Picatinny Arsenal, U.S. Army Armament Research and Development Command, Dover, New Jersey (Activity) and National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 1437 (Union)
[ v07 p703 ]
07:0703(109)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
7 FLRA No. 109 PICATINNY ARSENAL, U.S. ARMY ARMAMENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMAND, DOVER, NEW JERSEY Activity and NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1437 Union Case No. O-AR-178 DECISION THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON EXCEPTIONS TO THE AWARD OF ARBITRATOR OGDEN W. FIELDS FILED BY THE AGENCY UNDER SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE) /1/ AND PART 2425 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 CFR PART 2425). THE UNION FILED AN OPPOSITION. /2/ ACCORDING TO THE ARBITRATOR, THE GRIEVANT IN THIS CASE IS A GS-12 MECHANICAL ENGINEER ELIGIBLE FOR REPROMOTION TO A GS-13 POSITION. THE DISPUTE HEREIN AROSE WHEN, OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, THE GRIEVANT UNSUCCESSFULLY APPLIED AS A REPROMOTION ELIGIBLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 80 POSITIONS. A GRIEVANCE WAS FILED AND ULTIMATELY THE GRIEVANT'S NONSELECTION FOR THREE OF THESE POSITIONS WAS SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION. THE ARBITRATOR CHARACTERIZED THE QUESTION BEFORE HIM AS "WHETHER THE GRIEVANT RECEIVED THE TREATMENT HE IS ENTITLED TO UNDER THE REGULATIONS AND THE CONTRACT, NAMELY SPECIAL CONSIDERATION, AND (WHETHER THERE WERE) PERSUASIVE REASONS FOR HIS NONSELECTION." /3/ IN A LENGTHY AND DETAILED OPINION, THE ARBITRATOR CAREFULLY CONSIDERED ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY BEFORE HIM WITH RESPECT TO THE ACTIVITY'S FILLING OF EACH OF THE THREE POSITIONS. HE REFERRED IN DETAIL TO THE GRIEVANT'S PAST RECORD AND EXPERIENCE AS IT APPLIED TO THE POSITION DESCRIPTION AND JOB REQUIREMENTS OF EACH POSITION. BASED UPON HIS FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS, THE ARBITRATOR CONCLUDED THAT THE ACTIVITY HAD VIOLATED THE AGREEMENT BY NOT GIVING THE GRIEVANT THE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION TO WHICH HE WAS ENTITLED AND THAT THE REASONS GIVEN BY THE ACTIVITY FOR THE GRIEVANT'S NONSELECTION FOR EACH OF THE THREE POSITIONS WERE NOT PERSUASIVE. IN FORMULATING A REMEDY FOR THE VIOLATION, THE ARBITRATOR NOTED THAT THE FILLING OF THE FIRST POSITION HAD OCCURRED PRIOR TO ENACTMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978 AND THAT APPLICABLE CASE LAW UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 11491, /4/ UPHOLDING MANAGEMENT'S RIGHT TO SELECT OR NONSELECT IN CASES INVOLVING REPROMOTION ELIGIBLES, PREVENTED HIM FROM ORDERING THAT THE GRIEVANT BE PROMOTED TO THE FIRST POSITION AND BE GIVEN BACKPAY. WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER TWO POSITIONS, HOWEVER, THE ARBITRATOR NOTED THAT THEY WERE FILLED AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT AND THAT THE AMENDMENTS MADE BY SECTION 702 OF THE ACT TO THE BACK PAY ACT OF 1966 /5/ CONTAINED "(T)HE AUTHORITY TO REMEDY A VIOLATION OF REPROMOTION RIGHTS INCLUDING (BACKPAY)." THEREFORE, HE FOUND THAT UNDER (THE BACK PAY ACT AS AMENDED) THE GRIEVANT HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY AN UNJUSTIFIED PERSONNEL ACTION BY THE AGENCY'S FAILURE TO CONFER A BENEFIT TO WHICH HE WAS ENTITLED. SUCH PERSONNEL ACTION CONSISTED IN DENYING HIM THE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR REPROMOTION TO THE 2ND AND 3RD POSITIONS DESCRIBED HEREIN AND FOR NOT FURNISHING HIM PERSUASIVE REASONS FOR HIS NONSELECTION. TO CORRECT THIS "UNJUSTIFIED PERSONNEL ACTION," THE ARBITRATOR FOUND THAT THE GRIEVANT SHOULD BE REPROMOTED TO THE SECOND POSITION AT ISSUE FOR WHICH HE HAD NOT BEEN SELECTED. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE ARBITRATOR FOUND NO CASE LAW UNDER THE BACK PAY ACT AS AMENDED IN 1978 REGARDING ARBITRATORS' AWARDS DIRECTING RETROACTIVE PROMOTIONS AND BACKPAY IN SUCH CASES, THE ARBITRATOR DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD BE "EQUITABLE TO ORDER RESTORATION OF GRADE AND (BACKPAY) RETROACTIVELY BUT NOT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE INCUMBENT BY THE GRIEVANT TO THE (2ND POSITION)." ACCORDINGLY, HE MADE THE FOLLOWING AWARD: THE GRIEVANCE INVOLVING THE 1ST POSITION, GENERAL ENGINEER, WHICH I FOUND TO BE MERITORIOUS, IS DENIED AS UNENFORCEABLE. THE GRIEVANCES INVOLVING THE 2ND AND 3RD POSITIONS, CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT ENGINEER AND SUPERVISORY GENERAL ENGINEER, RESPECTIVELY, ARE SUSTAINED. THE GRIEVANT IS AWARDED IMMEDIATE RESTORATION TO HIS FORMER GRADE, GS-801-13, AND THE DIFFERENCE IN PAY BETWEEN WHAT HE WAS EARNING ON MAY 2, 1979, THE DATE OF HIS NONSELECTION IN THE 2ND POSITION, AND WHAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN EARNING HAD HE BEEN REPROMOTED TO GRADE GS-801-13 ON THAT DATE. IN LIEU OF DIRECTING THE AGENCY TO ASSIGN THE GRIEVANT TO THAT POSITION BY REPLACING THE INCUMBENT, HIS GRADE AND COMPENSATION SHALL CONTINUE AT GS-801-13 IN HIS PRESENT POSITION OR ANY OTHER POSITION TO WHICH HE IS ASSIGNED UNTIL SUCH TIME HE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO A POSITION GRADED AT GS-801-13. IN ITS FIRST EXCEPTION, THE AGENCY STATES THAT IT "OBJECTS TO . . . (T)HE ARBITRATOR'S FINDING THAT MANAGEMENT MAY NOT CATEGORICALLY REJECT A (REPROMOTION) CANDIDATE: AND THAT IT "TAKE(S) ISSUE" WITH THE ARBITRATOR'S FINDING THAT THE GRIEVANT WAS NOT ACCORDED SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR THE SECOND POSITION AT ISSUE. IN ITS OPPOSITION, THE UNION STATES THAT THE AGENCY HAS TAKEN THE ARBITRATOR'S STATEMENT REGARDING MANAGEMENT'S RIGHT TO REJECT A REPROMOTION ELIGIBLE OUT OF CONTEXT AND THAT THE AGENCY'S EXCEPTION DOES NOT PRESENT A GROUND FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. THE AUTHORITY AGREES WITH THE UNION THAT THE AGENCY'S FIRST EXCEPTION DOES NOT PROVIDE A BASIS FOR FINDING THE AWARD DEFICIENT. THE ARBITRATOR CAREFULLY REVIEWED AND ANALYZED THE AGENCY'S ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OF THE POSITIONS AT ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THE AGENCY, IN VIOLATION OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, HAD DENIED THE GRIEVANT SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR REPROMOTION AND HAD NOT FURNISHED HIM WITH PERSUASIVE REASONS FOR HIS NONSELECTIONS. ESSENTIALLY, THE AGENCY IN ITS FIRST EXCEPTION IS DISAGREEING WITH THE ARBITRATOR'S FINDINGS OF FACT. IT IS WELL ESTABLISHED THAT SUCH ASSERTIONS PROVIDE NO BASIS FOR FINDING AN AWARD DEFICIENT. E.G., DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE, CIVILIAN PERSONNEL BRANCH, CARSWELL AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS AND AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1364, 5 FLRA NO. 7(1981). IN ITS SECOND EXCEPTION, THE AGENCY CONTENDS THAT THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD IS DEFICIENT BECAUSE IT IS CONTRARY TO LAW. IN SUPPORT OF THIS EXCEPTION, THE AGENCY ASSERTS THAT THE AWARD VIOLATED THE BACK PAY ACT /6/ BECAUSE THE ARBITRATOR DID NOT MAKE THE REQUISITE FINDING THAT "BUT FOR" THE UNWARRANTED PERSONNEL ACTION THE GRIEVANT WOULD ORIGINALLY HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO THE POSITION IN QUESTION. FOR THE REASONS THAT FOLLOW, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE AWARD IS DEFICIENT AS CONTRARY TO LAW. THE BACK PAY ACT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT AN AWARD OF RETROACTIVE PROMOTION AND BACKPAY IS ONLY AVAILABLE WHEN THE EMPLOYEE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE PROMOTION HAD THE EMPLOYEE NOT SUFFERED AN UNJUSTIFIED OR UNWARRANTED PERSONNEL ACTION. 5 U.S.C. 5596(B)(1)(A)(I); VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL AND AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LODGE 2201, 4 FLRA NO. 57(1980). THIS IS BECAUSE RELIEF UNDER THE ACT IS INTENDED TO MAKE THE AGGRIEVED EMPLOYEE WHOLE-- THAT IS, TO PLACE THE EMPLOYEE IN THE POSITION THE EMPLOYEE WOULD ORIGINALLY HAVE ACHIEVED BUT FOR THE UNWARRANTED ACTION. SEE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL, SUPRA, AT 6 OF DECISION. ACCORDINGLY, IN ORDER FOR A RETROACTIVE PROMOTION AND BACKPAY TO BE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE ACT, THERE MUST BE A DETERMINATION NOT ONLY THAT THE EMPLOYEE HAS SUFFERED AN UNJUSTIFIED OR UNWARRANTED PERSONNEL ACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ACT, BUT ALSO THAT SUCH ACTION DIRECTLY RESULTED IN THE DENIAL OF A PROMOTION TO THE AGGRIEVED EMPLOYEE THAT THE EMPLOYEE WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE RECEIVED. ID. IN TERMS OF THIS CASE, THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE ARBITRATOR FOUND A VIOLATION BY THE AGENCY OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. AS A REPROMOTION ELIGIBLE, THE GRIEVANT WAS ENTITLED TO SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR PROMOTION TO VACANCIES AT HIS FORMER GRADE AND SERIES AND, IF HE WERE NOT SELECTED FOR A POSITION FOR WHICH HE WAS ENTITLED TO SPECIAL CONSIDERATION, THE AGENCY WAS OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE "PERSUASIVE REASONS" FOR HIS NONSELECTION. THE ARBITRATOR FOUND THAT THE AGENCY FAILED TO FULFILL ITS OBLIGATION IN BOTH RESPECTS. WHAT IS NOT PRESENT, HOWEVER, IS A FINDING BY THE ARBITRATOR THAT THE AGENCY'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE "SPECIAL CONSIDERATION" AND "PERSUASIVE REASONS" FOR HIS NONSELECTIONS DIRECTLY RESULTED IN THE GRIEVANT'S FAILURE TO BE REPROMOTED. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE AWARD TO SUSTAIN A FINDING THAT THE GRIEVANT WOULD ORIGINALLY HAVE BEEN PROMOTED TO A PARTICULAR POSITION HAD THE AGENCY NOT VIOLATED THE AGREEMENT. IN FACT, THE ARBITRATOR NOTED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OF THE THREE POSITIONS THAT THE GRIEVANT WAS ENTITLED ONLY TO SPECIAL CONSIDERATION, NOT TO SELECTION. IT IS APPARENT THAT THE ARBITRATOR FELT THAT, IF GIVEN THE PROPER CONSIDERATION TO WHICH HE WAS ENTITLED, THE GRIEVANT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPROMOTED; HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT THE SAME AS FINDING THAT THE AGENCY UNEQUIVOCALLY WOULD ORIGINALLY HAVE REPROMOTED THE GRIEVANT TO A PARTICULAR POSITION. IN SUM, THE ARBITRATOR FAILED TO EXPRESSLY MAKE THE FINDINGS REQUISITE TO A PROPER ORDER OF RETROACTIVE PROMOTION AND BACKPAY AND HIS AWARD DIRECTING THAT THE GRIEVANT BE GIVEN BACKPAY MUST THEREFORE BE FOUND DEFICIENT. /7/ HOWEVER, WHILE, FOR THE REASONS INDICATED, THE PARTICULAR REMEDY DIRECTED BY THE ARBITRATOR CANNOT BE SUSTAINED, THE AUTHORITY NOTES THAT THE ARBITRATOR SPECIFICALLY FOUND THAT THE ACTIVITY DID NOT ACCORD THE GRIEVANT EITHER THE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION RO THE PERSUASIVE REASONS FOR HIS NONSELECTIONS TO WHICH HE WAS ENTITLED. THEREFORE, IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE AS REFLECTED IN THE ARBITRATOR'S DETAILED ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THE GRIEVANT HAS UNSUCCESSFULLY APPLIED FOR APPROXIMATELY 80 VACANCIES AS A REPROMOTION ELIGIBLE, THE AUTHORITY BELIEVES THAT THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD SHOULD BE MODIFIED TO PROVIDE A LEGAL AND APPROPRIATE REMEDY. ACCORDINGLY, AND PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 7122(A) OF THE STATUTE WHICH AUTHORIZE THE AUTHORITY TO "TAKE SUCH ACTION AND MAKE SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE AWARD AS IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY, CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES, OR REGULATIONS," THE AUTHORITY HEREBY MODIFIES THE ARBITRATOR'S "AWARD" BY STRIKING THE LAST PARAGRAPH THEREOF AND INSERTING IN ITS PLACE THE FOLLOWING: THE GRIEVANT SHALL BE SELECTED FOR THE NEXT GS-13 POSITION FOR WHICH HE APPLIES AND IS QUALIFIED UNLESS THE FAILURE TO SELECT THE GRIEVANT CAN BE PROPERLY JUSTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW, RULE, OR REGULATION OR THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. IF THE ACTIVITY DOES NOT SELECT THE GRIEVANT, IT SHALL PROVIDE HIM WITH A DETAILED STATEMENT IN WRITING AS TO THE SPECIFIC REASONS FOR HIS NONSELECTION. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY 18, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES: --------------- /1/ 5 U.S.C. 7122(A) PROVIDES: (A) EITHER PARTY TO ARBITRATION UNDER THIS CHAPTER MAY FILE WITH THE AUTHORITY AN EXCEPTION TO ANY ARBITRATOR'S AWARD PURSUANT TO THE ARBITRATION (OTHER THAN AN AWARD RELATING TO A MATTER DESCRIBED IN SECTION 7121(F) OF THIS TITLE). IF UPON REVIEW THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE AWARD IS DEFICIENT-- (1) BECAUSE IT IS CONTRARY TO ANY LAW, RULE, OR REGULATION; OR (2) ON OTHER GROUNDS SIMILAR TO THOSE APPLIED BY FEDERAL COURTS IN PRIVATE SECTOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS; THE AUTHORITY MAY TAKE SUCH ACTION AND MAKE SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE AWARD AS IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY, CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES, OR REGULATIONS. /2/ IN ITS OPPOSITION, THE UNION ALSO CONTENDS THAT THE AGENCY'S EXCEPTIONS SHOULD BE DISMISSED AS UNTIMELY FILED. HOWEVER, THE AGENCY'S EXCEPTIONS WERE TIMELY FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THEREFORE THIS MATTER IS PROPERLY BEFORE THE AUTHORITY FOR DECISION. IN ADDITION, IN ITS OPPOSITION THE UNION TAKES EXCEPTION TO A PORTION OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD. SECTION 2425.1(B) OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 CFR 2425.1(B)(1981)). PROVIDES THAT THE TIME LIMIT FOR FILING AN EXCEPTION TO AN ARBITRATION AWARD IS 30 DAYS BEGINNING ON THE DATE OF THE AWARD. THE SUBJECT ARBITRATION AWARD IS DATED NOVEMBER 26, 1980. THEREFORE, UNDER SECTION 2425.1(B) OF THE AUTHORITY'S REGULATIONS, THE UNION'S EXCEPTION FILED AS PART OF ITS OPPOSITION TO THE AGENCY'S EXCEPTION IS UNTIMELY. IN THIS REGARD, ANY EXCEPTION WHICH THE UNION WISHED TO FILE TO THE AWARD WAS DUE AT THE AUTHORITY NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 29, 1980, AND THE AUTHORITY IS NOT EMPOWERED TO EXTEND OR WAIVE THE TIME LIMIT SET FORTH IN SECTION 7122(B) OF THE STATUTE FOR FILING EXCEPTIONS TO ARBITRATORS' AWARDS. BECAUSE THE UNION'S EXCEPTION WAS UNTIMELY FILED, AND APART FROM OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, THE UNION'S EXCEPTION IS DISMISSED. /3/ ACCORDING TO THE ARBITRATOR, ARTICLE XVI, SECTION 2 OF THE PARTIES' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING REGULATORY LANGUAGE IN EFFECT AT THE TIME THE PARTIES NEGOTIATED THEIR AGREEMENT: AN EMPLOYEE DEMOTED WITHOUT PERSONAL CAUSE IS ENTITLED TO SPECIAL CONSIDERATION FOR REPROMOTION IN THE AGENCY IN WHICH HE WAS DEMOTED. ALTHOUGH HE IS NOT GUARANTEED REPROMOTION, ORDINARILY HE SHOULD BE REPROMOTED WHEN A VACANCY OCCURS IN A POSITION AT HIS FORMER GRADE (OR ANY INTERVENING GRADE) FOR WHICH HE HAD DEMONSTRATED THAT HE IS WELL-QUALIFIED, UNLESS THERE ARE PERSUASIVE REASONS FOR NOT DOING SO. /4/ THE ARBITRATOR CITED NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA AND MARSHALL ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS ASSOCIATION LOCAL 27, INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL ENGINEERS, AFL-CIO, 5 FLRC 740 (FLRC NO. 76A-130 (AUGUST 23, 1977), REPORT NO. 135), AND DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE, HEADQUARTERS 443RD AIR BASE GROUP (MAC), ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, OKLAHOMA AND AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 2586, ALTUS, OKLAHOMA, 2 FLRA NO. 36(1979)(TRANSITION CASE DECIDED UNDER THE ORDER). /5/ 5 U.S.C. 5596 (1976 AND SUPP. III 1979) PROVIDES IN PART AS FOLLOWS: (B)(1) AN EMPLOYEE OF AN AGENCY WHO, ON THE BASIS OF A TIMELY APPEAL OR AN ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION (INCLUDING A DECISION RELATING TO AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE OR A GRIEVANCE) IS FOUND BY APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, RULE, REGULATION, OR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY AN UNJUSTIFIED OR UNWARRANTED PERSONNEL ACTION WHICH HAS RESULTED IN THE WITHDRAWAL OR REDUCTION OF ALL OR PART OF THE PAY, ALLOWANCES, OR DIFFERENTIALS OF THE EMPLOYEE -- (A) IS ENTITLED, ON CORRECTION OF THE PERSONNEL ACTION, TO RECEIVE FOR THE PERIOD FOR WHICH THE PERSONNEL ACTION WAS IN EFFECT-- (I) AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO ALL OR ANY PART OF THE PAY, ALLOWANCES, OR DIFFERENTIALS, AS APPLICABLE WHICH THE EMPLOYEE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE EARNED OR RECEIVED DURING THE PERIOD IF THE PERSONNEL ACTION HAD NOT OCCURRED, LESS EMPLOYMENT DURING THE PERIOD (.) /6/ SUPRA, NOTE 5. /7/ IT IS FURTHER NOTED THAT, IN ANY EVENT, THE ARBITRATOR COULD NOT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, PROPERLY DIRECT THAT THE GRIEVANT BE PAID AT THE GS-13 RATE WHILE HE WAS STILL OCCUPYING AND PERFORMING THE DUTIES OF A GS-12 POSITION. AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ENTITLED ONLY TO THE SALARY OF THE POSITION TO WHICH HE IS APPOINTED. GANSE V. UNITED STATES, 376 F2D 900, 902 (CT.CL. 1967).