American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2578, AFL-CIO (Union) and General Services Administration, National Archives and Records Service, Washington, DC (Agency)

 4 FLRA No. 84
 
 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT
 EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 2578
 Union
 
 and
 
 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
 NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS SERVICE
 WASHINGTON, D.C.
 Agency
 
                                            Case No. 0-NG-232
 
                DECISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY APPEAL
 
    THIS CASE COMES 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) (5 U.S.C. 7101 ET
 SEQ.).
 
    THE BASIC FACTS OF THIS CASE, AS SET FORTH IN THE RECORD, ARE THAT
 DURING THE TERM OF THE PARTIES' AGREEMENT, THE UNION SUBMITTED TO THE
 AGENCY PROPOSALS DEALING WITH CHANGES IN THE JOURNEYMAN LEVELS OF CAREER
 LADDER POSITIONS.  THE UNION MAINTAINS THAT PURSUANT TO ITS RIGHTS UNDER
 THE STATUTE, IT IS SEEKING TO BARGAIN AT REASONABLE TIMES OVER MATTERS
 AFFECTING WORKING CONDITIONS.  THE AGENCY CONTENDS THAT THERE IS NO
 OBLIGATION TO BARGAIN OVER THIS OR ANY OTHER MATTER FOR WHICH NO CHANGE
 IN PERSONNEL POLICIES, PRACTICES, OR WORKING CONDITIONS HAS OCCURRED.
 THE PARTIES REACHED AGREEMENT EARLIER THIS YEAR ON A CONTRACT WHICH IS
 STILL IN EFFECT.
 
    THUS, BASED ON THE RECORD IN THIS CASE, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ESSENCE
 OF THE CONTENTIONS OF THE PARTIES PRINCIPALLY RELATES TO WHETHER THE
 UNION CAN INITIATE BARGAINING ON A CERTAIN MATTER DURING THE TERM OF THE
 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IT ENTERED INTO WITH THE AGENCY IN THE
 ABSENCE OF A CHANGE IN PERSONNEL POLICIES, PRACTICES, AND MATTERS
 AFFECTING WORKING CONDITIONS.  THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IN THIS CASE,
 THEREFORE, IS WHETHER THE AGENCY IS OBLIGATED TO BARGAIN AT THIS TIME ON
 THE MATTER RAISED BY THE UNION.  THUS, THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PARTIES'
 CONTENTIONS CONCERNS UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE ISSUES APPROPRIATE FOR
 RESOLUTION UNDER PROC