[ v08 p268 ]
08:0268(62)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
8 FLRA No. 62 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE LOCALS Union and U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE Agency Case No. O-NG-309 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 ISSUES CONCERNING THE NEGOTIABILITY OF THE FOLLOWING FIVE UNION PROPOSALS. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATIONS. UNION PROPOSALS 1 - 4 THE EMPLOYER AGREES TO REQUEST VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE ON THE AIR LIFT PROGRAM. THESE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS AND ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ROTATED EQUITABLY. WHEN THERE ARE NO VOLUNTEERS OR NOT ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS TO STAFF A FLIGHT, DEPUTIES WILL BE SELECTED FROM THE SENIORITY WORKED. THE DEPUTY WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF OVERTIME WILL BE ASSIGNED. DEPUTIES MAY SWITCH ASSIGNMENTS WITH OTHER DEPUTIES TO ACCOMMODATE PERSONAL EMERGENCIES, HARDSHIPS, ETC., PROVIDED BOTH DEPUTIES AGREE. NO ONE WILL BE SELECTED MORE THAN ONCE FOR ASSIGNMENT TO THE AIR LIFT PROGRAM UNTIL ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES ON THE SENIORITY ROSTER HAVE BEEN SELECTED OR EXEMPTED BY THEIR REQUEST UNLESS THE EMPLOYEE IS SELECTED FROM THE VOLUNTEER ROSTER. THE PROPOSALS HERE IN DISPUTE BEAR NO MATERIAL DIFFERENCE FROM PROPOSALS CONCERNING THE ROTATION OF ALTERNATE FOREMEN/SUPERVISORS IN AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO AND AIR FORCE LOGISTICS COMMAND, WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO, 2 FLRA 604, 630-32 (1980), ENFORCED AS TO OTHER MATTERS SUB NOM. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE V. FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, 659 F.2D 1140 (D.C. CIR. 1981). IN THAT CASE, THE AUTHORITY FOUND THAT THOSE PROPOSALS WOULD ELIMINATE THE DISCRETION TO ASSIGN WORK TO PARTICULAR EMPLOYEES WHICH IS INHERENT IN THE RIGHT "TO ASSIGN WORK" UNDER SECTION 7106(A)(2)(B) OF THE STATUTE. THEREFORE, FOR THE REASONS FULLY SET FORTH IN THAT DECISION, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE INSTANT PROPOSALS CONFLICT WITH MANAGEMENT'S RIGHT TO ASSIGN WORK AND THEREFORE ARE OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN. CF. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 916 AND TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OKLAHOMA, 7 FLRA NO. 45 (1981) (UNION PROVISIONS I, PARAGRAPH (3) AND II CONCERNING DETAILS PREVENTED MANAGEMENT FROM DETERMINING WHICH PARTICULAR EMPLOYEE WOULD BE DETAILED AND, THEREFORE, WERE INCONSISTENT WITH MANAGEMENT'S RIGHT TO ASSIGN EMPLOYEES). UNION PROPOSAL 5 ASSIGNMENTS TO THE AIR LIFT PROGRAM WILL NOT BE MADE AS A REWARD OR PENALTY, NOR WILL THEY BE ARBITRARY OR CAPRICIOUS. SECTION 7106(B)(2) OF THE STATUTE /1/ MANDATES THAT THE EXISTENCE OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS NOT PRECLUDE NEGOTIATIONS CONCERNING PROCEDURES WHICH MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS WILL OBSERVE IN EXERCISING THOSE RIGHTS. BASED UPON THE RECORD IN THE INSTANT CASE, THE ESSENCE OF THE UNION'S PROPOSAL IS TO ENSURE THAT ASSIGNMENTS TO THE AIR LIFT PROGRAM WILL BE NEITHER ARBITRARY NOR CAPRICIOUS, AS OPPOSED TO BARGAINING ABOUT WHICH EMPLOYEES WILL TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAM. THAT IS, ON ITS FACE, CONTRARY TO THE AGENCY'S CONTENTIONS, THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH MANAGEMENT'S DISCRETION TO MAKE ASSIGNMENTS BASED ON THE PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS OF THE WORK. SEE WRIGHT-PATTERSON, SUPRA, AY 613. RATHER, IT ESTABLISHES A GENERAL, NONQUANTITATIVE REQUIREMENT BY WHICH MANAGEMENT'S ASSIGNMENT OF WORK MAY SUBSEQUENTLY BE EVALUATED. SEE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 32 AND OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., 3 FLRA 784, 789-94 (1980). THEREFORE, THE PROPOSAL IN QUESTION IS WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER SECTION 7106(B)(2) OF 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 UNION'S PETITION FOR REVIEW AS TO PROPOSALS 1 - 4 BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, DISMISSED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT THE AGENCY SHALL UPON REQUEST (OR AS OTHERWISE AGREED TO BY THE PARTIES) BARGAIN ON PROPOSAL 5. /2/ ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 26, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B, APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES: --------------- /1/ SECTION 7106(B)(2) OF THE STATUTE PROVIDES: (B) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PRECLUDE ANY AGENCY AND ANY LABOR ORGANIZATION FROM NEGOTIATING-- * * * * (2) PROCEDURES WHICH MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS OF THE AGENCY WILL OBSERVE IN EXERCISING ANY AUTHORITY UNDER THIS SECTION (.) /2/ IN SO FINDING THE PROPOSAL IS WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN, THE AUTHORITY MAKES NO JUDGMENT AS TO THE MERITS THEREOF.