30:1170(129)NG - NTEU and IRS, Indianapolis District -- 1988 FLRAdec NG

 30 FLRA NO. 129
 30 FLRA 1170

   28 JAN 1988


ASSIGN WORK APPLICATION OF MGT'S RIGHT
   AWARD PROGRAM


NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES
UNION

                     Union

      and

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE,
INDIANAPOLIS DISTRICT

                     Agency

Case No. O-NG-1412

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). It concerns
the negotiability of a proposal submitted in response to the
Agency's notification that it intended to implement a
"Supervisor's Appreciation Award" in the amount of $100 to
recognize and reward employees for special contributions to
quality service and quality work products. For the reasons which
follow, we find that the Union's proposal does not conflict with
the Agency's rights to direct employees and assign work and is
within the duty to bargain.

     II. Union Proposal

     The accomplishment of the following shall automatically
entitle a bargaining-unit employee to a Supervisor's Appreciation
Award:

     A. Any bargaining-unit employee who receives an
overall-average rating of four (4) or more on any one (1)
evaluation.

     B. Any bargaining-unit employee who has served as many as
thirty days on special assignments or details during a fiscal
year and has been rated as having satisfactorily performed the
assignments or details.

     III. Positions of the Parties

     The Agency contends that this proposal conflicts with
management's rights to direct employees and assign work under
section 7106(a)(2)(A) and (B) of the Statute because it would
"establish performance standards and require the issuance of a
Supervisor's Achievement Award if those standards are met."
Agency Statement of Position at 3.

     The Union contends that its proposal does not interfere with
the Agency