[ v08 p414 ]
08:0414(88)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
8 FLRA No. 88 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1437 Union and U.S. ARMY ARMAMENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMAND, DOVER, NEW JERSEY Agency Case No. O-NG-598 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 RELATING TO THE NEGOTIABILITY OF THE UNION PROPOSALS. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATIONS. UNION PROPOSAL 1 REQUIREMENT 8: PERFORMANCE STANDARDS OF NONSUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES SHALL NOT INCLUDE ELEMENTS OF SUPERVISORY WORK, SUCH AS PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, EEO, DEVELOPING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR SUBORDINATES, ETC. UNION PROPOSAL 2 REQUIREMENT 9: PERFORMANCE STANDARDS SHALL NOT CONTAIN A COMPENDIA OF ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS, RULES, SOPS, AND THE LIKE AND SHALL NOT INCLUDE MATTERS OF GENERAL CONDUCT. IN AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 32 AND OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., 3 FLRA 784 (1980) (UNION PROPOSAL 4) THE AUTHORITY HELD THAT A PROPOSAL REQUIRING NEGOTIATION ON THE CONTENT OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WAS OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN IN THAT IT WOULD DIRECTLY INTERFERE WITH THE EXERCISE BY MANAGEMENT OF ITS RIGHTS TO DIRECT EMPLOYEES AND TO ASSIGN WORK UNDER SECTION 7106(A)(2)(A) AND (B) OF THE STATUTE. /1/ UNION PROPOSALS 1 AND 2 SIMILARLY WOULD BAR THE AGENCY FROM INCLUDING THE ENUMERATED MATTERS IN PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR BARGAINING UNIT EMPLOYEES. FURTHERMORE, WHILE THE UNION ASSERTS, IN ESSENCE, THAT PROPOSAL 2 IS AIMED AT EXCLUDING FROM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ONLY MATTERS OF CONDUCT AND ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NOT JOB RELATED, THE LANGUAGE OF THAT PROPOSAL GOES BEYOND SUCH INTENT. PROPOSAL 2, AS DRAFTED, BROADLY WOULD PROHIBIT THE INCLUSION OF CERTAIN JOB RELATED MATTERS IN PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE AGENCY WOULD BE PREVENTED FROM INCLUDING WORK-RELATED MATTERS, SUCH AS COURTESY AND STANDING WORK PROCEDURES, IN PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. CONSEQUENTLY, UNION PROPOSAL 2, ALSO, SEEKS TO NEGOTIATE THE CONTENT OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. BASED ON THE FOREGOING, FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH IN THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DECISION, THE PROPOSALS HEREIN ARE NOT WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER SECTION 7106(A)(2)(A) AND (B). 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 BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, DISMISSED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 30, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES: --------------- /1/ SECTION 7106(A) PROVIDES, IN PERTINENT PART: SEC. 7106. MANAGEMENT RIGHTS (A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, NOTHING IN THIS CHAPTER SHALL AFFECT THE AUTHORITY OF ANY MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL OF ANY AGENCY-- . . . . (2) IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS-- (A) TO . . . DIRECT . . . EMPLOYEES IN THE AGENCY . . .; (B) TO ASSIGN WORK . . .