09:0729(89)NG - International Association of Firefighters Local F-37 and Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL -- 1982 FLRAdec NG
[ v09 p729 ]
09:0729(89)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
9 FLRA No. 89 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS, AFL-CIO, LOCAL F-37 Union and NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS Agency Case No. O-NG-460 DECISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY ISSUE THE PETITION FOR REVIEW IN THIS CASE COMES BEFORE THE AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO SECTION 7105(A)(2)(E) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE) AND PRESENTS THE ISSUE OF THE NEGOTIABILITY OF THE FOLLOWING UNION PROPOSAL. UNION PROPOSAL /1/ ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE WHEN A NON-WORKDAY IS PROCLAIMED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER AND PERSONNEL DESIGNATED ESSENTIAL ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT FOR DUTY, AN ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE DAY WILL BE GRANTED TO THE EMPLOYEE WITHIN . . . FOLLOWING THE NON-WORKDAY. THE ASSIGNED LEAVE DAY WILL BE AT THE SUPERVISOR'S DISCRETION. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATION. QUESTION BEFORE THE AUTHORITY THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE PROPOSAL IS OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER THE STATUTE BECAUSE IT CONCERNS A MATTER THAT IS EXCLUDED FROM THE DEFINITION OF "CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT" UNDER SECTION 7103(A)(14) OF THE STATUTE. /2/ OPINION CONCLUSION AND ORDER: THE PROPOSAL CONCERNS A MATTER WHICH IS "SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED FOR BY FEDERAL STATUTE" UNDER SECTION 7103(A)(14)(C) AND, THEREFORE, IS EXCLUDED FROM "CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT" WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO 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 PETITION FOR REVIEW OF THE PROPOSAL AT ISSUE IN THE INSTANT CASE BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, DISMISSED. REASONS: THE UNION'S PROPOSAL WOULD REQUIRE THAT IF THE PRESIDENT DECLARES A REGULARLY SCHEDULED WORKDAY TO BE A "NON-WORKDAY" (HOLIDAY), AN EMPLOYEE WHO MUST REPORT FOR DUTY ON SUCH A HOLIDAY WOULD BE GRANTED A DAY OF "ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE," I.E., A DAY OFF WITH PAY NOT CHARGED TO LEAVE, IN ADDITION TO COMPENSATION TO WHICH THE EMPLOYEE WOULD OTHERWISE BE ENTITLED. BASED UPON THE RECORD, THE EMPLOYEE INVOLVED IN THIS CASE RECEIVED PREMIUM PAY COMPENSATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5545(C)(1). /3/ THAT SECTION APPLIES TO CERTAIN EMPLOYEES, SUCH AS THOSE INVOLVED HEREIN, WHO ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT FOR WORK ON HOLIDAYS WHICH FALL WITHIN THEIR REGULAR WORK SCHEDULES. IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, SUCH EMPLOYEES RECEIVE PREMIUM PAY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS RATHER THAN BEING COMPENSATED FOR EACH HOLIDAY WORKED UNDER OTHER PROVISIONS OF TITLE 5. THAT IS, THE FACT OF THEIR BEING REQUIRED TO REPORT FOR WORK ON HOLIDAYS IS A FACTOR IN DETERMINING THEIR ENTITLEMENT TO ANNUAL PREMIUM PAY. /4/ THERE IS NO PROVISION OR AUTHORIZATION FOR ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED WEEKLY TOUR OF DUTY-- E.G., TIME OFF FOR WORK PERFORMED ON A HOLIDAY-- FOR EMPLOYEES WHO ALREADY ARE RECEIVING ANNUAL PREMIUM PAY PURSUANT TO SECTION 5545(C)(1). SECTION 7103(A)(14)(C) OF THE STATUTE, DEFINING "CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT" WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATION, EXPRESSLY EXCLUDES MATTERS "TO THE EXTENT SUCH MATTERS ARE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED FOR BY FEDERAL STATUTE." INASMUCH AS COMPENSATION FOR WORK REQUIRED ON NON-WORKDAYS IS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED FOR BY 5 U.S.C. 5545(C)(1) IN DETERMINING ANNUAL PREMIUM PAY FOR EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN THIS CASE, THE UNION'S PROPOSAL CONCERNS MATTERS WHICH, UNDER SECTION 7103(A)(14)(C), ARE EXCLUDED FROM CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATION UNDER THE STATUTE. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, COUNCIL OF FEDERAL GRAIN INSPECTION LOCALS AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FEDERAL GRAIN INSPECTION SERVICE, WASHINGTON, D.C., 3 FLRA 530 (1980), AFFIRMED SUB NOM. AFGE V. FLRA, 653 F.2D 669 (D.C. CIR. 1981). SEE ALSO ASSOCIATION OF CIVILIAN TECHNICIANS, PENNSYLVANIA STATE COUNCIL AND THE ADJUTANT GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, 3 FLRA 50 (1980). 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/ ACCORDING TO THE UNION, THE BLANK SPACE IN ITS PROPOSAL WOULD DESIGNATE THE PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH THE LEAVE DAY MUST BE TAKEN, AND WOULD BE PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS OVER THIS PROPOSAL. /2/ SECTION 7103(A)(14)(C) PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS: SEC. 7103. DEFINITIONS; APPLICATION (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS CHAPTER-- . . . . (14) "CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT" MEANS PERSONNEL POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND MATTERS, WHETHER ESTABLISHED BY RULE, REGULATION, OR OTHERWISE, AFFECTING WORKING CONDITIONS, EXCEPT THAT SUCH TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE POLICIES, PRACTICES AND MATTERS-- . . . . (C) TO THE EXTENT SUCH MATTERS ARE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED FOR BY FEDERAL STATUTE(.) /3/ 5 U.S.C. 5545(C)(1) PROVIDES AS FOLLOWS: SEC. 5545. NIGHT, STANDBY, IRREGULAR, AND HAZARDOUS DUTY DIFFERENTIAL . . . . (C) THE HEAD OF AN AGENCY, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, MAY PROVIDE THAT-- (1) AN EMPLOYEE IN A POSITION REQUIRING HIM REGULARLY TO REMAIN AT, OR WITHIN THE CONFINES OF, HIS STATION DURING LONGER THAN ORDINARY PERIODS OF DUTY, A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF WHICH CONSISTS OF REMAINING IN A STANDBY STATUS RATHER THAN PERFORMING WORK, SHALL RECEIVE PREMIUM PAY FOR THIS DUTY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS INSTEAD OF PREMIUM PAY PROVIDED BY OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBCHAPTER, EXCEPT FOR IRREGULAR, UNSCHEDULED OVERTIME DUTY IN EXCESS OF HIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED WEEKLY TOUR. PREMIUM PAY UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH IS DETERMINED AS AN APPROPRIATE PERCENTAGE, NOT IN EXCESS OF 25 PERCENT, OF SUCH PART OF THE RATE OF BASIC PAY FOR THE POSITION AS DOES NOT EXCEED THE MINIMUM RATE OF BASIC PAY FOR GS-10 (OR, FOR A POSITION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 5542(A)(3) OF THIS TITLE, OF THE BASIC PAY OF THE POSITION), BY TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF ACTUAL WORK REQUIRED IN THE POSITION, THE NUMBER OF HOURS REQUIRED IN A STANDBY STATUS AT OR WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE STATION, THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE DUTIES OF THE POSITION ARE MADE MORE ONEROUS BY NIGHT, SUNDAY, OR HOLIDAY WORK, OR BY BEING EXTENDED OVER PERIODS OF MORE THAN 40 HOURS A WEEK, OR OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS(.) /4/ ACCORD, COMPTROLLER GENERAL DECISION B-192815 (DEC. 7, 1978).