[ v07 p192 ]
07:0192(29)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
7 FLRA No. 29 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CSA LOCALS (Union) and Case No. O-NG-98 COMMUNITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (Agency) AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 2816 (Union) and Case No. O-NG-282 COMMUNITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION REGION V, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (Activity) AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, ALF-CIO, LOCAL 2816 (Union) and Case No. O-NG-289 COMMUNITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION REGION V, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (Activity) ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO DISMISS APPEALS AS MOOT THE THREE ABOVE-ENTITLED CASES ARE BEFORE THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO SECTION 7105(A)(2)(E) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (5 U.S.C. 7101 ET SEQ.), ON PETITIONS FOR REVIEW OF NEGOTIABILITY ISSUES FILED BY THE UNION IN THE RESPECTIVE CASES. ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1981, THE COMMUNITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (CSA OR THE AGENCY) FILED A MOTION TO DISMISS THE SUBJECT APPEALS AS MOOT. IN SUPPORT OF ITS MOTION, CSA CONTENDS, IN PERTINENT PART, THAT BECAUSE OF THE CLOSING OF THE AGENCY ON OCTOBER 1, 1981, PURSUANT TO THE OMNIBUS BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT OF 1981 (PUB. L. 97-37, 95 STAT. 357) (BUDGET ACT), EACH OF THE APPEALS IS MOOT. THE UNION FILED AN OPPOSITION TO THE AGENCY'S MOTION CONTENDING THAT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE FOR THE AUTHORITY TO DISMISS THE APPEALS AT THIS TIME. THE UNION ARGUES IN THAT REGARD THAT QUESTIONS EXIST AS TO WHETHER ANOTHER AGENCY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS) IS A SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO CSA AND WHAT OBLIGATIONS, IF ANY, HHS HAS TO THE UNION, THE RESOLUTION OF WHICH QUESTIONS DEPENDS ON THE OUTCOME OF A CASE BEFORE THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE AGENCY'S MOTION AND THE UNION'S OPPOSITION THERETO, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE TERMINATION OF CSA AS AN AGENCY BY OPERATION OF THE BUDGET ACT HAS SERVED TO RENDER MOOT THE NEGOTIABILITY DISPUTES BETWEEN THE UNION AND CSA PRESENTED IN THE INSTANT CASES. /1/ FURTHER, TO DECIDE THE ISSUES PRESENTED IN THE INSTANT CASES IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO ISSUING AN ADVISORY OPINION, WHICH IS PRECLUDED BY SECTION 2429.10 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS. ACCORDINGLY, AND APART FROM OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT THE UNION'S PETITIONS FOR REVIEW IN THE ABOVE-ENTITLED CASES BE, AND THEY HEREBY ARE, DISMISSED. /2/ FOR THE AUTHORITY. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., NOVEMBER 12, 1981 JAMES J. SHEPARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR --------------- FOOTNOTES: --------------- /1/ ANY ISSUE AS TO WHETHER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS A SUCCESSOR TO CSA IS AN ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED IN AN APPROPRIATE PROCEEDING SUCH AS THE AUTHORITY'S UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE OR REPRESENTATION CASE PROCEEDINGS AND NOT IN THE CONTENT OF A NEGOTIABILITY CASE. /2/ IN SO DECIDING TO DISMISS THESE CASES, THE AUTHORITY MAKES NO JUDGEMENT ON THE NEGOTIABILITY OF THE PROPOSALS INVOLVED.