[ v09 p188 ]
09:0188(29)CA
The decision of the Authority follows:
9 FLRA No. 29 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS AND ITS MIDWEST REGION Respondent and NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION Charging Party Case No. 5-CA-845 DECISION AND ORDER THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR'S "ORDER TRANSFERRING CASE TO THE AUTHORITY" IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2429.1 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS. UPON CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD IN THIS CASE, INCLUDING THE PARTIES' STIPULATION OF FACTS, THE AUTHORITY FINDS: THE COMPLAINT ALLEGES THAT THE RESPONDENT VIOLATED SECTION 7116(A)(1) AND (8) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE) WHEN IT FAILED AND REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 7113(A) OF THE STATUTE. THUS, THE RESPONDENT REFUSED TO GRANT OFFICIAL TIME TO STEVEN F. BRANDWEIN, THE DESIGNATED UNION REPRESENTATIVE, FOR NEGOTIATIONS CONDUCTED ON JULY 24, 1980, OVER THE IMPACT AND IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES OF THE RESPONDENT'S INTENDED CLOSING OF 4 POSTS-OF-DUTY LOCATED IN ITS MIDWEST REGION. MOREOVER, RESPONDENT REFUSED TO PROCESS BRANDWEIN'S REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL AND PER DIEM EXPENSES FOR SAID NEGOTIATIONS. RESPONDENT TOOK THE POSITION THAT ITS CONDUCT DID NOT VIOLATE THE STATUTE AS INTERPRETED IN INTERPRETATION AND GUIDANCE, 2 FLRA 264(1979). THE FACTS AND POSITIONS OF THE PARTIES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TO THOSE INVOLVED IN BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS, WESTERN REGION, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, 4 FLRA NO. 40(1980), ENFORCED SUB NOM. BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS V. FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, NO. 80-7673(9TH CIR. MAR. 22, 1982). THUS, FOR THE REASONS MORE FULLY STATED IN BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS, SUPRA, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE RESPONDENT HEREIN HAS FAILED AND REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 7131(A) OF THE STATUTE AND THEREFORE HAS VIOLATED SECTION 7116(A)(1) AND (8) OF THE STATUTE. ORDER PURSUANT TO SECTION 2423.29 OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE AUTHORITY AND SECTION 7118 OF THE STATUTE, THE AUTHORITY HEREBY ORDERS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS AND ITS MIDWEST REGION SHALL: 1. CEASE AND DESIST FROM: (A) FAILING AND REFUSING TO PROVIDE OFFICIAL TIME AND PAYMENT OF PROPERLY DOCUMENTED TRAVEL AND PER DIEM EXPENSES TO STEVEN F. BRANDWEIN AS A RESULT OF HIS PARTICIPATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 7131(A) OF THE STATUTE AS THE DULY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, THE EMPLOYEES' EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE, IN NEGOTIATIONS CONDUCTED JULY 24, 1980, OVER THE IMPACT AND IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES OF A PLANNED CHANGE IN CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT. (B) IN ANY LIKE OR RELATED MANNER INTERFERING WITH, RESTRAINING, OR COERCING ITS EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR RIGHTS ASSURED BY THE STATUTE. 2. TAKE THE FOLLOWING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES AND POLICIES OF THE STATUTE: (A) PAY STEVEN F. BRANDWEIN, BASED UPON HIS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED VOUCHER, FOR HIS TRAVEL AND PER DIEM EXPENSES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF HIS PARTICIPATION, PURSUANT TO SECTION 7131(A) OF THE STATUTE, AS THE DULY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION IN NEGOTIATIONS CONDUCTED JULY 24, 1980, OVER THE IMPACT AND IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES OF A PLANNED CHANGE IN CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND MAKE HIM WHOLE FOR THE ANNUAL LEAVE HE UTILIZED ON THAT DATE. (B) POST AT ITS FACILITIES IN THE MIDWEST REGION COPIES OF THE ATTACHED NOTICE ON FORMS TO BE FURNISHED BY THE AUTHORITY. UPON RECEIPT OF SUCH FORMS, THEY SHALL BE SIGNED BY THE REGIONAL REGULATORY ADMINISTRATOR AND SHALL BE POSTED AND MAINTAINED BY HIM FOR 60 CONSECUTIVE DAYS THEREAFTER, IN CONSPICUOUS PLACES, INCLUDING ALL BULLETIN BOARDS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE NOTICES TO EMPLOYEES ARE CUSTOMARILY POSTED. THE ADMINISTRATOR SHALL TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO INSURE THAT SUCH NOTICES ARE NOT ALTERED, DEFACED, OR COVERED BY ANY OTHER MATERIAL. (C) PURSUANT TO SECTION 2423.30 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS, NOTIFY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, REGION 5, FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, IN WRITING, WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS ORDER, AS TO WHAT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO COMPLY HEREWITH. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 23, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO A DECISION AND ORDER OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY AND IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE POLICIES OF CHAPTER 71 OF TITLE 5 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS WE HEREBY NOTIFY OUR EMPLOYEES THAT: WE WILL NOT FAIL OR REFUSE TO PROVIDE OFFICIAL TIME AND PAYMENT OF PROPERLY DOCUMENTED TRAVEL AND PER DIEM EXPENSES TO STEVEN F. BRANDWEIN AS A RESULT OF HIS PARTICIPATION, PURSUANT TO SECTION 7131(A) OF THE STATUTE, AS THE DULY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION, THE EMPLOYEES' EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE, IN NEGOTIATIONS CONDUCTED JULY 24, 1980, OVER THE IMPACT AND IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES OF THE PLANNED CHANGE IN CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT. WE WILL NOT IN ANY LIKE OR RELATED MANNER INTERFERE WITH, RESTRAIN, OR COERCE OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR RIGHTS AS ASSURED BY THE STATUTE. WE WILL PAY STEVEN F. BRANDWEIN, BASED UPON HIS PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED VOUCHER, FOR HIS TRAVEL AND PER DIEM EXPENSES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF HIS PARTICIPATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 7131(A) OF THE STATUTE, AS THE DULY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION IN NEGOTIATIONS CONDUCTED JULY 24, 1980, OVER THE IMPACT AND IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES OF A PLANNED CHANGE IN CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND MAKE HIM WHOLE FOR THE ANNUAL LEAVE HE UTILIZED ON THAT DATE. (AGENCY OR ACTIVITY) DATED: BY: (SIGNATURE) THIS NOTICE MUST REMAIN POSTED FOR 60 CONSECUTIVE DAYS FROM THE DATE OF POSTING AND MUST NOT BE ALTERED, DEFACED, OR COVERED BY ANY OTHER MATERIAL. IF EMPLOYEES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS NOTICE, OR COMPLIANCE WITH ITS PROVISIONS, THEY MAY COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, REGION 5, FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, WHOSE ADDRESS IS SUITE 1359-A, 175 W. JACKSON BLVD., CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604, AND WHOSE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS (312) 353-0139.