[ v07 p750 ]
07:0750(121)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
7 FLRA No. 121 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 3098 Union and INDIANA AIR NATIONAL GUARD, HULMAN FIELD TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA Agency Case No. O-NG-233 DICISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY ISSUES THE PETITION FOR REVIEW IN THIS CASE COMES BEFORE THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY (THE AUTHORITY) PURS7ANT TO SECTION 7105(A)(2)(E) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE), AND RAISES THE QUESTION OF THE NEGOTIABILITY OF TWO UNION PROPOSALS. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, /1/ INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATIONS. UNION PROPOSALS I AND II UNION PROPOSAL I SECTION 7C. A HEARING, IF REQUESTED AS A RESULT OF AN ORIGINAL DECISION, WILL BE SCHEDULED AT THE EARLIEST PRACTICABLE DATE, AND SHOULD BE CONDUCTED WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE A HEARING EXAMINER IS APPROVED. AT THE REQUEST OF THE UNION, AN ARBITRATION HEARING MAY TAKE THE PLACE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING. SELECTION OF AN ARBITRATOR SHALL BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE . . . . ARBITRATION AND THE AWARD IS BINDING. IF AN EMPLOYEE ELECTS TO APPEAL AN ADVERSE ACTION, THE APPEAL MAY BE SUBMITTED AT ANY TIME WITHIN THE 15 CALENDAR DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE NOTICE OF ORIGINAL DECISION. UNION PROPOSAL II SECTION 10. THE STATE ADJUTANT GENERAL WILL RENDER HIS FINAL DECISION BY CONSIDERING THE HEARING EXAMINER'S RECOMMENDATION AND ISSUE HIS DECISION ON THE APPEAL OR TAKE A LESS SEVERE ACTION THAN RECOMMENDED BY THE EXAMINER, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE EXAMINER'S RECOMMENDATIONS. IF AN EMPLOYEE ELECTED TO USE BINDING ARBITRATION, THE ARBITRATOR'S DECISION SHALL BE BINDING ON THE PARTIES. THE EMPLOYEE AND HIS REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE FURNISHED A COPY OF THE FINDINGS AND FINAL DECISION. UNION PROPOSALS I AND II PRINCIPALLY WOULD INCLUDE WITHIN THE SCOPE AND COVERAGE OF THE NEGOTIATED GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE MATTERS RELATING TO APPEALS OF ADVERSE ACTIONS INVOLVING NATIONAL GUARD TECHNICIANS AS WELL AS PROVIDE THE EMPLOYEE AN OPTION TO APPEAL AN ADVERSE ACTION THROUGH THE STATUTORY OR NEGOTIATED PROCEDURE. IN THIS REGARD, THE PROPOSALS BEAR NO MATERIAL DIFFERENCE FROM THE DISPUTED PROPOSAL WHICH WAS HELD NEGOTIABLE IN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL R12-132 AND CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD, 5 FLRA NO. 25(1981), APPEAL DOCKETED, NO. 81-7231 (9TH CIR. APR. 17, 1981). THEREFORE, CONTRARY TO THE AGENCY'S ASSERTIONS THAT THE PROPOSALS ARE OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN BECAUSE THEY ARE INCONSISTENT WITH LAW (32 U.S.C. 709(E)(5) AND BASED ON THE REASONS SET FORTH IN DETAIL IN THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD CASE, UNION PROPOSALS I AND II MUST ALSO BE HELD TO BE WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER 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 AGENCY SHALL UPON REQUEST (OR AS OTHERWISE AGREED TO BY THE PARTIES) BARGAIN CONCERNING UNION PROPOSALS I AND II. /2/ ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY 28, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES: --------------- /1/ THE AGENCY'S SUBMISSION FILED IN RESPONSE TO THE UNION'S RESPONSE WAS NOT CONSIDERED BY THE AUTHORITY AS IT DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ADDITIONAL SUBMISSIONS TO THE AUTHORITY UNDER SECTION 2424.8 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS. /2/ IN FINDING UNION PROPOSALS I AND II NEGOTIABLE, THE AUTHORITY MAKES NO JUDGMENT AS TO THEIR MERITS.