[ v09 p541 ]
09:0541(64)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
9 FLRA No. 64 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL R14-87 (Union) and NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU (Agency) Case No. O-NG-636 ORDER DISMISSING NEGOTIABILITY APPEAL THIS CASE IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO SECTION 7105(A)(2)(E) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (5 U.S.C. 7105 ET SEQ.) AND SECTION 2424.1 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 CFR 2424.1 (1981)), ON A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF A NEGOTIABILITY ISSUE FILED BY THE UNION ON JANUARY 18, 1982. FOR THE REASONS INDICATED BELOW, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE UNION'S PETITION FOR REVIEW WAS UNTIMELY FILED AND MUST THEREFORE BE DISMISSED. FROM THE RECORD BEFORE THE AUTHORITY, IT APPEARS THAT DURING NEGOTIATIONS OVER A NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, THE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR THE ACTIVITY ORALLY DECLARED A PROPOSAL TO BE NONNEGOTIABLE. THE UNION REQUESTED A WRITTEN ALLEGATION FROM THE ACTIVITY AND WAS SERVED WITH THE WRITTEN ALLEGATION ON NOVEMBER 16, 1981. ON NOVEMBER 30, 1981, THE UNION FILED A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF THE ACTIVITY'S ALLEGATION OF NONNEGOTIABILITY WITH THE CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU. THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU, IN ITS RESPONSE OF DECEMBER 22, 1981, ADVISED THE UNION THAT THE PROPER PLACE IN WHICH TO FILE A NEGOTIABILITY APPEAL WAS THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY AND NOT THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU. THEREAFTER ANOTHER PETITION FOR REVIEW WAS FILED BY THE UNION WITH THE AUTHORITY ON JANUARY 18, 1982. SECTION 2424.3 OF THE AUTHORITY'S REGULATIONS PROVIDES, IN PERTINENT PART: THE TIME LIMIT FOR FILING A PETITION FOR REVIEW IS FIFTEEN (15) DAYS AFTER THE DATE THE AGENCY'S ALLEGATION THAT THE DUTY TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH DOES NOT EXTEND TO THE MATTER PROPOSED TO BE BARGAINED IS SERVED ON THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE . . . . IN THIS CASE, THE WRITTEN ALLEGATION WAS SERVED ON THE UNION ON NOVEMBER 16, 1981. ACCORDINGLY, THE PETITION FOR REVIEW WAS TO BE FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 7, 1981. IT WAS NOT FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY HOWEVER, UNTIL JANUARY 18, 1982. ALTHOUGH THE UNION'S EARLIER PETITION FOR REVIEW FILED WITH THE AGENCY HEAD HAD BEEN FILED WITHIN 15 DAYS FROM SERVICE OF THE ALLEGATION, FILING WITH THE AGENCY HEAD DOES NOT SATISFY THE FILING REQUIREMENT OF THE AUTHORITY RULES AND REGULATION. THUS, SECTION 2429.24 OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS REQUIRES THAT A DOCUMENT SUBMITTED TO THE AUTHORITY MUST BE FILED WITH THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF THE AUTHORITY AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN APPENDIX A OF THE REGULATIONS. ACCORDINGLY, AS THE ORIGINAL PETITION FOR REVIEW WAS NOT FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY AND AS THE PETITION FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY WAS NOT FILED WITHIN 15 DAYS OF SERVICE OF THE AGENCY'S ALLEGATION, THE PETITION FOR REVIEW WAS UNTIMELY FILED UNDER THE AUTHORITY'S RULES. THE PETITION FOR REVIEW HAVING BEEN UNTIMELY FILED, AND APART FROM OTHER CONSIDERATIONS, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT THE PETITION BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, DISMISSED. FOR THE AUTHORITY. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 21, 1982 JAMES J. SHEPARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR