAUSED BY THE NEED TO TRANSPORT PRISONERS BETWEEN JAIL AND COURT AND TO PERFORM OTHER DUTIES OUTSIDE THE NORMAL WORKING HOURS OF 8:30 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. HOWEVER, IN OCTOBER 1978, THE DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE NOTIFIED ALL DISTRICTS THAT DEPUTY MARSHALS WOULD NO LONGER BE PAID ADMINISTRATIVELY UNCONTROLLABLE OVERTIME AND THAT, THEREAFTER, THE MARSHALS WOULD BE PAID AT OVERTIME RATES ONLY FOR OVERTIME THAT WAS SCHEDULED AND APPROVED IN ADVANCE. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS NEW POLICY, SOME DISTRICTS CHANGED THE DAILY TOURS OF DUTY FOR THEIR DEPUTY MARSHALS BY ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL TOURS EARLIER THAN AND LATER THAN THE EXISTING AND RETAINED TOUR. THE ACTUAL TIMES VARY AMONG DISTRICTS, BUT A REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT HAS TOURS BEGINNING AT 7:00, 8:30, AND 9:00 A.M. AND ENDING AT 3:30, 5:00, AND 6:00 P.M., RESPECTIVELY. EXISTING EMPLOYEES WERE ASSIGNED TO THE THREE TOURS OF DUTY AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN A GIVEN DISTRICT. THE UNION FILED A GRIEVANCE, WHICH WAS ULTIMATELY SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION, CHARGING THE AGENCY WITH VIOLATING THE PARTIES' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BY UNILATERALLY CHANGING THE TOURS OF DUTY WITHOUT MEETING AND NEGOTIATING WITH THE UNION. AFTER FINDING THE GRIEVANCE ARBITRABLE, THE ARBITRATOR FOUND THE DISPOSITIVE ISSUE WAS: WHETHER THE EMPLOYER HAD THE UNILATERAL RIGHT TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL TOURS OF DUTY UNDER THE FACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS PARTICULAR CASE OR DOES THE SUBJECT MATTER COME WITHIN ITS DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THE ORDER AND THE STATUTE. THE ARBITRATOR FIRST CITED ARTICLE VI, SECTION 2 OF THE PARTIES' AGREEMENT /1/ WHICH PROVIDES, IN PERTINENT PART, THAT: (T)HE OBLIGATION TO MEET AND CONFER DOES NOT INCLUDE MATTERS WITH RESPECT TO THE MISSION OF THE AGENCY, ITS BUDGET, ITS ORGANIZATION; THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES; AND THE NUMBERS, TYPES, AND GRADES OF POSITIONS OR EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO AN ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT, WORK PROJECT, OR TOUR OF DUTY . . . . THE ARBITRATOR ALSO CITED SECTION 7106(B)(1) OF THE STATUTE WHICH PROVIDES, IN PERTINENT PART, THAT: (B) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PRECLUDE ANY AGENCY AND ANY LABOR ORGANIZATION FROM NEGOTIATING -- (1) AT THE ELECTION OF THE AGENCY, ON THE NUMBERS, TYPES, AND GRADES OF EMPLOYEES OR POSITIONS ASSIGNED TO ANY ORGANIZATIONAL SUBDIVISION, WORK PROJECT, OR TOUR OF DUTY . . . . REFERRING TO THESE PROVISIONS, THE ARBITRATOR DETERMINED THAT "IF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL TOUR OF DUTY DIRECTLY RELATES TO THE NUMBERS, TYPES, OR GRADES OF EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO THAT TOUR OF DUTY THE OBLIGATION TO MEET AND CONFER WITH THE UNION WOULD COME WITHIN THE SOLE DISCRETION AND ELECTION OF THE AGENCY AND WOULD THEREFORE NOT BE A NEGOTIABLE MATTER." WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR CASE BEFORE HIM, THE ARBITRATOR NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE CHANGES MADE BY THE AGENCY HAD DIRECT IMPACT UPON THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE EMPLOYEES INVOLVED, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO THE TOUR OF DUTY, THE TYPE OR GRADE OF SUCH EMPLOYEES, AND THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS REMAINED THE SAME AS THEY HAD BEEN PRIOR TO THE CHANGES. THEREFORE, HE FOUND THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL TOURS OF DUTY BY THE AGENCY DID NOT EXPLICITLY RELATE TO THE NUMBERS, TYPES, AND GRADES OF DEPUTY MARSHALS ASSIGNED TO THOSE TOURS OF DUTY AND THUS "CANNOT BE TREATED AS A MATTER NEGOTIABLE ONLY AT THE ELECTION OF THE EMPLOYER." (THE ARBITRATOR CITED THE AUTHORITY'S DECISION IN NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, CHAPTER 66 AND INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, KANSAS CITY SERVICE CENTER, 1 FLRA NO. 106(1979) AS APPLICABLE AND CONTROLLING.) ACCORDINGLY, THE ARBITRATOR FOUND THAT THE AGENCY'S FAILURE TO NOTIFY AND, UPON REQUEST, NEGOTIATE WITH THE UNION OVER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ADDITIONAL TOURS OF DUTY WAS A VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE ARBITRATOR SUSTAINED THE UNION'S GRIEVANCE. THE REMEDY THE UNION SOUGHT FROM THE ARBITRATOR WAS, IN PART, A RETURN OF THE DEPUTY MARSHALS TO THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOUR OF DUTY AND AN ORDER DIRECTING THE AGENCY TO CEASE AND DESIST FROM CHANGING TOURS OF DUTY IN VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT. THE ARBITRATOR GRANTED THIS PORTION OF THE REQUESTED REMEDY. ADDITIONALLY, THE UNION SOUGHT RETROACTIVE BACKPAY FOR DEPUTIES WHO WERE REQUIRED TO WORK OUTSIDE THEIR NORMAL TOUR OF DUTY BUT WERE NOT PAID OVERTIME. THE ARBITRATOR REFUSED TO GRANT THIS AS PART OF THE REMEDY, FINDING THAT THE UNION FAILED TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT "BUT FOR" THE AGENCY'S VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID MORE THAN THEY ACTUALLY RECEIVED. FURTHER, THE ARBITRATOR NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT DEPUTY MARSHALS ACTUALLY PERFORMED OVERTIME WORK FOR WHICH THEY WERE NOT PAID, AND EVEN IF THE CHANGES IN TOURS OF DUTY HAD NOT BEEN MADE, BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS WOULD HAVE FORCED THE AGENCY TO REDUCE ITS OVERTIME ALLOCATIONS; THUS, HE CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS NO SHOWING THAT THE DEPUTY MARSHALS WOULD HAVE RECEIVED OVERTIME IN ANY EVENT. BOTH THE AGENCY AND THE UNION FILED EXCEPTIONS TO THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD UNDER SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE /2/ AND PART 2425 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 CFR PART 2425), AND BOTH PARTIES FILED OPPOSITIONS. THE AGENCY'S EXCEPTIONS WILL BE ADDRESSED FIRST. IN ITS FIRST EXCEPTION, THE AGENCY CONTENDS THAT THE AWARD IS DEFICIENT BECAUSE IT IS CONTRARY TO SECTION 7106(B)(1) OF THE STATUTE AND SECTION 11(B) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 11491. SPECIFICALLY, THE AGENCY ASSERTS THAT THE AWARD IS CONTRARY TO LAW SINCE IT REQUIRES THE AGENCY TO NEGOTIATE AT THE REQUEST OF THE UNION PRIOR TO RE-ESTABLISHING THE EARLY AND LATE SHIFTS. FURTHER, ACCORDING TO THE AGENCY, THE ARBITRATOR'S RELIANCE ON NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, SUPRA, AS CONTROLLING PRECEDENT WAS MISPLACED BECAUSE THE FACTS IN THIS CASE ARE DIFFERENT. THE AGENCY'S EXCEPTION THAT THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD IS CONTRARY TO LAW IS A GROUND ON WHICH THE AUTHORITY WILL FIND AN ARBITRATOR'S AWARD DEFICIENT UNDER SECTION 7122(A)(1) OF THE STATUTE. HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE THE AGENCY HAS NOT DEMONSTRATED THAT THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD VIOLATES SECTION 7106(B)(1) OF THE STATUTE. IT IS APPARENT FROM THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD THAT IN RENDERING THAT AWARD HE WAS AWARE OF AND CORRECTLY APPLIED RELEVANT LAW AND PRECEDENT GOVERNING THE DETERMINATION OF WHETHER A MATTER IS NEGOTIABLE ONLY AT THE ELECTION OF THE AGENCY UNDER SECTION 7106(B )(1). IN NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, SUPRA, THE AUTHORITY HELD THAT THE CLEAR MEANING OF (SECTION 7106(B)(1)) IS TO RENDER THE NUMBERS, TYPES, AND GRADES OF EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO A TOUR OF DUTY NEGOTIABLE AT THE AGENCY'S ELECTION. A PROPOSAL OTHERWISE CONSISTENT WITH THE STATUTE, WHICH, BY ITS DIRECT OR INTEGRAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE NUMBERS, TYPES, OR GRADES OF EMPLOYEES OR POSITIONS ASSIGNED TO A TOUR OF DUTY, WOULD BE DETERMINATIVE OF SUCH NUMBERS, TYPES, OR GRADES, LIKEWISE WOULD BE NEGOTIABLE AT THE ELECTION OF THE AGENCY. (FOOTNOTE OMITTED.) THE AUTHORITY THEN FOUND THAT THE UNION'S PROPOSAL TO MAINTAIN A THIRD STARTING AND QUITTING TIME IN ADDITION TO TWO OTHER STARTING AND QUITTING TIMES FOR EMPLOYEES DID NOT "EXPLICITLY RELATE TO THE NUMBERS, TYPES, AND GRADES OF EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO THE TOUR OF DUTY . . . SO AS TO COME WITHIN THE LITERAL LANGUAGE OF SECTION 7106(B)(1)." 1 FLRA NO. 106 AT 4 OF THE DECISION. THE ARBITRATOR IN THE INSTANT CASE APPLIED THAT DECISION TO THE FACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE HIM AND FOUND THAT THE ADDITION OF TWO DAILY TOURS OF DUTY FOR DEPUTY MARSHALS DID NOT CHANGE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO THE TOURS OF DUTY, THE GRADE OF THOSE EMPLOYEES, OR THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS AND, THEREFORE, "THE CHANGE IN SHIFT SCHEDULES IN NO WAY RELATED TO OR WAS DETERMINATIVE OF THE NUMBERS, TYPES AND GRADES OF THE DEPUTY MARSHALS ASSIGNED TO TOURS OF DUTY." THUS, THE ARBITRATOR FOUND THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EARLY AND LATE SHIFTS WAS WITHIN THE AGENCY'S OBLIGATION TO BARGAIN AND NOT A MATTER NEGOTIABLE ONLY AT THE ELECTION OF THE EMPLOYER. THE AGENCY'S ARGUMENT THAT THE DIFFERENT FACT SITUATION IN THE PRESENT CASE SHOULD DISTINGUISH IT FROM NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION IS NOT CONVINCING. BOTH CASES INVOLVE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MULTIPLE STARTING AND QUITTING TIMES FOR DAILY TOURS OF DUTY, BUT IN NEITHER CASE DOES THE RECORD SHOW THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THOSE STARTING AND QUITTING TIMES EXPLICITLY RELATES TO AND IS DETERMINATIVE OF THE NUMBERS, TYPES, AND GRADES OF EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO A TOUR OF DUTY. THE FACT THAT NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES, UNION INVOLVED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TOUR OF DUTY WITH STARTING AND QUITTING TIMES THAT FELL WITHIN OTHER ESTABLISHED TOURS OF DUTY DOES NOT SERVE TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM THE INSTANT CASE IN WHICH THE TOURS OF DUTY ESTABLISHED FELL OUTSIDE THE ALREADY EXISTING STARTING AND QUITTING TIMES. IT FOLLOWS THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EARLY AND LATE SHIFTS IN THIS CASE IS NOT INTEGRALLY RELATED TO THE NUMBERS, TYPES, AND GRADES OF EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO A TOUR OF DUTY. CONSEQUENTLY, THE AGENCY'S FIRST EXCEPTION PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT UNDER 5 U.S.C. 7122(A) AND SECTION 2425.3 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS. /3/ IN ITS SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH EXCEPTIONS, THE AGENCY CONTENDS THAT THE AWARD IS DEFICIENT BECAUSE IT VIOLATES MANAGEMENT'S RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 7106(A) OF THE STATUTE TO DIRECT EMPLOYEES, TO DETERMINE THE PERSONNEL BY WHICH AGENCY OPERATIONS SHALL BE CONDUCTED, TO DETERMINE THE AGENCY'S ORGANIZATION, AND TO ASSIGN WORK. THE AUTHORITY DISAGREES. THE ARBITRATOR FOUND THAT THE AGENCY WAS FOUND BY THE TERMS OF ITS AGREEMENT TO NOTIFY AND, UPON REQUEST, NEGOTIATE WITH THE UNION BEFORE ESTABLISHING THE ADDITIONAL TOURS OF DUTY AND, AS A REMEDY, HE DIRECTED THAT THE DEPUTIES BE RETURNED TO THEIR REGULAR TOUR OF DUTY AND THAT THE AGENCY CEASE AND DESIST FROM CHANGING TOURS WITHOUT NOTIFYING AND NEGOTIATING WITH THE UNION. THERE IS NOTHING IN EITHER THE LITERAL LANGUAGE OR THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF THAT AWARD TO SUPPORT THE AGENCY'S SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH EXCEPTIONS. THAT IS, NOTHING IN THE AWARD PREVENTS THE AGENCY FROM DIRECTING EMPLOYEES TO PERFORM SPECIFIED WORK AT SPECIFIED TIMES. NOR, CONTRARY TO THE AGENCY'S ASSERTIONS, DOES THE AWARD DICTATE TO THE AGENCY WHICH EMPLOYEES IT MUST ASSIGN TO CARRY OUT ITS OPERATIONS OR HOW THE AGENCY SHALL BE ORGANIZED. DESPITE THE ARBITRATOR'S RULING THAT THE AGENCY CANNOT IGNORE THE AGREEMENT AND THE STATUTE WHEN IT DESIRES TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL STARTING AND QUITTING TIMES FOR DEPUTY MARSHALS, IT IS NEVERTHELESS CLEAR THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, THE TYPE OF WORK PERFORMED, AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE AGENCY CAN REMAIN UNCHANGED. THEREFORE, THE AGENCY'S SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH EXCEPTIONS PROVIDE NO BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. IN ITS FIFTH EXCEPTION, THE AGENCY ALLEGES THAT THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD IS DEFICIENT BECAUSE IT VIOLATES THE AGENCY'S RIGHT UNDER SECTION 7106(B)(1) TO DETERMINE WHETHER WORK WHICH MUST BE PERFORMED OUTSIDE OF NORMAL DUTY HOURS "IS TO BE SCHEDULED ON AN OVERTIME OR REGULAR TIME BASIS." THE EFFECT OF THE AWARD, ACCORDING TO THE AGENCY, IS TO FORCE IT TO SCHEDULE OVERTIME EVERY WORKDAY IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT ITS PRISONER TRANSPORTATION DUTIES. THE AGENCY ALSO ARGUES THAT THE AWARD WOULD REQUIRE IT TO PAY OVERTIME IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE PROVISIONS OF 5 U.S.C. 5542(A). /4/ THE AGENCY'S ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF ITS FIFTH EXCEPTION APPEAR TO BE VARIATIONS OF ITS ARGUMENTS WITH RESPECT TO ITS FIRST EXCEPTION. HOWEVER, AS STATED PREVIOUSLY, THE AWARD CONSTITUTES NOTHING MORE THAN A FINDING THAT, IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE, THE AGENCY HAS A DUTY TO NOTIFY AND BARGAIN CONCERNING ASPECTS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL TOURS OF DUTY. THE AWARD DOES NOT, CONTRARY TO THE AGENCY'S CONTENTIONS, ORDER THE SCHEDULING OR PAYMENT OF OVERTIME IN VIOLATION OF LAW, NOR DOES THE AWARD INTERFERE WITH THE AGENCY'S RIGHT TO DECIDE WHETHER OVERTIME IS REQUIRED AND THE TIMES IT WILL BE PERFORMED. FURTHER, IT APPEARS THAT THE AGENCY HAS MISINTERPRETED 5 U.S.C. 5542(A). ACCORDING TO THE AGENCY, SECTION 5542(A) PROHIBITS THE PAYMENT OF OVERTIME RATES FOR HOURS WORKED BEFORE DAILY AND WEEKLY STATUTORY MINIMUMS ARE MET. HOWEVER, THE PLAIN LANGUAGE OF THAT PROVISION OF LAW IS THAT "HOURS OF WORK OFFICIALLY ORDERED OR APPROVED IN EXCESS OF 40 HOURS IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE WORKWEEK, OR . . . IN EXCESS OF 8 HOURS IN A DAY" ARE CONSIDERED TO BE OVERTIME WORK PAID FOR AT OVERTIME RATES. NOTHING THEREIN PROHIBITS THE PAYMENT OF OVERTIME TO AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS DIRECTED TO REPORT TO WORK PRIOR TO THE START OF HIS OR HER REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOUR OF DUTY AND THUS WORKS IN EXCESS OF 8 HOURS A DAY. THEREFORE, THE AGENCY'S FIFTH EXCEPTION PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. IN ITS SIXTH AND FINAL EXCEPTION, THE AGENCY CONTENDS THAT THE AWARD IS DEFICIENT BECAUSE IT VIOLATES PUBLIC POLICY AS EXPRESSED IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE AND THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES PAY ACT OF 1945 TO THE EXTENT THAT THE AWARD "WOULD REQUIRE MANAGEMENT TO SCHEDULE WORK ON AN OVERTIME BASIS AS A CONDITION OF EXERCISING ITS RIGHT TO DIRECT THAT SUCH WORK BE PERFORMED." HOWEVER, THE AGENCY HAS RELIED UPON AN INTERPRETATION WHICH IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE PLAIN LANGUAGE AND MEANING OF THE AWARD. RATHER THAN ACCEPTING THE AWARD AS A FINDING THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL TOURS OF DUTY IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE IS NOT A MATTER TOTALLY EXCLUDED FROM THE SCOPE OF NEGOTIATIONS, THE AGENCY IS MAKING ARGUMENTS BASED UPON AN IMPROPER INTERPRETATION -- THAT THE AWARD IS A DIRECTIVE FORCING IT TO PAY OVERTIME WHICH IT FEELS IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY. THUS, THE AGENCY'S CONTENTION THAT THE AWARD VIOLATES THE PURPOSES OF THE STATUTE AND THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES PAY ACT OF 1945 IS ESSENTIALLY A RESTATEMENT OF THE GENERAL ALLEGATIONS UPON WHICH IT HAS RELIED IN PRESENTING ITS OTHER EXCEPTIONS. THEREFORE, IT FOLLOWS THAT THE AGENCY'S SIXTH EXCEPTION PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. WITH RESPECT TO THE UNION'S EXCEPTIONS TO THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD, THE UNION'S FIRST EXCEPTION IS THAT THE ARBITRATOR'S FAILURE TO GRANT BACKPAY AS A REMEDY FOR THE AGENCY'S VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT WAS BASED IN PART ON A MISTAKE OF LAW. SPECIFICALLY, THE UNION OBJECTS TO THE ARBITRATOR'S STATEMENT THAT IN ORDER FOR THE DEPUTY MARSHALS TO RECEIVE BACKPAY, IT MUST BE SHOWN THAT THEY ACTUALLY PERFORMED OVERTIME WORK FOR WHICH THEY WERE NOT PAID. THE UNION POINTS OUT THAT DECISIONS OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL HAVE HELD THAT SUCH IS NOT THE CASE, AND THAT AN EMPLOYEE IMPROPERLY DENIED OVERTIME WORK MAY BE AWARDED BACKPAY. THE UNION FURTHER ASSERTS, IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE ARBITRATOR, THAT "BUT FOR" THE AGENCY'S VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT, DEPUTY MARSHALS WOULD HAVE WORKED THE NORMAL TOUR OF DUTY AND HOURS WORKED OUTSIDE OF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID AT OVERTIME RATES. THEREFORE, ACCORDING TO THE UNION, DEPUTY MARSHALS ARE ENTITLED TO BACKPAY UNDER THE BACK PAY ACT, 5 U.S.C. 5596(SUPP. III 1979) FOR THE OVERTIME WHICH THEY MISSED BECAUSE OF THE AGENCY'S ACTIONS. THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE UNION HAS NOT DEMONSTRATED THAT THE AWARD IS CONTRARY TO THE BACK PAY ACT. IN HIS AWARD, THE ARBITRATOR MADE A SPECIFIC FINDING THAT THE UNION FAILED TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE SUFFICIENT "TO SHOW THAT BUT FOR THE VIOLATION OF AN AGREEMENT, THE AFFECTED EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE RECEIVED BACK PAY." REGARDLESS OF THE CORRECTNESS OF THE EXTRANEOUS STATEMENTS BY THE ARBITRATOR CONCERNING PAYMENT FOR OVERTIME NOT ACTUALLY WORKED, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE BASIS FOR HIS DECISION NOT TO AWARD BACKPAY WAS HIS FINDING THAT THERE WAS NO DIRECT CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VIOLATION OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE FAILURE TO RECEIVE OVERTIME. THE UNION'S DISAGREEMENT WITH THAT FACTUAL FINDING DOES NOT PROVIDE A BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. MID-AMERICAN PROGRAM SERVICE CENTER, SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE AND LOCAL NO. 1336, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, 5 FLRA NO. 34(1981). CONSEQUENTLY, THE UNION'S FIRST EXCEPTION PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. IN ITS SECOND EXCEPTION, THE UNION ALLEGES THAT THE ARBITRATOR BASED HIS DECISION NOT TO GRANT BACKPAY ON A "NON-FACT" WHEN HE FOUND THAT THE AGENCY WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED TO REDUCE OVERTIME BECAUSE OF BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS EVEN IF THE CHANGES IN TOURS OF DUTY HAD NOT BEEN MADE. IN SUPPORT OF THIS EXCEPTION, THE UNION ARGUES THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE BEFORE THE ARBITRATOR TO SHOW THAT OVERTIME ALLOCATIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE REDUCED BECAUSE OF BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS. FURTHER, ACCORDING TO THE UNION, (T)HE REDUCTION OF OVERTIME ALLOCATIONS WAS NOT AT ISSUE IN THIS CASE. EVEN IF IT WERE, THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO PAY ITS EMPLOYEES APPROPRIATELY FOR HOURS WORKED OUTSIDE THEIR NORMAL TOUR OF DUTY EVEN IF THE ALLOCATIONS WERE REDUCED. THE AUTHORITY WILL FIND AN ARBITRATOR'S AWARD DEFICIENT WHEN IT IS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE CENTRAL FACT UNDERLYING THE AWARD IS CONCEDEDLY ERRONEOUS AND IN EFFECT IS A GROSS MISTAKE BUT FOR WHICH A DIFFERENT RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN REACHED. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 987 AND WARNER ROBINS AIR LOGISTICS CENTER, ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, GEORGIA, 3 FLRA NO. 89(1980). IN THIS CASE, HOWEVER, THE UNION HAS FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE AWARD IS DEFICIENT ON THIS GROUND. THE UNION IS ARGUING, IN EFFECT, THAT THE ARBITRATOR'S FINDINGS REGARDING BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS GOVERNING PAYMENT FOR OVERTIME WERE IN ERROR. HOWEVER, AS POINTED OUT BY THE AGENCY IN ITS OPPOSITION TO THE UNION'S EXCEPTION, TESTIMONY CONCERNING THOSE BUDGETARY LIMITATIONS WAS PRESENTED TO THE ARBITRATOR AND IT IS APPARENT THAT THE ARBITRATOR TOOK THIS TESTIMONY INTO ACCOUNT IN FORMULATING A REMEDY WHEN HE STATED: "THE EMPLOYER WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO REDUCE ITS OVERTIME ALLOCATIONS UNDER BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS EVEN IF THE SHIFT SCHEDULES HAD NOT BEEN MADE." THEREFORE, RATHER THAN DEMONSTRATING THAT THE CENTRAL FACT UNDERLYING THE AWARD IS GROSSLY ERRONEOUS, THE UNION IS INSTEAD DISAGREEING WITH ONE OF THE ARBITRATOR'S FINDINGS OF FACT WHICH, AS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED, PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. AS TO THE UNION'S ASSERTION THAT THE REDUCTION OF OVERTIME ALLOCATIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE ARBITRATOR SINCE IT WAS NOT AT ISSUE IN THIS CASE, SUCH ASSERTION PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. THE QUESTION OF BUDGETARY LIMITATIONS WAS CLEARLY RAISED DURING THE HEARING AND SUCH A QUESTION WAS PROPERLY BEFORE THE ARBITRATOR AS PART OF HIS DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THE REQUISITE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP WAS PRESENT FOR PURPOSES OF AWARDING BACKPAY UNDER THE BACK PAY ACT. THEREFORE, THE UNION'S SECOND EXCEPTION PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. FOR THE FOREGOING REASONS AND PURSUANT TO SECTION 2425.4 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES, WE HEREBY SUSTAIN THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 29, 1981 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE COPIES OF THE DECISION OF THE FLRA IN THE SUBJECT PROCEEDING HAVE THIS DAY BEEN MAILED TO THE PARTIES LISTED: MR. WILLIAM C. OWEN ACTING CHIEF LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS GROUP DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20530 MR. RONALD D. KING, DIRECTOR CONTRACT AND APPEALS DIVISION AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO 1325 MASSACHUSETTS AVE.,N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005 --------------- FOOTNOTES$ --------------- /1/ EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491 WAS IN EFFECT AT THE TIME THE AGREEMENT WAS NEGOTIATED, AND THE CITED LANGUAGE IS IDENTICAL TO LANGUAGE CONTAINED IN SECTION 11(B) OF THAT ORDER. /2/ 5 U.S.C. 7122(A) PROVIDES: (A) EITHER PARTY TO ARBITRATION UNDER THIS CHAPTER MAY FILE WITH THE AUTHORITY AN EXCEPTION TO ANY ARBITRATOR'S AWARD PURSUANT TO THE ARBITRATION (OTHER THAN AN AWARD RELATING TO A MATTER DESCRIBED IN SECTION 7121(F) OF THIS TITLE). IF UPON REVIEW THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE AWARD IS DEFICIENT -- (1) BECAUSE IT IS CONTRARY TO ANY LAW, RULE, OR REGULATION; OR (2) ON OTHER GROUNDS SIMILAR TO THOSE APPLIED BY FEDERAL COURTS IN PRIVATE SECTOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS; THE AUTHORITY MAY TAKE SUCH ACTION AND MAKE SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE AWARD AS IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY, CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES, OR REGULATIONS. /3/ AS PART OF ITS FIRST EXCEPTION THE AGENCY ARGUED IN THE ALTERNATIVE THAT THE AUTHORITY'S DECISION IN NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION IS ERRONEOUS. HOWEVER, THE AUTHORITY FINDS NO BASIS IN THE AGENCY'S ARGUMENTS FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THAT DECISION. /4/ 5 U.S.C. 5542(A) PROVIDES IN PERTINENT PART: (A) FOR FULL-TIME, PART-TIME AND INTERMITTENT TOURS OF DUTY, HOURS OF WORK OFFICIALLY ORDERED OR APPROVED IN EXCESS OF 40 HOURS IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE WORKWEEK, OR . . . IN EXCESS OF 8 HOURS IN A DAY, PERFORMED BY AN EMPLOYEE ARE OVERTIME WORK . . . .