Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland (Activity) and American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (Petitioner)
[ v07 p643 ]
07:0643(101)RO
The decision of the Authority follows:
7 FLRA No. 101 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PATUXENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER LAUREL, MARYLAND /1/ Activity and AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO Petitioner Case No. 3-RO-44 DECISION AND DIRECTION OF ELECTION UPON A PETITION DULY FILED WITH THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY UNDER SECTION 7111(B)(1) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE), A HEARING WAS HELD BEFORE A HEARING OFFICER OF THE AUTHORITY. THE AUTHORITY HAS REVIEWED THE HEARING OFFICER'S RULINGS MADE AT THE HEARING AND FINDS THAT THEY ARE FREE FROM PREJUDICIAL ERROR. THE RULINGS ARE HEREBY AFFIRMED. UPON THE ENTIRE RECORD IN THE SUBJECT CASE, THE AUTHORITY FINDS: THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO (THE UNION), FILED A PETITION SEEKING AN ELECTION IN A UNIT COMPOSED OF ALL PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES LOCATED AT THE PATUXENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER, WITH A PERMANENT DUTY STATION IN LAUREL, MARYLAND, INCLUDING TEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES WITH AN EXPECTANCY OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OF 90 DAYS OR MORE. /2/ THE ACTIVITY CONTENDS THAT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR INCLUSION IN THE UNIT BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPERVISORS OR MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE STATUTE. /3/ SPECIFICALLY, THE ACTIVITY CONTENDS THAT 37 RESEARCHERS AT THE PATUXENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER (IN ADDITION TO THOSE PREVIOUSLY STIPULATED TO) ARE SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE BECAUSE THEY EXERCISE SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY OVER TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE HIRED TO ASSIST THEM, AND THAT THREE OTHER RESEARCHERS ARE MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(11) OF THE STATUTE BECAUSE THEY INFLUENCE AGENCY POLICY. /4/ THE ALLEGED SUPERVISORS THE JOB FUNCTION OF THE DISPUTED RESEARCHERS AT THE PATUXENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER IS TO DESIGN, IMPLEMENT AND REPORT ON STUDY PLANS AIMED AT THE MAINTENANCE AND PROPAGATION OF CERTAIN WATERFOWL AND MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS WITHIN DEFINED POLICY AREAS ESTABLISHED BY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. MOST OF THE RESEARCHERS HAVE SEVERAL STUDIES OF VARYING LENGTHS AND COMPLEXITIES IN PROGRESS AT ONE TIME, AND THEREFORE HAVE A CONTINUING NEED FOR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE. IN THIS CONNECTION, THEY UTILIZE THE SERVICES OF TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES. MOST OF THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES (CALLED BIOLOGICAL AIDS) ARE STUDENTS FROM THE LOCAL UNIVERSITIES WHO ARE HIRED AT GS-3 OR GS-4 GRADE LEVELS TO WORK FOR A MAXIMUM OF 1040 HOURS PER YEAR WHICH IS USUALLY SPREAD OVER SIX CONSECUTIVE MONTHS. SOME OF THE RESEARCHERS ARE ASSISTED BY TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES (CALLED BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIANS) WHO ARE HIRED AT THE GS-5 GRADE LEVEL FOR SOMEWHAT LONGER PERIODS OF TIME THAN THE STUDENTS. DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME THEY ARE EMPLOYED, THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES ACCRUE ANNUAL AND SICK LEAVE, ARE COVERED BY WORKERS' COMPENSATION, AND RECEIVE CREDIT FOR RETIREMENT PURPOSES. BASED UPON THE FOREGOING, THE AUTHORITY FINDS, AND IT IS NOT DISPUTED, THAT THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES ARE EMPLOYEES AS THAT WORD IS USED IN SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE. THE ISSUE IS WHETHER THE RESEARCHERS IN QUESTION ACT AS SUPERVISORS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH EMPLOYEES. THE RECORD REVEALS THAT TO OBTAIN NEEDED TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE, THE RESEARCHERS NOTIFY THEIR PROGRAM ASSISTANTS WHO, IN TURN, WITH REGARD TO NEEDED STUDENTS, CONTACT THE UNIVERSITIES TO SOLICIT APPLICATIONS AND TRANSCRIPTS. THE RESEARCHERS THEN REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED AND SELECT CERTAIN APPLICANTS FOR INTERVIEW. FROM AMONG THOSE INTERVIEWED, THE RESEARCHERS MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE HIRING OFFICIAL AS TO WHICH APPLICANT SHOULD BE HIRED. THE ACTIVITY'S POLICY IS THAT RESEARCHERS SHOULD SELECT THEIR OWN ASSISTANTS, AND THERFORE A RESEARCHER'S HIRING RECOMMENDATION INVARIABLY IS FOLLOWED. A SIMILAR PROCESS IS FOLLOWED WITH RESPECT TO THE HIRING OF GS-5 BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIANS, EXCEPT THAT APPLICATIONS ARE OBTAINED THROUGH REFERRALS FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE REGISTER. ONCE HIRED, THE RESEARCHER ASSIGNS DUTIES TO THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE AND DIRECTS THE EMPLOYEE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE DUTIES. THE DUTIES USUALLY CONSIST OF MAINTAINING THE RESEARCHER'S BIRDS WHILE THEY ARE BEING STUDIED,E.G., MAINTAINING THEIR HABITATS, COLLECTING DATA, AND PERFORMING OTHER DUTIES PURSUANT TO SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE RESEARCHER. IN ADDITION, RESEARCHERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THE ACTIVITY'S SAFETY RULES, AND ON OCCASION HAVE DISCIPLINED TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES FOR INFRACTIONS THEREOF. THE RESEARCHERS ALSO APPROVE THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES' ANNUAL AND SICK LEAVE, AND COMPLETE THEIR PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. BASED UPON THE FACTS SET FORTH ABOVE, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE RESEARCHERS IN THE POSITIONS LISTED IN APPENDIX B (ATTACHED HERETO) ARE SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE AND THEREFORE MUST BE EXCLUDED FROM THE UNIT. IN THIS REGARD, THE RECORD CLEARLY ESTABLISHES THAT THESE RESEARCHERS CONTINUOUSLY USE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES TO ASSIST THEM IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH STUDIES, AND THAT THE RESEARCHERS NOT ONLY DECIDE WHICH APPLICANTS TO INTERVIEW FOR SUCH POSITIONS BUT EFFECTIVELY RECOMMEND THE APPLICANTS TO BE HIRED. MOREOVER, ,S SET FORTH ABOVE, THE RESEARCHERS EFFECTIVELY DIRECT AND ASSIGN WORK TO THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN HIRED, AND, ON OCCASION, DISCIPLINE SUCH EMPLOYEES. CLEARLY, ALL OF THE FOREGOING RESPONSIBILITIES INVOLVE THE CONSISTENT USE OF INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT BY THE RESEARCHERS IN THE EXERCISE OF SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY. /5/ THE AUTHORITY ALSO FINDS THAT ANDRE BELISLE (RESEARCH CHEMIST, GS-1320) AND RICHARD COON (WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST, GS-1320) ARE SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE STATUTE. THE RECORD REVEALS THAT BELISLE IS IN CHARGE OF A PERMANENT EMPLOYEE, A GS-7 BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN, AND THAT HE ALONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSIGNING WORK TO THIS EMPLOYEE. HE INSTRUCTS THE EMPLOYEE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES AND MONITORS THE PROGRESS THEREOF. IN ADDITION, BELISLE HAS DISCIPLINED THE EMPLOYEE FOR "GOOFING OFF" ON THE JOB. IN THE EXERCISE OF HIS AUTHORITY TO ASSIGN, DIRECT AND DISCIPLINE THE EMPLOYEE, BELISLE CONSISTENTLY USES INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT. ACCORDINGLY, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT BELISLE SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE UNIT. DR. RICHARD COON IS ADMINISTRATOR OF RESEARCH CONTRACTS FOR THE SECTION OF THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE THAT DEALS WITH MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS. IN CONNECTION WITH THIS FUNCTION, COON IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A GS-5 PROGRAM ASSISTANT ON A DAILY BASIS, ASSIGNING WORK TO HER AND INSTRUCTING HER IN THE PREPARATION OF MEMORANDA AND FIELD REPORTS CONTAINING DATA ON MIGRATORY BIRDS AND THE AMOUNTS OF AGENCY FUNDS SPENT TO COMPLETE STUDIES WITH RESPECT TO SUCH BIRDS. IT FURTHER APPEARS THAT HE ALONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SIGNING THE EMPLOYEE'S TIME CARDS, DISCIPLINING THE EMPLOYEE, APPROVING HER LEAVE AND COMPLETING HER PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. COON ALSO SUPERVISED THE EMPLOYEE'S PREDECESSOR IN THAT POSITION, AND WHEN A VACANCY OCCURRED THEREIN, COON INTERVIEWED CANDIDATES AND EFFECTIVELY RECOMMENDED TO THE HIRING OFFICIAL THAT THE INCUMBENT BE SELECTED. UNDER THE FOREGOING CIRCUMSTANCES, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT COON EXERCISES THE AUTHORITY TO ASSIGN, DIRECT AND DISCIPLINE THE PROGRAM ASSISTANT AND HAS EFFECTIVELY RECOMMENDED THAT SHE BE HIRED FOR THE POSITION. THE AUTHORITY FURTHER FINDS THAT, IN THE EXERCISE OF THE FOREGOING AUTHORITY, COON HAS CONSISTENTLY USED INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE UNIT AS A SUPERVISOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE. THE ALLEGED MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AS STATED ABOVE, THE ACTIVITY ALSO CONTENDS THAT THREE WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS (MANAGEMENT), GS-486 (ROBERT BLOHM, DAVID DOLTON AND JOHN TAUTIN) SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE UNIT BECAUSE THEY ARE MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(11) OF THE STATUTE (SUPRA N.4). SPECIFICALLY, THE ACTIVITY CONTENDS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS INFLUENCE POLICY CONCERNING THE CONTENT OF NATIONAL HUNTING REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. IN THE LEAD CASE OF DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING SELECTION OFFICE, 7 FLRA NO. 24(1981), THE AUTHORITY INTERPRETED THE DEFINITION OF MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL IN SECTION 7103(A)(11) TO INCLUDE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO: (1) CREATE, ESTABLISH OR PRESCRIBE GENERAL PRINCIPLES, PLANS OR COURSES OF ACTION FOR AN AGENCY; (2) DECIDE UPON OR SETTLE UPON GENERAL PRINCIPLES, PLANS OR COURSES OF ACTION FOR AN AGENCY; OR (3) BRING ABOUT OR OBTAIN A RESULT AS TO THE ADOPTION OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES, PLANS OR COURSES OF ACTION FOR AN AGENCY. THE RECORD REVEALS THAT THE THREE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE INSTANT CASE GATHER INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS STATE AND REGIONAL WILDLIFE AGENCIES ON THE ABUNDANCE OF CERTAIN SPECIES OF MIGRATORY BIRDS. THESE INDIVIDUALS ANALYZE THE DATA AND DISCUSS THEIR FINDINGS WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISORS AND OTHER SUPERIORS AT THE ACTIVITY, AND THEN PREPARE AND SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT AND PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE SERVICE REGULATIONS COMMITTEE (SRC) AS TO WHAT THE NATIONAL HUNTING REGULATION SHOULD BE FOR THE COMING YEAR. IN THIS REGARD, THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ACTIVITY ARE RECEIVED AND INCORPORATED INTO A RECORD COMPILED BY A HEARING OFFICER OF THE AGENCY AS PART OF A FORMAL PUBLIC HEARING AT WHICH MANY INTERESTED CONSERVATION AND OTHER GROUPS PRESENT THEIR DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS. ON THE BASIS OF THE HEARING, THE ACTIVITY'S PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS MAY BE MODIFIED FOR FINAL SUBMISSION TO THE SRC FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUALS IN QUESTION AND THEIR SUPERVISORS. THE ENTIRE RECORD IS THEN SUBMITTED TO THE SRC AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE SRC, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS IN THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, REVIEWS THE MATERIAL AND RECOMMENDS TO THE DIRECTOR WHAT THE FINAL REGULATION SHOULD BE. THE RECORD INDICATES THAT, IN THE PAST, THE SRC HAS SOMETIMES ADOPTED AND SOMETIMES REJECTED THE ACTIVITY'S RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH WERE PREPARED AND SUBMITTED BY THE INDIVIDUALS IN DISPUTE, AND ON OCCASION HAS ADOPTED THE POSITION TAKEN BY ONE OR MORE OTHER GROUPS AT THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE SRC'S RECOMMENDATION, SUBMITTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IN THE FORM OF A FINAL REGULATION, IS THEN SIGNED BY THE DIRECTOR. BASED UPON THE FOREGOING, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE THREE DISPUTED WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS (MANAGEMENT), GS-486, DO NOT FORMULATE, DETERMINE, OR INFLUENCE THE POLICIES OF THE ACTIVITY, WITHIN THE MEANING GIVEN THOSE TERMS BY THE AUTHORITY IN DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING SELECTION OFFICE, SUPRA. RATHER, THEIR ROLE IS THAT OF EXPERTS OR PROFESSIONALS RENDERING RESOURCE INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO AGENCY POLICIES, SPECIFICALLY NATIONAL HUNTING REGULATIONS. IN THIS REGARD, THE AUTHORITY NOTES THAT THE THREE INDIVIDUALS IN QUESTION DO NOT COME TO INDEPENDENT DECISIONS EITHER AS TO WHAT THE AGENCY'S POLICY WILL BE OR AS TO WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE MADE TO THE SERVICE REGULATIONS COMMITTEE BY THE ACTIVITY. RATHER, THE ACTIVITY'S RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FORMULATED IN THE COURSE OF DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR SUPERVISORS. MOREOVER, NOT ONLY DOES THE SRC INDEPENDENTLY CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS PREPARED BY THE INDIVIDUALS AT ISSUE HEREIN, BUT THE SRC ALSO CONSIDERS AND SOMETIMES ADOPTS RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMITTED BY OTHER GROUPS AT FORMAL PUBLIC HEARINGS. BASED UPON ALL OF THE FOREGOING, THE AUTHORITY CONCLUDES THAT THE THREE INDIVIDUALS IN QUESTION ARE NOT MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(11) OF THE STATUTE, AND THAT THEY THEREFORE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE UNIT. IN ADDITION, WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTIVITY'S ASSERTION THAT TAUTIN, ONE OF THE THREE ALLEGED MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, IS ALSO A SUPERVISOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE STATUTE, THE AUTHORITY FINDS NO RECORD EVIDENCE THAT TAUTIN PERFORMS ANY OF THE INDICIA OF SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO THE CLERICAL EMPLOYEE REFERRED TO BY THE ACTIVITY WHOSE TYPING SERVICES HE SHARES WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER RESEARCHERS. ACCORDINGLY, THE AUTHORITY FURTHER CONCLUDES THAT TAUTIN IS NOT A SUPERVISOR WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE. BASED ON THE FOREGOING, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE FOLLOWING UNIT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7112 OF THE STATUTE: ALL PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES LOCATED AT THE PATUXENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER, WITH A PERMANENT DUTY STATION IN LAUREL, MARYLAND, INCLUDING TEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES WITH AN EXPECTANCY OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OF 90 DAYS OR MORE, BUT EXCLUDING ALL NON-PROFESSIONAL GENERAL SCHEDULE AND WAGE GRADE EMPLOYEES; MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS; SUPERVISORS; AND EMPLOYEES DESCRIBED IN 5 U.S.C. 7112(B)(2), (3), (4), (6) AND (7). DIRECTION OF ELECTION AN ELECTION BY SECRET BALLOT SHALL BE CONDUCTED AMONG THE EMPLOYEES IN THE UNIT DESCRIBED ABOVE AS SOON AS FEASIBLE. THE APPROPRIATE REGIONAL DIRECTOR SHALL SUPERVISE OR CONDUCT THE ELECTION, AS APPROPRIATE, SUBJECT TO THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS. ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ARE THOSE IN THE VOTING GROUP WHO WERE EMPLOYED DURING THE PAYROLL PERIOD IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE BELOW, INCLUDING EMPLOYEES WHO DID NOT WORK DURING THAT PERIOD BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT ILL, OR ON VACATION OR ON FURLOUGH, INCLUDING THOSE IN MILITARY SERVICE WHO APPEAR IN PERSON AT THE POLLS. INELIGIBLE TO VOTE ARE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE QUIT OR WERE DISCHARGED FOR CAUSE SINCE THE DESIGNATED PAYROLL PERIOD AND WHO HAVE NOT BEEN REHIRED OR REINSTATED BEFORE THE ELECTION DATE. THOSE ELIGIBLE SHALL VOTE WHETHER THEY DESIRE TO BE REPRESENTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, OR BY NO UNION. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY 15, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY APPENDIX A EMPLOYEES STIPULATED BY PARTIES TO BE EXCLUDED FROM UNIT AS SUPERVISORS OR MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS (TABLE OMITTED) APPENDIX B SUPERVISORY RESEARCHERS (TABLE OMITTED) APPENDIX C NONSUPERVISORY RESEARCHERS (TABLE OMITTED) --------------- FOOTNOTES: --------------- /1/ THE NAME OF THE ACTIVITY APPEARS AS AMENDED AT THE HEARING. /2/ THE PARTIES STIPULATED AND THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE FOLLOWING UNIT IS APPROPRIATE FOR PURPOSES OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION UNDER THE STATUTE: INCLUDED: ALL PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES LOCATED AT THE PATUXENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER, WITH A PERMANENT DUTY STATION IN LAUREL, MARYLAND, INCLUDING TEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES WITH AN EXPECTANCY OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OF 90 DAYS OR MORE. EXCLUDED: ALL NON-PROFESSIONAL GENERAL SCHEDULE AND WAGE GRADE EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, SUPERVISORS, CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK EXCEPT IN A CLERICAL CAPACITY. /3/ AT THE HEARING, THE PARTIES STIPULATED THAT 23 INDIVIDUALS ARE SUPERVISORS OR MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE STATUTE (SEE APPENDIX A). IN ADDITION, AT THE HEARING, THE PETITIONER STATED THAT IT DID NOT QUESTION THE SUPERVISORY STATUS OF AELRED GEIS, WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST (RESEARCH, GS-486. ACCORDINGLY, THESE 24 INDIVIDUALS SHALL BE EXCLUDED FROM ANY UNIT DEEMED APPROPRIATE. /4/ SECTION 7103(A)(10) AND (11) OF THE STATUTE PROVIDE IN PERTINENT PART: SEC. 7103. DEFINITIONS; APPLICATION (A) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHAPTER - . . . . (10) '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 . . . ; (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(.) /5/ THE RECORD REVEALS, HOWEVER, THAT AT THE TIME OF THE HEARING A NUMBER OF THE RESEARCHERS IN DISPUTE HEREIN DID NOT HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND THEREFORE DID NOT EXERCISE SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO ANY EMPLOYEES. SUCH INDIVIDUALS (SET FORTH IN APPENDIX C HERETO) ARE FOUND NOT TO BE SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7103(A)(10) OF THE STATUTE AND ARE INCLUDED IN THE UNIT. SEE THE ADJUTANT GENERAL STATE OF VERMONT, VERMONT AIR NATIONAL GUARD, 5 FLRA NO. 104(1981), AT PAGE 5 OF THE DECISION.