[ v09 p478 ]
09:0478(56)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
9 FLRA No. 56 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 15 Union and HEADQUARTERS, U.S. ARMY ARMAMENT MATERIAL READINESS COMMAND, ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, ILLINOIS Agency Case No. O-NG-355 DECISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY APPEAL 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 STATUTE (THE STATUTE), AND RAISES AN ISSUE AS TO THE NEGOTIABILITY OF A UNION PROPOSAL FOR A NEGOTIATED GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE WHICH DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDE GRIEVANCES CONCERNING IMPROPER RATINGS AND REFERRALS UNDER THE ARMY'S CAREER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATIONS. THE AGENCY SUMMARIZES THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE PARTIES HEREIN AS FOLLOWS: "MANAGEMENT'S PROPOSAL WOULD EXEMPT FROM COVERAGE UNDER THE NEGOTIATED GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES THOSE PROMOTION AND PLACEMENT ACTIONS TAKEN UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY CIVILIAN PERSONNEL REGULATION (CPR) 950-1, CAREER MANAGEMENT - BASIC POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTS. THE UNION'S 'PROPOSAL' OR 'POSITION' IS TO INCLUDE THEM." /1/ THE AGENCY CONTENDS THAT THE UNION'S PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD INCLUDE SUCH GRIEVANCES IS OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN BECAUSE IT WOULD CONFLICT WITH A REGULATION FOR WHICH THERE IS A COMPELLING NEED. SEE SECTION 7117 OF THE STATUTE AND SECTION 2424.11 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS. THE REGULATION IS CPR 950-1 WHICH ESTABLISHES THE ARMY'S CAREER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM UNDER WHICH PROMOTION AND PLACEMENT ACTIONS AT MANDATORY REFERRAL LEVELS ARE TAKEN. THIS CONTENTION CANNOT BE SUSTAINED. WHILE THE ARMY'S REGULATIONS MAY LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE AGENCY'S GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES, SUCH REGULATIONS MAY NOT BE APPLIED IN A MANNER INCONSISTENT WITH THE BROAD SCOPE NEGOTIATED GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES ALLOWED UNDER SECTION 7121 OF THE STATUTE. UNDER SECTION 7121 A NEGOTIATED GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE EXTENDS TO ALL MATTERS WHICH UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF LAW COULD BE COVERED UNLESS THE PARTIES AGREE THROUGH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TO A PROCEDURE HAVING A NARROWER COVERAGE. SEE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 2782 AND DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, BUREAU OF THE CENSUS, WASHINGTON, D.C., 6 FLRA NO. 56 (1981) AT 9. THE AGENCY HEREIN DOES NOT ADVERT TO ANY PROVISION OF LAW WHICH WOULD EXCLUDE FROM COVERAGE GRIEVANCES CONCERNING PROMOTION AND PLACEMENT ACTIONS UNDER CPR 950-1. IT IS THEREFORE CONCLUDED THAT THE UNION'S PROPOSAL IS WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER 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 AGENCY SHALL UPON REQUEST (OR AS OTHERWISE AGREED TO BY THE PARTIES) BARGAIN CONCERNING THE UNION'S PROPOSAL. /2/ ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 16, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES$ --------------- /1/ THE AUTHORITY REJECTS THE AGENCY'S CONTENTION THAT THE UNION'S PROPOSAL IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY SPECIFIC AND DELIMITED. SEE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 3354 AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, 3 FLRA 321 (1980) /2/ IN DECIDING THAT THE UNION'S PROPOSAL IS WITHIN THE DUTY TO BARGAIN, THE AUTHORITY MAKES NO JUDGMENT AS TO ITS MERITS.