[ v07 p535 ]
07:0535(79)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
7 FLRA No. 79 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 2151 (Union) and GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, WASHINGTON, D.C. (Agency) Case No. O-NG-294 DECISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY ISSUES THE PETITION FOR REVIEW IN THIS CASE COMES BEFORE THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO SECTION 7105(A)(2)(E) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE). THE RECORD INDICATES THAT, ON AUGUST 13, 1979, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (OMB) ISSUED CIRCULAR NO. A-118, WHICH ESTABLISHED A GOVERNMENT-WIDE PAID PARKING PROGRAM FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTED THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA) TO DEVELOP REGULATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM. ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1979, GSA ISSUED FPMR TEMPORARY REGULATION D-65 (44 FED.REG. 53161), WHICH PRESCRIBED PROCEDURES FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF PARKING SPACES AND THE ASSESSMENT OF FEES. THEREAFTER, THE UNION ATTEMPTED TO NEGOTIATE NINE PROPOSALS SEEKING TO EXEMPT CERTAIN GROUPS OF EMPLOYEES FROM PAYING PARKING FEES, TO ALLOCATE PARKING SPACES, AND TO SET PARKING RATES. ALL THE PROPOSALS WERE ALLEGED BY THE AGENCY TO BE NONNEGOTIABLE ON THE GROUND THAT THEY CONFLICTED WITH GOVERNMENT-WIDE REGULATIONS, SPECIFICALLY OMB CIRCULAR A-118 AND FPMR TEMPORARY REGULATION D-65. THE UNION FILED AN APPEAL WITH THE AUTHORITY UNDER SECTION 7117 OF THE STATUTE, AND THE AGENCY FILED A STATEMENT OF POSITION IN WHICH IT ESSENTIALLY REASSERTED THAT THE DISPUTED PROPOSALS WERE INCONSISTENT WITH OMB CIRCULAR A-118 AND/OR FPMR TEMPORARY REGULATION D-65 AND HENCE WERE NONNEGOTIABLE. /1/ WHILE THIS APPEAL WAS PENDING BEFORE THE AUTHORITY, THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA RULED THAT THE PAID PARKING PLAN, AS EMBODIED IN OMB CIRCULAR A-118, WAS INVALID AND THUS DID NOT CONVEY ANY AUTHORITY TO THE GSA TO ISSUE A GSA REGULATION IMPOSING FEES FOR PREVIOUSLY FREE PARKING. THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT ORDERED THAT THE GSA REGULATION BE SET ASIDE AND ITS ENFORCEMENT PERMANENTLY ENJOINED, /2/ AND GSA THEREAFTER REVISED THE REGULATION TO SUSPEND THE COLLECTION OF PARKING FEES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INJUNCTION. /3/ THE DISTRICT COURT'S DECISION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REVERSED. /4/ HOWEVER, NO NEW DIRECTIVE TO REINSTITUTE THE COLLECTION OF PARKING FEES HAS BEEN PROMULGATED OR ANNOUNCED. INASMUCH AS THERE IS NO REGULATION IN EFFECT AT THIS TIME REQUIRING THE COLLECTION OF PARKING FEES, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE NEGOTIABILITY ISSUES RAISED WITH RESPECT TO THE DISPUTED PROPOSALS INVOLVED IN THE INSTANT APPEAL /5/ HAVE BEEN RENDERED MOOT. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 2782 AND DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, BUREAU OF THE CENSUS, WASHINGTON, D.C., 6 FLRA NO. 117(1981); NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION AND DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE, WASHINGTON, D.C., 6 FLRA NO. 118(1981); AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 1118 AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, WASHINGTON, D.C., 6 FLRA NO. 120(1981). ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED THAT THE UNION'S APPEAL WITH RESPECT TO UNION PROPOSALS 1, 2, 4, 5 AND 8 BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE APPROPRIATE RENEWAL OF ITS CONTENTION THAT THE MATTERS IN DISPUTE ARE NEGOTIABLE UNDER THE STATUTE SHOULD THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE GSA PARKING FEE REGULATION SUBSEQUENTLY BE REINSTITUTED. THE ONLY ISSUES REMAINING ARE THOSE RAISED IN UNION PROPOSALS 6 AND 9, SET FORTH BELOW, WHICH PERTAIN TO THE ALLOCATION OF PARKING SPACES. UNION PROPOSALS 6 AND 9 6. WHERE AN EMPLOYEE WOULD OTHERWISE BE ON THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR A PERIOD OF OVER 1 1/2 HOURS PER DAY TO AND FROM HIS JOB, HE SHALL BE ALLOCATED A RESERVED PARKING SPACE. THIS WOULD APPLY ONLY TO GSA EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE BARGAINING UNITS OF AFGE LOCAL 2151 DURING THE LIFE OF THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT. 9. CONTINUOUS DUTY EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE CALLED BACK ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS, AND NIGHT DUTY EMPLOYEES, SHALL BE ALLOCATED RESERVED PARKING SPACES IN PROXIMITY TO THE BUILDING IN WHICH THEY WORK. THIS WILL APPLY ONLY TO EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE BARGAINING UNIT OF AFGE LOCAL 2151. QUESTION BEFORE THE AUTHORITY THE QUESTION IS WHETHER UNION PROPOSALS 6 AND 9, WHICH PERTAIN TO THE ALLOCATION OF RESERVED PARKING SPACES, ARE WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN OR, AS ALLEGED BY THE AGENCY, ARE OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER SECTION 7117(A)(1) OF THE STATUTE BECAUSE THEY CONFLICT WITH GOVERNMENT-WIDE REGULATIONS. /6/ OPINION CONCLUSION AND ORDER: AS DRAFTED, UNION PROPOSALS 6 AND 9 CONCERNING THE ALLOCATION OF RESERVED PARKING SPACES CONFLICT WITH GOVERNMENT-WIDE REGULATIONS, SPECIFICALLY, OMB CIRCULAR A-118 AND FPMR TEMPORARY REGULATION D-65, AND THEREFORE ARE NOT WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER SECTION 7117(A)(1) OF THE STATUTE. ACCORDINGLY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2424.10 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 CFR 2424.10(1981)), IT IS ORDERED THAT THE PETITION FOR REVIEW CONCERNING THESE PROPOSALS BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, DISMISSED. REASONS: BOTH OF THE DISPUTED PROPOSALS CONCERN THE ASSIGNMENT TO EMPLOYEES BY THE AGENCY OF PARKING SPACES WITHIN THE AGENCY'S CONTROL. UNION PROPOSAL 6 WOULD REQUIRE THAT BARGAINING UNIT EMPLOYEES WHOSE DAILY COMMUTE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WOULD EXCEED 1 1/2 HOURS BE ALLOCATED RESERVED PARKING SPACES; UNION PROPOSAL 9 WOULD REQUIRE THAT SUCH SPACES BE MADE AVAILABLE NEAR THE WORK SITES OF THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORM CONTINUOUS OR NIGHT DUTY, OR WHO ARE CALLED BACK ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS. AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THE AGENCY ALLEGES THAT BOTH PROPOSALS CONFLICT WITH GOVERNMENT-WIDE RULES OR REGULATIONS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7117(A)(1) OF THE STATUTE (SUPRA N. 6), SPECIFICALLY OMB CIRCULAR A-118 AND FPMR TEMPORARY REGULATION D-65, AND THEREFORE ARE OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN. MORE PARTICULARLY, THE AGENCY ASSERTS (WITH OBVIOUS REFERENCE TO UNION PROPOSAL 6) THAT "TIME SPENT ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TRAVELING TO AND FROM THE WORK LOCATION IS NOT . . . ONE OF THE LISTED PRIORITIES TO CONSIDER WHEN ASSIGNING PARKING SPACES," REFERRING TO THE PRIORITIES STATED IN OMB CIRCULAR A-118 AND FPMR TEMPORARY REGULATION D-65, WHICH AGENCIES ARE TO OBSERVE IN ASSIGNING THE PARKING SPACES UNDER THEIR CONTROL. /7/ THE UNION, ON THE OTHER HAND, CONTENDS THAT NEITHER OMB CIRCULAR A-118 NOR FPMR TEMPORARY REGULATION D-65 AS AMENDED IS A GOVERNMENT-WIDE REGULATION WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE STATUTE, AND, IN ANY EVENT, THAT THE FOREGOING REGULATIONS DO NOT PRECLUDE THE MATTERS THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE DISPUTED PROPOSALS. IN THIS LATTER REGARD, THE UNION STATES THAT "THE INTENT OF SUCH PROPOSALS IS TO PROVIDE FOR ALLOCATION IN ADDITION TO THOSE SET BY OMB AND GSA(,)" AND ASSERTS THAT "NOTHING IN THE UNION'S PROPOSALS WOULD CONFLICT WITH OMB CIRCULAR A-118 OR (FPMR TEMPORARY) REGULATION D-65." THE AUTHORITY PREVIOUSLY HAS DETERMINED THAT THE GSA'S FEDERAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS AS CODIFIED AT TITLE 41 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS GENERALLY CONSTITUTE "GOVERNMENT-WIDE REGULATIONS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7117(A) OF THE STATUTE, AND THAT FPMR TEMPORARY REGULATION D-65 IN PARTICULAR IS A GOVERNMENT-WIDE REGULATION WHICH PRECLUDES NEGOTIATION OF A CONFLICTING UNION PROPOSAL. NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, CHAPTER 6 AND INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, NEW ORLEANS DISTRICT, 3 FLRA NO. 118(1980). /8/ THE ISSUE THEN BECOMES WHETHER THE DISPUTED PROPOSALS IN THIS CASE ARE INCONSISTENT WITH SUCH REGULATION. 8. PRIORITIES FOR EMPLOYEE PARKING. AGENCIES SHALL ENCOURAGE THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY BY TAKING POSITIVE ACTION TO INCREASE CARPOOLING. A. ASSIGNMENT OF SPACES. IN MEETING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROMOTE CARPOOLING, AGENCIES SHALL ASSIGN EMPLOYEE PARKING AS FOLLOWS: (1) HANDICAPPED EMPLOYEES . . . (2) A GOAL OF NOT MORE THAN 10 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL SPACES AVAILABLE ON AN AGENCYWIDE BASIS (EXCLUDING THE SPACES ASSIGNED TO SEVERELY HANDICAPPED EMPLOYEES) TO EXECUTIVE PERSONNEL AND/OR PERSONS WHO ARE ASSIGNED UNUSUAL HOURS. EXECUTIVE PERSONNEL SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO CARPOOL. (3) VANPOOLS. (4) CARPOOLS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS. WHILE THE AGENCY DOES NOT ADDRESS UNION PROPOSAL 9 IN TERMS OF THE FOREGOING REGULATION, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT PARAGRAPH 8 A (2) THEREOF SPECIFIES A PARKING SPACE ASSIGNMENT PRIORITY FOR "PERSONS WHO ARE ASSIGNED UNUSUAL HOURS." AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, WITH RESPECT TO BOTH PROPOSALS THE UNION'S STATED INTENT IS TO ADD TO RATHER THAN SUPERSEDE THE LIST OF PRIORITIES SPECIFIED BY REGULATION FOR AGENCIES TO FOLLOW IN ASSIGNING ALLOCATED PARKING SPACES TO EMPLOYEES. HOWEVER, THE LITERAL LANGUAGE AND CLEAR MEANING OF UNION PROPOSALS 6 AND 9 WOULD REQUIRE THE AGENCY TO ALLOCATE RESERVED PARKING SPACES TO EMPLOYEES WHO MEET THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE PROPOSALS, NOTWITHSTANDING THE MANDATORY PRIORITIES ESTABLISHED BY GOVERNMENT-WIDE REGULATION TO GOVERN THE ALLOCATIONS OF SUCH PARKING SPACES. ACCORDINGLY, AS DRAFTED, UNION PROPOSALS 6 AND 9 MUST BE FOUND TO CONFLICT WITH GOVERNMENT-WIDE REGULATIONS AND ARE, THEREFORE, OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER THE STATUTE. OF COURSE, IF THE PROPOSALS WERE MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE UNION'S STATED INTENT, I.E., THAT EMPLOYEES WHO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROPOSALS SHALL BE ALLOCATED RESERVED PARKING SPACES IF ANY REMAIN AFTER THE PRIORITIES SPECIFIED BY REGULATION ARE SATISFIED, SUCH PROPOSALS WOULD NOT CONFLICT WITH GOVERNMENT-WIDE REGULATIONS AND THEREFORE WOULD BE WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER THE STATUTE. /9/ 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/ UNION PROPOSALS 3 AND 7, WHICH PERTAIN TO SETTING PARKING RATES, SUBSEQUENTLY WERE WITHDRAWN FROM CONSIDERATION BY THE UNION AND ARE, THEREFORE, NOT BEFORE THE AUTHORITY FOR DECISION AT THIS TIME. /2/ AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, ET AL. V. FREEMAN, 510 F. SUPP. 596 (D.D.C. 1981). /3/ 46 F.R. 40191(1981). /4/ AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, ET AL. V. CARMEN, CIVIL ACTION NO. 81-1244 (D.C. CIR. DEC. 15, 1981). /5/ UNION PROPOSALS 1, 2, 4, 5, AND 8 READ AS FOLLOWS: 1. EXEMPT ALL HOTA EMPLOYEES FROM PAYING FEES. 2. EXEMPT ALL CONTINUOUS DUTY EMPLOYEES. 4. EXEMPT ALL FRANCONIA WAREHOUSE EMPLOYEES FROM PAYING 5. EXEMPT ALL EMPLOYEES IN OUR BARGAINING UNITS FROM PAYING PARKING FEES. 8. ALL EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD BE PLACED IN A HARDSHIP STATUS DUE TO HAVING TO PAY A PARKING FEE SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM PAYING A PARKING FEE. THIS WOULD APPLY ONLY TO EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE BARGAINING UNIT OF AFGE LOCAL 2151. THIS WOULD APPLY TO WG-6 AND BELOW. /6/ SECTION 7117(A)(1) OF THE STATUTE READS, IN PERTINENT PART, AS FOLLOWS: SEC. 7117. DUTY TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH; COMPELLING NEED; DUTY TO CONSULT (A)(1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE DUTY TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH SHALL, TO THE EXTENT NOT INCONSISTENT WITH ANY FEDERAL LAW OR ANY GOVERNMENT-WIDE RULE OR REGULATION, EXTEND TO MATTERS WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF ANY RULE OR REGULATION ONLY IF THE RULE OR REGULATION IS NOT A GOVERNMENT-WIDE RULE OR REGULATION. /7/ PARAGRAPH 8 OF OMB CIRCULAR A-118 ADDRESSES THE ALLOCATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF PARKING FACILITIES AND STATES, IN PART, THAT "(TO) MAXIMIZE THE EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF AVAILABLE PARKING SPACES, ASSIGNMENTS OF SPACES TO FEDERAL EMPLOYEES SHALL BE ON THE BASIS OF THE REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY GSA (FPMR 101-20.111 AND 101-20.117), AS AMENDED TO COMPLY WITH THIS CIRCULAR." PARAGRAPH 8 OF GSA'S IMPLEMENTING REGULATION, FPMR TEMPORARY REGULATION D-65, AS AMENDED, SETS FORTH CERTAIN PRIORITIES FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF PARKING SPACES TO EMPLOYEES. PARAGRAPH 8 STATES AS FOLLOWS: 8. PRIORITIES FOR EMPLOYEE PARKING. AGENCIES SHALL ENCOURAGE THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY BY TAKING POSITIVE ACTION TO INCREASE CARPOOLING. A. ASSIGNMENT OF SPACES. IN MEETING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROMOTE CARPOOLING, AGENCIES SHALL ASSIGN EMPLOYEE PARKING AS FOLLOWS: (1) HANDICAPPED EMPLOYEES . . . (2) A GOAL OF NOT MORE THAN 10 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL SPACES AVAILABLE ON AN AGENCYWIDE BASIS (EXCLUDING THE SPACES ASSIGNED SEVERELY HANDICAPPED EMPLOYEES) TO EXECUTIVE PERSONNEL AND/OR PERSONS WHO ARE ASSIGNED UNUSUAL HOURS. EXECUTIVE PERSONNEL SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO CARPOOL. (3) VANPOOLS. (4) CARPOOLS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS. WHILE THE AGENCY DOES NOT ADDRESS UNION PROPOSAL 9 IN TERMS OF THE FOREGOING REGULATION, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT PARAGRAPH 8 A (2) THEREOF SPECIFIES A PARKING SPACE ASSIGNMENT PRIORITY FOR "PERSONS WHO ARE ASSIGNED UNUSUAL HOURS." /8/ WHILE THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAS INVALIDATED THE PAID PARKING PLAN AS EMBODIED IN OMB CIRCULAR A-118 AND HAS RULED THAT GSA HAD NO AUTHORITY TO ISSUE A REGULATION IMPOSING FEES FOR PREVIOUSLY FREE PARKING, THE COURT DID NOT ADDRESS THOSE PORTIONS OF THE APPLICABLE REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE ALLOCATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF EMPLOYEE PARKING. ACCORDINGLY, THE AUTHORITY REAFFIRMS ITS CONCLUSION THAT FPMR TEMPORARY REGULATION D-65 (AS NOW AMENDED IN LIGHT OF THE COURT'S DECISION) CONSTITUTES A GOVERNMENT-WIDE REGULATION. /9/ THE AUTHORITY NOTES THAT PARAGRAPH 8 OF OMB CIRCULAR A-118, AFTER LISTING A NUMBER OF PRIORITY CATEGORIES FOR RESERVED PARKING (INCLUDING OFFICIAL VEHICLES USED DURING THE DAY, HANDICAPPED EMPLOYEES, VANPOOLS AND CARPOOLS), CONCLUDES THE LIST WITH A REFERENCE TO "SINGLE OCCUPANT CARS," SPACE PERMITTING.