[ v07 p524 ]
07:0524(77)PS
The decision of the Authority follows:
7 FLRA No. 77 Case No. O-PS-21 DECISION ON REQUEST FOR GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY OR GUIDANCE THE AUTHORITY RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THE DEPARTMENTS OF DEFENSE, JUSTICE, AND ENERGY THAT THE AUTHORITY ISSUE A GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY OR GUIDANCE CONCERNING THE MEANING OF CERTAIN WORDS AND PHRASES WHICH APPEAR WITHIN SECTION 7103(A)(11) OF THE STATUTE, WHICH PROVIDES: SECTION 7103. DEFINITIONS; APPLICATION (A) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHAPTER-- . . . . (11) "MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYED BY AN AGENCY IN A POSITION THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF WHICH REQUIRE OR AUTHORIZE THE INDIVIDUAL TO FORMULATE, DETERMINE, OR INFLUENCE THE POLICIES OF THE AGENCY(.) THE PARTIES SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT THE AUTHORITY ISSUE GUIDANCE AS TO HOW THE AUTHORITY "VIEWS AND APPLIES THE WORDS 'INFLUENCE' AND 'POLICIES' IN THE PHRASE 'INFLUENCE THE POLICIES OF THE AGENCY,' IN THE DEFINITION OF 'MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL' IN SECTION 7103(A)(11) OF THE STATUTE." IN DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING SELECTION OFFICE AND AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1, AFL-CIO, 7 FLRA NO. 24(1981) THE AUTHORITY, BASED UPON A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE INTENT OF THE STATUTE AS REFLECTED IN ITS LANGUAGE, LEGISLATIVE HISTORY, AND PURPOSES, INTERPRETED CRITICAL TERMS IN SECTION 7103(A)(11) AND THEN APPLIED THE DEFINITION OF MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL TO THE FACTS OF THE CASE. ACCORDINGLY, SINCE THE QUESTION PRESENTED HEREIN HAS BEEN RESOLVED BY OTHER MEANS, THE INSTANT REQUEST FOR A GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY OR GUIDANCE IS DENIED. /1/ ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., DECEMBER 31, 1981 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES: --------------- /1/ WITH REGARD TO SUCH A REQUEST, SECTION 2427.5 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 CFR 2427.5) PROVIDES, IN PERTINENT PART: SECTION 2427.5 STANDARDS GOVERNING ISSUANCE OF GENERAL STATEMENTS OF POLICY AND GUIDANCE. IN DECIDING WHETHER TO ISSUE A GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY OR GUIDANCE, THE AUTHORITY SHALL CONSIDER: (A) WHETHER THE QUESTION PRESENTED CAN MORE APPROPRIATELY BE RESOLVED BY OTHER MEANS(.)