22:0698(77)NG - NTEU Chapter 229 and HHS HQ -- 1986 FLRAdec NG

 22 FLRA No. 77
 
 NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES 
 UNION, CHAPTER 229
 Union
 
 and
 
 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 
 HUMAN SERVICES, HEADQUARTERS
 Agency
 
                                            Case No. 0-NG-1188
 
                 DECISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY ISSUE
 
                         I.  Statement of the Case
 
    This case is before the Authority because of a negotiability appeal
 filed under section 7105(a)(2)(E) of the Federal Service
 Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute) and concerns the
 negotiability of the following Union proposal.  The proposal was
 presented during negotiations concerning the relocation of bargaining
 unit employees:
 
          Management agrees that bargaining unit employees will have
       adequate access to telephones in the performance of their official
       duties if such is required as part of the employees' duties and
       responsibilities to perform at an acceptable level.
 
                       II.  Positions of the Parties
 
    In its petition, the Union asserts that the proposal does not concern
 the technology of performing work since it is limited to seeking
 adequate access to telephones only if use of them is required by the
 Agency as part of the employees' duties.  It also contends that the
 proposal is an appropriate arrangement within the meaning of section
 7106(b)(3) of the Statute for employees adversely affected by their
 relocation.
 
    The Agency argues that the proposal interferes with its right under
 section 7106(b)(1) to determine the technology of performing work.  It
 contends that, despite the Union's representation that the proposal
 leaves to the Agency the determination as to whether to use telephones,
 it would nevertheless have the practical effect of requiring negotiation
 over the numbers, types and locations of telephones provided.  It would
 also subject the Agency's decisions on these matters to arbitral r