National Association of Government Inspectors and Quality Assurance Personnel, Unit #2 (Union) and Naval Air Engineering Center, Lakehurst, New Jersey (Agency)

 

 8 FLRA No. 28
 
 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
 GOVERNMENT INSPECTORS AND
 QUALITY ASSURANCE PERSONNEL,
 UNIT #2
 Union
 
 and
 
 NAVAL AIR ENGINEERING CENTER,
 LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY
 Agency
 
                                            Case No. 0-NG-242
 
                DECISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY ISSUES
 
    THE PETITION FOR REVIEW IN 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. 7101-7135) AND RAISES THE QUESTION OF THE NEGOTIABILITY OF FIVE
 UNION PROPOSALS.  UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD,
 INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING
 DETERMINATIONS.
 
                             UNION PROPOSAL I
 
    ARTICLE XXI
 
    SECTION 5.  THE EMPLOYER AGREES TO ESTABLISH, IMPLEMENT AND MAINTAIN
 AN APPROPRIATE
    ORGANIZATIONAL GRADE LEVEL STRUCTURE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FOR
 EQUITABLE AND LOGICAL PROMOTIONAL
    PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE QUALITY ASSURANCE OFFICE FOR ALL
 QUALITY ASSURANCE AND
    QUALITY INSPECTION SPECIALISTS.  THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE SHALL
 BE DESIGNED FOR THE
    PURPOSE OF ELIMINATING ALL GAPS AND DEAD-END POSITIONS, PROVIDING FOR
 A LOGICAL PROMOTIONAL
    ACCESS FROM THE SHOPS TO THE OFFICE AND TO SUPERVISORY POSITIONS.
 THE GRADE LEVEL STRUCTURE
    SHALL ALSO PROVIDE FOR ACCESS TO MANAGEMENT POSITIONS AS IS NOW
 PROVIDED FOR ENGINEERING TYPE
    PERSONNEL AND SHALL OFFER THE HIGHEST MOTIVATION OF ALL UNIT #2
 EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT THE QUALITY ASSURANCE OFFICE.
 
 
                             UNION PROPOSAL II
 
    ARTICLE XXI
 
    SECTION 6.  REGARDING THE EMPLOYER'S POLICY CONCERNING THE ALIGNMENT
 OF POSITIONS, WORK
    ASSIGNMENTS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, THE EMPLOYER AGREES TO
 CLEARLY DEFINE AND