American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1733, AFL-CIO (Union) and Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Capital Region, Washington, DC (Activity) 

 

 5 FLRA No. 40
 
 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT
 EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 1733
 Union
 
 and
 
 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE,
 NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION,
 WASHINGTON, D.C.
 Activity
 
                                            Case No. 0-NG-335
 
                 DECISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY ISSUE
 
    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.).
 
                              UNION PROPOSAL
 
    SECTION 23
 
    THE EMPLOYER AGREES TO GRANT TO THE UNION A BLOCK OF 80 HOURS
 OFFICIAL TIME EACH YEAR FOR
 
    THE PURPOSE OF UNION REPRESENTATIVES ATTENDING UNION SPONSORED
 TRAINING WHICH IS OF MUTUAL
 
    BENEFIT.
 
                    QUESTION HERE BEFORE THE AUTHORITY
 
    THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE UNION'S PROPOSAL THAT THE ACTIVITY GRANT
 TO THE UNION A BLOCK OF 80 HOURS OFFICIAL TIME EACH YEAR FOR UNION
 REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND UNION SPONSORED TRAINING WHICH IS OF MUTUAL
 BENEFIT IS WITHIN THE AGENCY'S DUTY TO BARGAIN UNDER THE STATUTE OR, AS
 ALLEGED BY THE AGENCY, IS OUTSIDE THE DUTY TO BARGAIN BECAUSE IT WOULD
 VIOLATE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL.
 
                                  OPINION
 
    CONCLUSION AND ORDER:  THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT VIOLATE ANY
 GOVERNMENT-WIDE RULE OR REGULATION.  ACCORDINGLY, PURSUANT TO SECTION
 2424.10 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 CFR 2424.10 AS
 AMENDED BY 45 F.R. 48575), IT IS ORDERED THAT THE AGENCY SHALL UPON
 REQUEST (OR AS OTHERWISE AGREED BY THE PARTIES) BARGAIN ON THIS
 PROPOSAL.  /1/
 
    REASONS:  THE PROPOSAL HERE IN DISPUTE, WHICH WOULD GRANT A BLOCK OF
 80 HOURS OFFICIAL TIME EACH YEAR TO THE UNION FOR UNION REPRESENTATIVES
 TO A