[ v07 p790 ]
07:0790(135)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
7 FLRA No. 135 NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION Union and DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, REGION X, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON Agency Case No. O-NG-336 DECISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY ISSUES THE PETITION FOR REVIEW IN THIS CASE COMES BEFORE THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY (THE AUTHORITY) PURSUANT TO SECTION 7105(A)(2)(E) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE), AND PRESENTS ISSUES INVOLVING THE NEGOTIABILITY OF THE FOLLOWING TWO UNION PROPOSALS CONCERNING "MERIT PROMOTIONS." UPON CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATIONS: UNION PROPOSAL I (A) EXPERIENCE, AS DEFINED FOR RATING AND RANKING PURPOSES WILL BE NEGOTIATED FOR EACH POSITION BETWEEN THE UNION AND MANAGEMENT. THE WEIGHT TO BE ASSIGNED TO EACH EXPERIENCE FACTOR WILL ALSO BE NEGOTIATED. UNION PROPOSAL II (B) EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL AND FORM 171 - THE FACTORS OF THE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL AS WELL AS REVISION AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF FORM 171 SHALL BE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN UNION AND MANAGEMENT COMMENCING WITHIN 60 DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT. THE AUTHORITY CONCLUDES THAT UNION PROPOSALS I AND II ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY SPECIFIC AND DELIMITED IN FORM AND CONTENT TO MEET THE AUTHORITY'S CONDITIONS FOR REVIEW. THE UNION IS SEEKING IN PROPOSAL I TO NEGOTIATE EXPERIENCE FACTORS AND WEIGHTS TO BE USED IN RATING AND RANKING CANDIDATES FOR MERIT PROMOTION; IN PROPOSAL II, THE UNION IS SEEKING TO NEGOTIATE THE FACTORS OF THE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL TO BE USED IN MERIT PROMOTIONS. THE AUTHORITY HAS PREVIOUSLY HELD THAT PROPOSALS, SUCH AS HERE INVOLVED, WHICH ARE GENERAL IN NATURE AND WHICH DO NOT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY THE FACTORS, METHODS AND FORMS TO BE USED IN THE EVALUATION, RANKING AND SELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR PROMOTION, AND THE WEIGHTS TO BE APPLIED TO THE EVALUATION FACTORS, ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY SPECIFIC AND DELIMITED IN FORM AND CONTENT FOR THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE A DECISION THEREON, AND THEREFORE HAS DISMISSED PETITIONS FOR REVIEW WITH REGARD TO SUCH PROPOSALS ON THAT BASIS. SEE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1167 AND DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA, 6 FLRA NO. 105(1981) (PROPOSAL 5); NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, CHAPTER 66 AND DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, KANSAS CITY SERVICE CENTER, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, 2 FLRA 319(1979). 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 BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, DISMISSED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY 29, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY