[ v13 p420 ]
13:0420(72)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
13 FLRA No. 72 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1945 Union and DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DENVER SERVICE CENTER, DENVER, COLORADO Agency Case No. O-NG-699 ORDER DISMISSING PETITION FOR REVIEW 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 raises the issue of the negotiability of a Union proposal concerning flexible work schedules which was alleged by the Agency to be in violation of management's right to assign work pursuant to section 7106(a)(2)(A) of the Statute and to be inconsistent with regulations issued by the Agency. On July 23, 1982, during the pendency of this appeal, the Federal Employees Flexible and Compressed Work Schedules Act of 1982, Pub. L. No. 97-221, 96 Stat. 227, became effective. The Act added to Title 5, U.S. Code, a new section 6131 which sets forth the criteria and review procedures governing the establishment of flexible or compressed work schedules and their termination where an Agency head decides that such schedules would adversely affect Agency operations. The parties in the instant case have not had an opportunity to address the effect upon the instant dispute of the new legislation which differs in relevant respects from the previous act dealing with flexible work schedules, and specifically provides a separate procedure for resolving collective bargaining impasses over flexible work schedules. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the Union's petition for review be, and it hereby is, dismissed as moot, without passing on the merits of the appeal, and without prejudice to the filing of another appeal pursuant to the Authority's Rules and Regulations, on the same issue, after the parties have considered the effect of Pub. L. No. 97-221 upon their dispute. /1/ See National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter 217 and Department of Health and Human Services, Region VII, 10 FLRA No. 18 (1982). Issued, Washington, D.C., November 17, 1983 Barbara J. Mahone, Chairman Ronald W. Haughton, Member Henry B. Frazier III, Member FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES$ --------------- /1/ In view of the decision herein, it is unnecessary to address the Agency's contentions relating to the obligation to bargain on the Union's proposal in the instant case.