[ v08 p422 ]
08:0422(91)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
8 FLRA No. 91 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 2823 Union and VETERANS ADMINISTRATION REGIONAL OFFICE CLEVELAND, OHIO Agency Case No. O-NG-441 DECISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY ISSUE 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 FOLLOWING UNION PROPOSAL. MANAGEMENT RETAINS THE RIGHT TO SELECT FROM ANY APPROPRIATE RECRUITMENT METHOD SUCH AS REASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, TRANSFER, REINSTATEMENT, OR DEMOTION. MANAGEMENT WILL NOT USE A METHOD OTHER THAN THIS PROMOTION PLAN IF THREE OR MORE HIGH-QUALITY CANDIDATES CAN BE IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE MINIMUM OR EXTENDED AREA OF CONSIDERATION. THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE WAIVED IF THE MINIMUM OR EXTENDED AREA OF CONSIDERATION DOES NOT PROVIDE CONSIDERATION OF CANDIDATES TO SATISFY THE FEORP (FEDERAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM) PLAN. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATION. THE UNION DESCRIBES ITS PROPOSAL AS OPERATING IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: UNDER OUR PROPOSAL, A JOB ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE POSTED. ALL APPLICANTS WOULD BE RATED AND RANKED. IF THREE OR MORE OF THE RATED CANDIDATES WERE FOUND TO BE OF HIGH QUALITY, THE SELECTING OFFICIAL WOULD MAKE A DECISION WHETHER TO SELECT ONE OF THE CANDIDATES OR TO NOT FILL THE VACANCY. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE WERE NOT THREE HIGH QUALITY CANDIDATES, THE AREA OF CONSIDERATION COULD BE EXTENDED. IF, AFTER EXTENDING THE AREA OR DECIDING NOT TO EXTEND THE AREA, THREE HIGH QUALITY CANDIDATES COULD NOT BE FOUND, MANAGEMENT COULD THEN RECRUIT FROM ANY APPROPRIATE SOURCE. THIS IS WHERE MANAGEMENT WOULD RETAIN ITS RIGHT TO SELECT FROM OTHER APPROPRIATE SOURCES. THUS, ACCORDING TO THE UNION, ITS PROPOSAL WOULD PREVENT THE AGENCY FROM EXPANDING THE AREA OF CONSIDERATION OR MAKING A SELECTION FROM ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE SOURCE IF THREE "HIGH QUALITY" CANDIDATES ARE IDENTIFIED UNDER THE NEGOTIATED MERIT PROMOTION PROCEDURE. IN NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1451 AND NAVY EXCHANGE, NAVAL ADMINISTRATIVE COMMAND, ORLANDO, FLORIDA, 3 FLRA 392 (1980), THE AUTHORITY HELD NONNEGOTIABLE A PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED MANAGEMENT FROM EXPANDING THE AREA OF CONSIDERATION OR SELECTING CANDIDATES FROM ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE SOURCE IF THE BARGAINING UNIT PRODUCED THREE MINIMALLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS. THE AUTHORITY FOUND THE PROPOSAL TO BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE SELECTION RIGHTS OF MANAGEMENT UNDER SECTION 7106(A)(2)(C) OF THE STATUTE. /1/ THE DISPUTED PROPOSAL IN THE PRESENT CASE BEARS NO MATERIAL DIFFERENCE FROM THE ONE HELD NONNEGOTIABLE IN THE NAVY EXCHANGE DECISION. HENCE, FOR THE REASONS FULLY SET FORTH IN THAT DECISION, THE UNION PROPOSAL HEREIN IS NOT WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER SECTION 7106(A)(2)(C) 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 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)(2)(C) PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS: 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-- . . . . (C) WITH RESPECT TO FILLING POSITIONS, TO MAKE SELECTIONS FOR APPOINTMENTS FROM-- (I) AMONG PROPERLY RANKED AND CERTIFIED CANDIDATES FOR PROMOTION; OR (II) ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE SOURCE(.)