[ v09 p700 ]
09:0700(83)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
9 FLRA No. 83 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS, AFL-CIO, LOCAL F-116 Union and HEADQUARTERS, 4392D AEROSPACE SUPPORT GROUP (SAC), VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA Agency Case No. O-NG-342 O-NG-343 CONSOLIDATED DECISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY ISSUES THE PETITIONS FOR REVIEW IN THESE CONSOLIDATED CASES COME 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 RAISE ISSUES REGARDING THE NEGOTIABILITY OF THE FOLLOWING THREE (3) UNION PROPOSALS. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATIONS. UNION PROPOSAL I THE EMPLOYER AGREES THAT MEMBERS OF THE UNIT WILL NOT BE ASSIGNED TO DUTIES OUTSIDE THE FIRE PROTECTION FUNCTIONAL CODES NOR TO DETAILS CONFLICTING WITH THEIR PRIMARY DUTY. UNION PROPOSAL II THE EMPLOYER AGREES THAT ANY WORK THAT CAN BE PERFORMED BY THE APPROPRIATE SECTION OR CONTRACTOR, I.E., LAWN MOWING, PAINTING, CARPENTRY, ETC., WILL BE PROGRAMMED THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE SECTION OR CONTRACTOR. FOR WORK THAT IS PERFORMED BY EMPLOYEES IN THE UNIT, THE EMPLOYER AGREES TO PROVIDE ALL NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO PERFORM THE JOB. (ONLY THE UNDERSCORED PORTION OF THIS PROPOSAL HAS BEEN ALLEGED TO BE OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN.) UNION PROPOSAL III TO ASSURE COMPLETE ALERTNESS DURING FIRE PROTECTION STANDBYS, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SCHEDULED FOR A STANDBY AFTER 1630 HOURS WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO REST OR SLEEP AND MAKE PREPARATIONS FROM 1500 HOURS UNTIL TIME FOR DISPATCH OF THE CREWS TO STANDBY. SUCH STANDBY TOURS WILL NORMALLY NOT BE MORE THAN THREE HOURS IN LENGTH AND NORMALLY ENTITLE THE EMPLOYEE TO FOUR HOURS OF REST BETWEEN TOURS, MISSION REQUIREMENTS PERMITTING. (ONLY THE UNDERSCORED PORTION OF THIS PROPOSAL HAS BEEN ALLEGED TO BE OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN.) UNION PROPOSALS I AND II CONCERN THE ASSIGNMENT OF WORK. UNION PROPOSAL I WOULD PREVENT THE AGENCY FROM ASSIGNING NON-FIREFIGHTING DUTIES TO FIREFIGHTERS. UNION PROPOSAL II WOULD REQUIRE THE ASSIGNMENT OF NON-FIREFIGHTER DUTIES TO INDIVIDUALS OTHER THAN FIREFIGHTERS. THUS, BOTH OF THESE PROPOSALS DIRECTLY INTERFERE WITH MANAGEMENT'S RIGHT TO ASSIGN WORK UNDER SECTION 7106(A)(2)(B) OF THE STATUTE. /1/ SEE ASSOCIATION OF CIVILIAN TECHNICIANS AND STATE OF GEORGIA NATIONAL GUARD, 2 FLRA 580 (1980); NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION AND DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC DEBT, 3 FLRA NO. 119 (1980), AT 7 OF THE DECISION, APPEAL DOCKETED SUB NOM. NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION V. FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, NO. 80 - 1895 (D.C. CIR. AUG. 4, 1980). IT IS EQUALLY CLEAR THAT UNION PROPOSAL III ALSO WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH MANAGEMENT'S RIGHT TO ASSIGN WORK PURSUANT TO SECTION 7106(A)(2)(B), SINCE IT WOULD LIMIT THE NUMBER OF HOURS DURING WHICH WORK NORMALLY COULD BE PERFORMED. THAT IS, THE EXPLICIT LANGUAGE OF THE UNDERSCORED PORTION OF THIS PROPOSAL WOULD PROHIBIT THE NORMAL ASSIGNMENT OF WORK TO AN EMPLOYEE AFTER THAT EMPLOYEE HAD WORKED IN STANDBY STATUS FOR A PERIOD OF THREE (3) HOURS. SEE BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC DEBT, SUPRA. THEREFORE, FOR THE REASONS FULLY CITED IN BUREAU OF THE PUBLIC DEBT, THE PROPOSAL HERE IN DISPUTE MUST ALSO BE HELD TO BE OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER SECTION 7106(A)(2)(B) 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 PETITIONS FOR REVIEW BE, AND THEY HEREBY ARE, DISMISSED IN THEIR ENTIRETY. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 3, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES$ --------------- /1/ SECTION 7106(A)(2)(B) 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-- . . . . (B) TO ASSIGN WORK . . . (.)