Department of the Navy, Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Station, Keyport, Washington (Activity) and American Federation of Government Employees, Local 48, AFL-CIO (Labor Organization/Petitioner); Department of the Navy, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington (Activity) and Bremerton Metal Trades Council, AFL-CIO (Labor Organization/Petitioner)
[ v07 p526 ]
07:0526(78)CU
The decision of the Authority follows:
7 FLRA No. 78 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, NAVAL UNDERSEA WARFARE ENGINEERING STATION, KEYPORT, WASHINGTON Activity and AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 48, AFL-CIO Labor Organization/Petitioner Case No. 9-CU-14 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, PUGET SOUND NAVAL SHIPYARD, BREMERTON, WASHINGTON Activity and BREMERTON METAL TRADES COUNCIL, AFL-CIO Labor Organization/Petitioner Case No. 9-CU-16 DECISION AND ORDER CLARIFYING UNITS UPON PETITIONS DULY FILED UNDER SECTION 7111(B)(2) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE), A CONSOLIDATED HEARING WAS HELD BEFORE A HEARING OFFICER OF THE AUTHORITY. THE HEARING OFFICER'S RULINGS MADE AT THE HEARING ARE FREE FROM PREJUDICIAL ERROR AND ARE HEREBY AFFIRMED. PETITIONERS IN BOTH CASES SEEK TO CLARIFY EXISTING EXCLUSIVELY RECOGNIZED UNITS TO INCLUDE THE INCUMBENTS OF POSITIONS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS GUARD SERGEANTS. THE ACTIVITY, IN EACH CASE, CONTENDS THAT THE INCUMBENTS IN THE SUBJECT POSITIONS ARE SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE AND, ON THIS BASIS, OPPOSES THEIR INCLUSION IN THE RECOGNIZED UNITS. SECTION 7103(A)(10) DEFINES "SUPERVISOR" AS FOLLOWS: "SUPERVISOR" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYED BY AN AGENCY HAVING AUTHORITY IN THE INTEREST OF THE AGENCY TO HIRE, DIRECT, ASSIGN, PROMOTE, REWARD, TRANSFER, FURLOUGH, LAYOFF, RECALL, SUSPEND, DISCIPLINE, OR REMOVE EMPLOYEES, TO ADJUST THEIR GRIEVANCES, OR TO EFFECTIVELY RECOMMEND SUCH ACTION, IF THE EXERCISE OF THE AUTHORITY IS NOT MERELY ROUTINE OR CLERICAL IN NATURE BUT REQUIRES THE CONSISTENT EXERCISE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT, EXCEPT THAT, WITH RESPECT TO ANY UNIT WHICH INCLUDES FIREFIGHTERS OR NURSES, THE TERM "SUPERVISOR" INCLUDES ONLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DEVOTE A PREPONDERANCE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT TIME TO EXERCISING SUCH AUTHORITY(.) THE ACTIVITIES ALSO CONTEND THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT BOTH UNITS INCLUDE FIREFIGHTERS, THE SEPARATE "PREPONDERANCE OF TIME" TEST CONTAINED WITHIN SECTION 7103(A)(10)'S DEFINITION OF SUPERVISOR SHOULD NOT APPLY TO GUARD SERGEANTS. IN THIS REGARD, THEY ARGUE THAT THE "PREPONDERANCE OF TIME" TEST WAS INTENDED TO APPLY SPECIFICALLY TO FIREFIGHTERS AND NURSES AND NOT TO OTHER TYPES OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAPPEN TO BE IN UNITS WITH FIREFIGHTERS AND NURSES. THUS, THE THRESHOLD QUESTION PRESENTED IN BOTH CASES IS WHETHER THE PREPONDERANCE OF TIME TEST CONTAINED WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF SUPERVISOR APPLIES TO THE GUARD SERGEANTS HEREIN WHO ARE PRESENTLY IN UNITS THAT INCLUDE FIREFIGHTERS. UNDER THE DEFINITION'S PRINCIPAL TEST FOR SUPERVISORS, AN INDIVIDUAL NEED ONLY EXERCISE ONE OF THE DEFINITION'S ENUMERATED CRITERIA IN A WAY THAT REQUIRES THE CONSISTENT EXERCISE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT TO BE DEEMED A SUPERVISOR. /1/ THE PREPONDERANCE OF TIME TEST IS MORE RESTRICTIVE, INCLUDING AS SUPERVISORS ONLY THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DEVOTE A PREPONDERANCE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT TIME TO THE EXERCISE OF THE ENUMERATED CRITERIA. THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE DEFINITION OF SUPERVISOR DOES NOT PROVIDE A DIRECT ANSWER TO THE THRESHOLD QUESTION. THE SENATE BILL, S. 2640, DID NOT CONTAIN A MORE RESTRICTIVE PREPONDERANCE OF TIME TEST WITHIN ITS DEFINITION OF SUPERVISOR. /2/ THE EARLIEST FORERUNNER OF THE PREPONDERANCE OF TIME TEST CONTAINED IN THE STATUTE APPEARS IN H.R. 13, INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN CLAY ON JANUARY 4, 1977. THE DEFINITION OF SUPERVISOR THEREIN CONTAINED A MORE RESTRICTIVE PREPONDERANCE TEST, INTRODUCED WITHIN THE DEFINITION BY THE CLAUSE "EXCEPT THAT WITH RESPECT TO FIREFIGHTERS AND NURSES . . . ." /3/ ON JANUARY 10, 1977, CONGRESSMAN FORD INTRODUCED H.R. 1589 WHICH ALSO CONTAINED A PREPONDERANCE TEST INTRODUCED BY THE CLAUSE "PROVIDED, THAT WITH RESPECT TO FIREFIGHTERS . . . ." /4/ ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1977, CONGRESSMAN CLAY AND FORD JOINTLY INTRODUCED THE THIRD AND FINAL FORERUNNER TO THE HOUSE BILL, H.R. 11280. THEIR BILL, H.R. 9094, CONTAINED A PREPONDERANCE OF TIME TEST WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF SUPERVISOR WHICH WAS INTRODUCED BY THE CLAUSE "EXCEPT THAT WITH RESPECT TO FIREFIGHTERS AND NURSES . . . ." /5/ THUS, THESE EARLY BILLS CLEARLY INDICATED THAT THE MORE RESTRICTIVE PREPONDERANCE OF TIME TEST WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF SUPERVISOR SHOULD APPLY ONLY TO FIREFIGHTERS (IN H.R. 1589) AND ONLY TO FIREFIGHTERS AND NURSES (IN H.R. 13 AND H.R. 9094). HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH IT APPEARS CLEAR THAT THE PREPONDERANCE OF TIME TEST WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF SUPERVISOR WAS INITIALLY DEVELOPED FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND NURSES, THE COMMITTEE PRINT OF THE HOUSE BILL, H.R. 11280, CHANGED WITHOUT EXPLANATION THE CLAUSE USED TO INTRODUCE THE PREPONDERANCE OF TIME TEST FROM "EXCEPT THAT WITH RESPECT TO FIREFIGHTERS AND NURSES" TO "EXCEPT THAT, WITH RESPECT TO ANY UNIT WHICH INCLUDES FIREFIGHTERS OR NURSES," RAISING THE QUESTION OF WHETHER SUCH A CHANGE IN LANGUAGE INDICATES CONGRESSIONAL INTENT TO APPLY THE PREPONDERANCE OF TIME TEST TO ANY TYPE OF EMPLOYEE WHO, BY HAPPENSTANCE, IS IN A UNIT WITH FIREFIGHTERS OR NURSES. WERE THIS QUESTION TO BE ANSWERED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF FIRST LINE SUPERVISORS, WHILE NOT FIREFIGHTERS OR NURSES THEMSELVES, WOULD NOT BE DEEMED "SUPERVISORS" UNDER THE STATUTE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN BARGAINING UNITS WHICH INCLUDE FIREFIGHTERS OR NURSES. /6/ ALTHOUGH THE LANGUAGE WITHIN THE DEFINITION USED TO INTRODUCE THE PREPONDERANCE OF TIME TEST WAS CHANGED IN THE COURSE OF THE HOUSE ADOPTION OF A FEDERAL LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE, NOTHING IN THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY SPECIFICALLY INDICATES OR SUGGESTS THAT A CHANGE IN THE SCOPE OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TEST TO EXTEND TO PERSONS OTHER THAN FIREFIGHTERS AND NURSES WAS INTENDED. IN THIS REGARD, SUCH A CHANGE COULD LEAD TO AN INCONSISTENT RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE DEFINITION OF SUPERVISOR, I.E., FINDING AN INDIVIDUAL (WHO HAPPENS TO BE INCLUDED IN A BARGAINING UNIT CONTAINING FIREFIGHTERS OR NURSES) NOT TO BE A SUPERVISOR WHILE FINDING ANOTHER (PERFORMING THE IDENTICAL FUNCTIONS IN A UNIT NOT INCLUDING FIREFIGHTERS OR NURSES) TO BE A SUPERVISOR. SUCH DIFFERENT RESULTS WOULD NOT HAVE ANY RELATIONSHIP TO DIFFERENCES IN JOB FUNCTION OR SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY. INSTEAD, THE DETERMINATION OF SUPERVISORY STATUS, WHICH IN TURN HAS IMPORTANT STATUTORY AND LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS, WOULD HINGE ON THE IRRELEVANT HAPPENSTANCE OF WHETHER FIREFIGHTERS OR NURSES ARE IN THE BARGAINING UNIT. ADDITIONALLY, SUCH A RESULT WOULD BE UNWORKABLE. IT WOULD MEAN THAT, IN MAKING A SUPERVISORY DETERMINATION, NOT ONLY THE SPECIFIC DUTIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT ALSO THE CATEGORIES OF EMPLOYEES INCLUDED WITHIN THE UNIT MUST BE CONSIDERED. FURTHER, THE STATUS OF ALL SUPERVISORS WOULD BE CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING BASED ON SUBSEQUENT UNIT CONSOLIDATIONS, /7/ REORGANIZATIONS, OR THE ELECTION PREFERENCE OF EMPLOYEES IN A FUNCTIONAL UNIT WHO OPT TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE OVERALL RATHER THAN A SEPARATE UNIT. /8/ ACCORDINGLY, FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH ABOVE, THE AUTHORITY CONCLUDES THAT THE PREPONDERANCE OF TIME TEST CONTAINED WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF SUPERVISOR IN SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE APPLIES ONLY TO FIREFIGHTERS AND NURSES AND NOT TO OTHER TYPES OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAPPEN TO BE IN UNITS WITH FIREFIGHTERS OR NURSES. CASE NO. 9-CU-14 THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 48, AFL-CIO (PETITIONER) WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION ON FEBRUARY 10, 1969, FOR A UNIT OF APPROXIMATELY 30 EMPLOYEES COMPRISED OF "ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE SECURITY DEPARTMENT, NAVAL UNDERSEA WARFARE ENGINEERING STATION, KEYPORT, WASHINGTON," EXCLUDING "ALL SUPERVISORS, MANAGERS, PROFESSIONALS, AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL EMPLOYEES IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY." THE PETITIONER SEEKS TO INCLUDE IN SAID UNIT THE FIVE POSITIONS REFERRED TO AS GUARD SERGEANT, GS-05, CONTENDING THE INCUMBENTS OF THESE POSITIONS ARE NOT SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE. THE ACTIVITY OPPOSES THEIR INCLUSION IN THE UNIT, CONTENDING THE INCUMBENTS ARE SUPERVISORS. THE GUARD SERGEANTS WORK IN THE ACTIVITY'S SECURITY DEPARTMENT. THE DEPARTMENT, IN PART, PROVIDES PHYSICAL AND INFORMATION SECURITY AT THE ACTIVITY AND ENFORCES FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS, AND DIRECTIVES OF THE ACTIVITY. THE PORTION OF THE SECURITY DEPARTMENT INVOLVED IN THIS CASE IS HEADED BY A GUARD CHIEF; UNDER THE CHIEF IS A GUARD CAPTAIN, GS-07/08; AND UNDER THE GUARD CAPTAIN ARE 5 GUARD SERGEANTS, GS-05, 15 GUARDS (13 GS-04S, 2 GS-03S), AND 1 GUARD INSTRUCTOR. THE GUARD CAPTAIN WORKS THE DAY SHIFT. THREE DAYS A WEEK TWO GUARD SERGEANTS ALSO WORK THE DAY SHIFT; THE OTHER TWO DAYS ONE GUARD SERGEANT WORKS THE DAY SHIFT. ON THE DAY SHIFT, ONE GUARD SERGEANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHIFT'S FOUR TO FIVE GUARDS AND WHEN THERE ARE TWO GUARD SERGEANTS, THE OTHER ONE OPERATES RADAR SPEED TRAPS. ON THE EVENING AND GRAVEYARD SHIFTS, ONE GUARD SERGEANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHIFT'S THREE TO FOUR GUARDS. THE GUARD SERGEANTS ROTATE SHIFTS EVERY 90 DAYS. GUARD SERGEANTS OCCASIONALLY HAVE CONDUCTED HIRING INTERVIEWS IN THE GUARD CAPTAIN'S ABSENCE, AND THE GUARD CAPTAIN HAS ACCEPTED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS. GUARD SERGEANTS HAVE ALSO EFFECTIVELY RECOMMENDED THAT THE GUARD CAPTAIN CONSIDER AND ULTIMATELY HIRE CERTAIN OUTSIDE ACQUAINTANCES OF THE GUARD SERGEANTS. GUARD SERGEANTS, HOWEVER, PLAY NO ROLE IN THE TRANSFER, FURLOUGH, LAYOFF, OR RECALL OF THE GUARDS. GUARD SERGEANTS, WHEN ACTING AS SHIFT SUPERVISORS, WHICH IS AT LEAST THREE-QUARTERS OF THEIR TIME, DIRECT AND ASSIGN GUARDS IN A MANNER WHICH REQUIRES THE GUARD SERGEANTS' CONSISTENT EXERCISE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT. GUARD SERGEANTS MAKE THE INITIAL POST ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE GUARDS, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DURING THE DAY ON THE GUARD SERGEANTS' AUTHORITY. ANY PROBLEMS OR INCIDENTS ON THE SHIFT ARE REFERRED DIRECTLY TO THE SERGEANT, AND HE HAS BEEN DELEGATED THE AUTHORITY TO REALIGN THE GUARD FORCE TO MEET SUCH OCCURRENCES. GUARD SERGEANTS APPROVE LEAVE, WITH THE GUARD CAPTAIN IN 90% OF THE CASES ONLY KNOWING ABOUT A GUARD'S USE OF LEAVE AFTER IT HAS BEEN USED. GUARD SERGEANTS ARE NOT ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR DECIDING WHO SHOULD WORK OVERTIME, BUT ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INITIAL DETERMINATION THAT OVERTIME IS NEEDED. IN TERMS OF PROMOTION, GUARD SERGEANTS INITIALLY RECOMMEND SUCH ACTIONS. GUARD SERGEANTS PREPARE THE GUARDS' PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS, WITH THESE EVALUATIONS BEING UNIFORMLY ADOPTED BY THE GUARD CAPTAIN. IN THE AREA OF DISCIPLINE, GUARD SERGEANTS EFFECTIVELY RECOMMEND THE FULL RANGE OF DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS WITHOUT PRIOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GUARD CAPTAIN. THE RECORD REVEALS THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN OCCASION IN WHICH THE GUARD CAPTAIN MODIFIED OR REVERSED SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS. UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE GUARD SERGEANTS ARE SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE BECAUSE THEY CONSISTENTLY EXERCISE INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT IN SUCH AREAS AS DIRECTING, ASSIGNING, AND DISCIPLINING THE SUBORDINATE GUARDS. ACCORDINGLY, THE INCUMBENTS IN THESE GUARD SERGEANT POSITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE BARGAINING UNIT. CASE NO. 9-CU-16 THE BREMERTON METAL TRADES COUNCIL, AFL-CIO (PETITIONER) WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION ON OCTOBER 12, 1962, IN A UNIT OF APPROXIMATELY 150 EMPLOYEES COMPRISED OF "ALL ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES INCLUDING TEMPORARY AND PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES IN PUGET SOUND NAVAL SHIPYARD," EXCLUDING "PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, THE EMPLOYEES IN THE PATTERNMAKER'S UNIT, THE EMPLOYEES IN THE TECHNICAL UNIT, THE EMPLOYEES IN THE PLANNERS, ESTIMATORS, AND PROGRESSMEN'S UNIT, ANY MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL OR SUPERVISOR OR AN EMPLOYEE ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY." THE PETITIONER SEEKS TO INCLUDE IN SAID UNIT THE 11 POSITIONS REFERRED TO AS GUARD SERGEANT, GS-06, CONTENDING THE INCUMBENTS OF THESE POSITIONS ARE NOT SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE. THE ACTIVITY OPPOSES THEIR INCLUSION IN THE UNIT, CONTENDING THAT THE INCUMBENTS ARE SUPERVISORS. THE GUARD SERGEANTS WORK IN THE ACTIVITY'S POLICE BRANCH. THIS BRANCH PROVIDES SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THE PUGET SOUND NAVAL SHIPYARD, INCLUDING THE HOUSING AREA. THE POLICE BRANCH IS HEADED BY A CHIEF OF POLICE; UNDER THE CHIEF OF POLICE IS A POLICE CAPTAIN; AND UNDER THE POLICE CAPTAIN ARE THREE SHIFT LIEUTENANTS, GS-07. SUBORDINATE TO THE SHIFT LIEUTENANTS ARE THE 11 GUARD SERGEANTS AND 114 LINE OFFICERS (61 GUARDS, GS-03 AND GS-04), 14 REACTIONARY POLICE OFFICERS, AND 39 POLICE OFFICERS (GS-04 AND GS-05). THE SHIFT LIEUTENANTS AND THEIR SUBORDINATES WORK ONE OF THREE SHIFTS (DAY, SWING, MIDNIGHT) EACH WEEKDAY, SO THAT ON A NORMAL DAY SHIFT DURING THE WEEK THERE WILL BE ON DUTY 1 SHIFT LIEUTENANT, 3 GUARD SERGEANTS, 19 GUARDS AND REACTIONARY POLICE OFFICERS, AND 11 POLICE OFFICERS. THE GUARD SERGEANTS ROTATE FREQUENTLY (SOMETIMES EVERY FEW DAYS, SOMETIMES UP TO TEN WEEKS) BETWEEN WORKING WITH THE GUARDS AND REACTIONARY POLICE OFFICERS ON THE ONE HAND, AND THE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE OTHER. ON THE DAY SHIFT, FOR EXAMPLE, 1 GUARD SERGEANT WILL BE WORKING WITH THE 19 GUARDS AND REACTIONARY POLICE OFFICERS, AND THE OTHER 2 GUARD SERGEANTS WILL BE WORKING WITH THE 11 POLICE OFFICERS. THE GUARDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PERIMETER SECURITY AT THE SHIPYARD AND THEY WORK AT THE PERIMETER GATES. THE GUARD SERGEANT, WORKING WITH THE GUARDS AND THE REACTIONARY POLICE OFFICERS, MAKES TWO 45-MINUTE INSPECTION TOURS OF THESE PERSONNEL DURING THE DAY SHIFT, SPENDING THE REMAINDER OF HIS TIME IN A BUILDING ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM THE BUILDING IN WHICH THE SHIFT LIEUTENANT WORKS. THE TWO GUARD SERGEANTS WORKING WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE STATIONED IN THE SAME BUILDING AS THE SHIFT LIEUTENANT, BUT THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR DAY OPERATING OUT OF TWO ROVING VEHICLES CHECKING ON THE VARIOUS POSTS AND THE PERIMETER FENCE, AS WELL AS ATTENDING TO ANY ABNORMAL SITUATIONS. THE POLICE OFFICERS, THEMSELVES, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH NORMAL POLICE WORK AS WRITING TRAFFIC TICKETS, CHECKING BUILDINGS AND RESPONDING TO INCIDENTS. WHILE A GUARD SERGEANT'S DUTIES VARY DEPENDING UPON WHETHER HE IS WORKING WITH GUARDS AND REACTIONARY POLICE OFFICERS OR WITH POLICE OFFICERS, HIS RESPONSIBILITIES DO NOT VARY WITH RESPECT TO THOSE MATTERS ENUMERATED IN SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE WHICH DETERMINE SUPERVISORY STATUS. GUARD SERGEANTS HAVE NO HAND IN THE HIRING, TRANSFERING, FURLOUGHING, LAYING OFF, OR RECALLING OF SUBORDINATE EMPLOYEES. GUARD SERGEANTS DO DIRECT AND ASSIGN SUBORDINATE GUARDS TO SOME EXTENT, BUT NOT IN A MANNER WHICH REQUIRES THE CONSISTENT EXERCISE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT. GUARD SERGEANTS DO ASSIGN GUARDS TO THE VARIOUS DUTY STATIONS, BUT SUCH ASSIGNMENTS ARE MADE ON AN EQUITABLE AND ROTATING BASIS. GUARD SERGEANTS DO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE ROTATIONAL SCHEDULE ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, SUCH AS WHEN UNEXPECTED ABSENCES OR THE DETAILING OF POLICE OFFICERS TO VEHICLE INSPECTIONS (AS ORDERED BY THE SHIFT LIEUTENANT) CAUSE A SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYEES FOR REGULAR DUTIES. YET, THESE ADJUSTMENTS DO NOT REQUIRE THE CONSISTENT EXERCISE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT. GUARD SERGEANTS MAY CONDUCT THE SHIFT ROLL CALL AND INSPECT THE GUARDS AT THEIR DUTY STATIONS, BUT NEITHER ACTIVITY REQUIRES THE CONSISTENT EXERCISE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT. OVERTIME REQUIREMENTS ARE NORMALLY ESTABLISHED BY THE SHIFT LIEUTENANT, WITH THE GUARD SERGEANTS BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURING THE NECESSARY MANPOWER, USING A ROSTER WHICH IS ROTATED ON AN EQUITABLE BASIS. ROUTINE LEAVE REQUESTS FOR GUARDS ARE SOMETIMES ACTED UPON BY GUARD SERGEANTS, BUT THE SHIFT LIEUTENANT HANDLES LEAVE FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS AND IN NO CASE CAN A GUARD SERGEANT APPROVE OVER TWO WEEKS OF LEAVE FOR A GUARD. IN TERMS OF PROMOTION, GUARD SERGEANTS MAY OFTEN BE INVOLVED IN INITIALLY RECOMMENDING SUCH AN ACTION, BUT OFTEN ONLY AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE SHIFT LIEUTENANT, AND EVEN THEN THE RECOMMENDATION IS NOT UNIFORMLY FOLLOWED. CURRENTLY, SHIFT LIEUTENANTS PREPARE THE SUBORDINATES' PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS, ALTHOUGH IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT IN THE FUTURE EACH GUARD SERGEANT WILL DO SUCH EVALUATIONS ON SUBORDINATES WITH WHOM HE WORKED JUST PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE EVALUATION. FURTHER, GUARD SERGEANTS DO NOT EFFECTIVELY RECOMMEND SUSPENSION, DISCIPLINE OR REMOVAL OF EMPLOYEES. GUARD SERGEANTS HAVE PROPOSED LETTERS OF REPRIMAND, BUT BEFORE THEIR ISSUANCE THEY ARE DISCUSSED AND MUST BE APPROVED BY THE SHIFT LIEUTENANT. HENCE, THE GUARD SERGEANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS CANNOT BE DEEMED EFFECTIVE. WITH REGARD TO MORE SERIOUS DISCIPLINE, THE GUARD SERGEANT MAY INITIALLY REPORT THE INFRACTION, BUT THE SHIFT LIEUTENANT CONDUCTS AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION BEFORE PURSUING SUCH DISCIPLINE. THE SHIFT LIEUTENANT IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE NEGOTIATED GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE. THUS, THE RECORD IN THIS CASE, AS CONTRASTED TO CASE NO. 9-CU-14, REVEALS THAT IT IS THE SHIFT LIEUTENANT, AND NOT THE GUARD SERGEANT, WHO POSSESSES THE NECESSARY INDICIA OF FIRST LINE SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY. THIS IS FURTHER CONFIRMED BY THE ONE POSITION DESCRIPTION SUBMITTED FOR ONE OF THE POSITIONS IN DISPUTE, WHICH INDICATES THAT GUARD SERGEANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TECHNICAL DIRECTION OF PATROLMEN BUT "ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISION OF THE EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO THEIR WORK SHIFT." UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WHILE IT IS NOTED THAT GUARD SERGEANTS PLAY SOME ROLE IN THE AREAS OF DIRECTING AND ASSIGNING, THEIR EXERCISE OF THIS AUTHORITY DOES NOT REQUIRE THE CONSISTENT EXERCISE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT. FURTHER, ALTHOUGH THEY ALSO PLAY A ROLE IN THE AREAS OF PROMOTING AND DISCIPLINING, THEY DO NOT EFFECTIVELY RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE ACTIONS. ACCORDINGLY, THE INCUMBENTS IN THESE GUARD SERGEANT POSITIONS ARE NOT SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE, AND WILL BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE BARGAINING UNIT. ORDER IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT THE PETITION FOR CLARIFICATION OF THE UNIT IN WHICH EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION WAS ORIGINALLY GRANTED TO THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 48, AFL-CIO, ON FEBRUARY 10, 1969, AT THE SECURITY DEPARTMENT, NAVAL UNDERSEA WARFARE ENGINEERING STATION, KEYPORT, WASHINGTON, BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, DISMISSED. FURTHER, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT THE UNIT SOUGHT TO BE CLARIFIED, IN WHICH EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION WAS ORIGINALLY GRANTED TO THE BREMERTON METAL TRADES COUNCIL, AFL-CIO, ON OCTOBER 12, 1962, AT THE PUGET SOUND NAVAL SHIPYARD, BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, CLARIFIED BY INCLUDING IN SAID UNIT THOSE INCUMBENTS CLASSIFIED AS GUARD SERGEANT, GS-06. 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/ SEE, E.G., ARMY AND AIR FORCE EXCHANGE SERVICE, BASE EXCHANGE, FORT CARSON, FORT CARSON, COLORADO AND AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL NO. 1345, 3 FLRA NO. 95(1980); DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, FLIGHT STANDARDS NATIONAL FIELD OFFICE AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT STANDARDS EMPLOYEES, IND., 4 FLRA NO. 104(1981); U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, SOUTHERN REGION AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EMPLOYEES ORGANIZATION, MEBA, AFL-CIO, 5 FLRA NO. 16 (1981). /2/ S. 2640, 95TH CONG.,2D SESS. SECTION 7202(A)(11)(1978). /3/ H.R. 13, 95TH CONG.,1ST SESS. SECTION 7103(A)(9)(1977). /4/ H.R. 1589, 95TH CONG.,1ST SESS. SEC. 3(F)(1977). /5/ H.R. 9094, 95TH CONG.,1ST SESS. SEC. 7103(A)(12)(1977) /6/ SEE, E.G., VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, WASHINGTON, D.C. AND NATIONAL OFFICE, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, 1 FLRA 457(1979) (WHERE APPROXIMATELY 116,000 EMPLOYEES WERE CONSOLIDATED INTO A SINGLE UNIT CONTAINING FIREFIGHTERS AND NURSES AMONG OTHER JOB CLASSIFICATIONS). /7/ SEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WASHINGTON, D.C. AND AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 3313, AFL-CIO (AND OTHER CASES CONSOLIDATED THEREWITH), 5 FLRA NO. 89(1981), FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE POLICY CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED IN UNIT CONSOLIDATIONS. /8/ SEE, E.G., PANAMA CANAL COMMISSION AND AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1805, AFL-CIO (AND OTHER CASES CONSOLIDATED THEREWITH), 5 FLRA NO. 20(1981); DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPENDENTS SCHOOLS AND OVERSEAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, NEA (AND OTHER CASES CONSOLIDATED THEREWITH), 6 FLRA 297(1981).