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08:0007(2)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
8 FLRA No. 2 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 3098 Union and INDIANA AIR NATIONAL GUARD Agency Case No. 0-NG-301 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 RAISES AN ISSUE AS TO THE NEGOTIABILITY OF THE FOLLOWING TWO UNION PROPOSALS: SECTION 4: APPEALS AND GRIEVANCE OPTIONS AN AGGRIEVED EMPLOYEE AFFECTED BY DISCRIMINATION, A REMOVAL OR REDUCTION IN GRADE BASED ON UNACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE, OR ADVERSE ACTION MAY AT HIS/HER OPTION RAISE THE MATTER UNDER A STATUTORY APPELLATE PROCEDURE OR THE NEGOTIATED GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE, BUT NOT BOTH (EXCEPT FOR DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS). FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION AND PURSUANT TO SECTION 7121(E)(1) OF THE ACT, AN EMPLOYEE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE EXERCISED HIS OPTION UNDER THIS SECTION ONLY WHEN THE EMPLOYEE FILES A TIMELY GRIEVANCE IN WRITING UNDER THE APPELLATE PROCEDURE OR FILES A TIMELY GRIEVANCE IN WRITING UNDER THE NEGOTIATED GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE. SECTION 11: STAYS OF PERSONNEL ACTION A PENDING OR PROPOSED PERSONNEL ACTION WHICH HAS BEEN MADE THE SUBJECT OF A GRIEVANCE OR ARBITRATION WILL BE STAYED PENDING THE FINAL DECISION OF THE MATTER. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATIONS. INSOFAR AS SECTION 4 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, IT BEARS 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). HOWEVER, INSOFAR AS SECTION 4 WOULD PERMIT THE FILING OF A DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT UNDER BOTH A STATUTORY APPEAL PROCEDURE AND THE NEGOTIATED GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE, IT BEARS NO MATERIAL DIFFERENCE FROM THAT PORTION OF THE "GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE" PROPOSAL FOUND NON-NEGOTIABLE IN AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 3486 AND NEW JERSEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD, 177TH FIGHTER INTERCEPTOR GROUP, POMONA, NEW JERSEY, 5 FLRA NO. 26(1981), APPEAL DOCKETED, NO. 81-1592 (3RD CIR.APR. 17, 1981). THEREFORE, BASED ON THE REASONS SET FORTH IN DETAIL IN THE AFOREMENTIONED DECISIONS, THE PRESENT PROPOSAL MUST ALSO BE HELD TO BE WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER THE STATUTE EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT NOTED. INSOFAR AS SECTION 11 IS CONCERNED, IT IS IDENTICAL TO PROPOSAL 3 WHICH WAS HELD NEGOTIABLE IN AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 547, AFL-CIO AND VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER, TAMPA, FLORIDA, 4 FLRA NO. 50(1981), APPEAL DOCKETED, NO. 80-5938 (5TH CIR. NOV. 25, 1981). CONSEQUENTLY, FOR THE REASONS STATED IN THAT CASE, SECTION 11 MUST ALSO BE HELD TO BE A NEGOTIABLE PROCEDURE UNDER SECTION 7106(B)(2) OF THE STATUTE. /1/ 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 ON SECTION 4 OF THE PROPOSAL EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT INDICATED HEREIN AND ON SECTION 11 OF THE PROPOSAL IN ITS ENTIRETY. /2/ ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., FEBRUARY 4, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES: --------------- /1/ IN SO CONCLUDING, THE AUTHORITY REJECTS AS UNSUPPORTED THE AGENCY'S CONTENTIONS THAT THE PROPOSAL WOULD PREVENT THE AGENCY FROM ACTING AT ALL TO EXERCISE ITS RIGHTS. FURTHER, IN THIS REGARD, THE FACT THAT THIS PROPOSAL CONCERNS NATIONAL GUARD TECHNICIANS PROVIDES NO BASIS FOR REACHING A DIFFERENT RESULT FROM THAT CONCERNING PROPOSAL 3 IN VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER, SUPRA. SEE DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE, U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, 6 FLRA NO. 100(1981). /2/ IN FINDING THE UNION PROPOSALS NEGOTIABLE TO THE EXTENT INDICATED ABOVE, THE AUTHORITY MAKES NO JUDGMENT AS TO THEIR MERITS.