[ v02 p196 ]
02:0196(22)PS
The decision of the Authority follows:
2 FLRA No. 22 MR. JAMES C. HISE CHIEF, OFFICE OF LEGAL ADVISOR NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU DEPARTMENTS OF THE ARMY AND HE AIR FORCE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20310 RE: CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD, FRESNO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA AND LOCAL R12-105, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, 77 FSIP 70, Case No. 0-MC-4 DEAR MR. HISE: THIS REFERS TO YOUR PETITION FOR REVIEW OF A FEDERAL SERVICE IMPASSES PANEL DECISION AND ORDER FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY ON JULY 7, 1979. ACCORDING TO YOUR PETITION FOR REVIEW AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIAL, INCLUDING ISSUANCES OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE IMPASSES PANEL (HEREINAFTER THE PANEL), THE PERTINENT BACKGROUND IN THIS MATTER IS AS FOLLOWS: DURING NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (NAGE) LOCAL R12-105, WHICH REPRESENTS A BARGAINING UNIT OF CALIFORNIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD TECHNICIANS, AND THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD, AN IMPASSE AROSE CONCERNING THE WEARING OF MILITARY UNIFORMS BY CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD TECHNICIANS AT THE ACTIVITY INVOLVED WHEN PERFORMING DAY-TO-DAY TECHNICIAN DUTIES. AS A RESULT, NAGE LOCAL R12-105, PURSUANT TO SECTION 17 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, FILED A REQUEST WITH THE PANEL ON OCTOBER 11, 1977, FOR ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THE IMPASSE. AFTER TAKING OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION TO RESOLVE THE IMPASSE PURSUANT TO ITS AUTHORITY UNDER SECTIONS 5 AND 17 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, THE PANEL, ON JUNE 30, 1978, ISSUED AN ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY CONTRACT LANGUAGE ORDERED BY THE PANEL TO BE ADOPTED IN ELEVEN PRIOR CASES CONCERNING THE UNIFORM WEARING ISSUE, THAT IS, CONTRACT LANGUAGE AFFORDING TECHNICIAN EMPLOYEES "THE OPTION OF WEARING EITHER THE MILITARY UNIFORM OR AN AGREED UPON STANDARD CIVILIAN ATTIRE WITHOUT DISPLAY OF MILITARY RANK" SUBJECT TO AGREED-UPON EXCEPTIONS TO COVER CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE WEARING OF THE UNIFORM MAY BE REQUIRED, SHOULD NOT ALSO BE ADOPTED IN THIS CASE. /1/ WHILE BOTH PARTIES WERE GRANTED UNTIL JULY 31, 1978, TO RESPOND TO THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE, ONLY THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD FILED A RESPONSE. ON OCTOBER 13, 1978, THE PANEL NOTIFIED THE PARTIES THAT THE UNION'S REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WAS BEING HELD IN ABEYANCE PENDING RESOLUTION OF A DECERTIFICATION PETITION WHICH HAD BEEN FILED. THIS CASE REMAINED PENDING BEFORE THE PANEL UNTIL MARCH 2, 1979, WHEN THE PANEL, AFTER HAVING BEEN INFORMED THAT THE QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION HAD BEEN RESOLVED IN THE UNION'S FAVOR, ORDERED THE PARTIES TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS OR, ABSENT A SETTLEMENT, TO FILE THEIR RESPECTIVE PROPOSALS AND STATEMENTS OF POSITION WITH THE PANEL FOR FINAL DECISION. WHEN SETTLEMENT EFFORTS FAILED, THE PANEL, AFTER CONSIDERATION OF THE WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS OF BOTH PARTIES, ISSUED A DECISION AND ORDER ON APRIL 13, 1979, DIRECTING THE PARTIES TO ADOPT LANGUAGE IN THEIR AGREEMENT SIMILAR TO THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE DESCRIBED ABOVE WHICH HAD BEEN ORDERED TO BE ADOPTED IN OTHER CASES CONCERNING THE UNIFORM ISSUE. ON JULY 7, 1979, YOU FILED THE INSTANT PETITION FOR REVIEW ON BEHALF OF THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD, IN WHICH YOU REQUEST THE AUTHORITY TO "OVERRULE THE PANEL'S DETERMINATION IN THIS CASE OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, REQUIRE THE PANEL TO CONDUCT A FACT FINDING HEARING IN THIS MATTER SO AS TO ALLOW THE CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD TO PRESENT ITS EVIDENCE ON THE ISSUE." WE HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED YOUR PETITION FOR REVIEW OF THE PANEL DECISION AND ORDER. HOWEVER, WE HAVE DETERMINED FOR THE REASONS EXPRESSED BELOW THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO BASIS IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, FOR DIRECT APPEALS FROM FINAL PANEL DECISIONS TO THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS COUNCIL, SECTION 902(B) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978, WHICH IS APPLICABLE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE, PRECLUDES THE AUTHORITY FROM ENTERTAINING THE DIRECT APPEAL OF THE SUBJECT PANEL DECISION AND ORDER. AS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED, THIS CASE AROSE ON OCTOBER 1, 1977, WHEN THE UNION, PURSUANT TO SECTION 17 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, REQUESTED THE PANEL TO RESOLVE AN IMPASSE IN NEGOTIATIONS. WHILE THE PANEL TOOK A NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS IN AN EFFORT TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTE PURSUANT TO ITS AUTHORITY UNDER SECTIONS 5 AND 17 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, THE SPECIFIC IMPASSE INVOLVED HEREIN REMAINED PENDING BEFORE THE PANEL FOR RESOLUTION AS OF JANUARY 11, 1979, WHEN THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978 (92 STAT. 1111) BECAME EFFECTIVE. CONGRESS SPECIFICALLY ADVERTED TO SUCH PENDING CASES IN SECTION 902(B) OF THE ACT (92 STAT. 1224), WHICH STATES AS FOLLOWS: (B) NO PROVISION OF THIS ACT SHALL AFFECT ANY ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS PENDING AT THE TIME SUCH PROVISION TAKES EFFECT. ORDERS SHALL BE ISSUED IN SUCH PROCEEDINGS AND APPEALS SHALL BE TAKEN THEREFROM AS IF THIS ACT HAD NOT BEEN ENACTED. SINCE THE INSTANT ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING WAS PENDING ON JANUARY 11, 1979, WHEN THE PROVISIONS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978 TOOK EFFECT, SECTION 902(B) OF THAT ACT REQUIRES THAT APPEALS FROM SUCH PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE PANEL BE TAKEN THEREFROM AS IF THE ACT HAD NOT BEEN ENACTED. IN OTHER WORDS, THE PROPRIETY OF ANY DIRECT APPEAL TO THE AUTHORITY FROM THE PANEL'S DECISION AND ORDER OF APRIL 13, 1979, MUST BE GOVERNED EXCLUSIVELY BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED. IN THIS REGARD, AND AS TO FINAL ORDERS ISSUED BY THE PANEL PURSUANT TO ITS AUTHORITY UNDER SECTION 5 AND 17 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, SUCH AS THE ONE HERE INVOLVED, NO PROVISION WAS MADE IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER OR THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS COUNCIL AUTHORIZING DIRECT APPEALS FROM SUCH PANEL DECISIONS TO THE COUNCIL. INSTEAD, AN AGGRIEVED PARTY WAS EMPOWERED IN EFFECT TO OBTAIN REVIEW OF SUCH PANEL DECISIONS AND ORDERS BY THE COUNCIL THROUGH THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, THAT IS, AFTER THE FILING BY THE OTHER PARTY OF AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE COMPLAINT ALLEGING NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE PANEL, A DECISION ON THAT COMPLAINT BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS, AND APPEAL FROM AN ADVERSE DECISION OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY TO THE COUNCIL. /2/ THUS, SINCE EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, DID NOT SANCTION DIRECT APPEALS FROM PANEL DECISIONS TO THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS COUNCIL, SECTION 902(B) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978, WHICH PROVIDES AS PREVIOUSLY SET FORTH ABOVE, THAT APPEALS SHALL BE TAKEN FROM ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS PENDING ON JANUARY 11, 1978, AS IF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE HAD NOT BEEN ENACTED, PRECLUDES THE AUTHORITY FROM ENTERTAINING THE DIRECT APPEAL OF THE PANEL'S DECISION AND ORDER HERE INVOLVED. /3/ ACCORDINGLY, YOUR PETITION FOR DIRECT APPEAL OF THE SUBJECT PANEL DECISION AND ORDER MUST BE DENIED. RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY /4/ CC: J. CARPENTER NAGE W. A. ROBERTSON NGB H. W. SOLOMON FSIP /1/ ON THIS SAME DATE, JUNE 30, 1978, THE PANEL ISSUED ORDERS TO SHOW CAUSE IN FOUR OTHER CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD CASES CONCERNING THE UNIFORM ISSUE. THE RESULTING CONSOLIDATED PANEL DECISION AND ORDER IN THOSE FOUR CASES WAS SEPARATELY APPEALED TO THE AUTHORITY, WHICH APPEAL WAS DENIED BY THE AUTHORITY ON THE PRESENT DATE IN CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA AND LOCALS R12-125, R12-132, R12-146 AND R12-150, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, 77 FSIP 77, 78 FSIP 42, 78 FSIP 44 AND 78 FSIP 49, 2 FLRA (FLRA NO. O-MC-3 (DEC. 5, 1979), REPORT NO. ). /2/ SEE STATEMENT ON MAJOR POLICY ISSUE, FLRC NO. 78P-5 (DEC. 28, 1978), REPORT NO. 169, AT P. 3 OF COUNCIL STATEMENT. LIKEWISE, THERE IS NO RIGHT OF DIRECT APPEAL TO THE AUTHORITY FROM PANEL DECISIONS AND ORDERS UNDER THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (92 STAT. 1191). RATHER, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH PANEL DECISIONS AND ORDERS IS SUBJECT TO UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE CHARGES FILED WITH THE AUTHORITY UNDER SECTION 7116(A)(6) AND (8) OR SECTION 7116(B)(6) AND (8) OF THE STATUTE (92 STAT. 1204) AND PROCEEDINGS THEREIN UNDER SECTION 7118 OF THE STATUTE (92 STAT. 1207). STATE OF NEW YORK, DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS AND NEW YORK COUNCIL, ASSOCIATION OF CIVILIAN TECHNICIANS, INC., 78 FSIP 32, 2 FLRA (FLRA O-MC-2 (DEC. 5, 1979), REPORT NO. ). /3/ THIS CONCLUSION DOES NOT MEAN, OF COURSE, THAT THE PETITIONER MAY NOT OBTAIN AUTHORITY REVIEW OF THE SUBJECT PANEL DECISION AND ORDER THROUGH THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE PROCEDURES OF THE STATUTE. IN THIS RESPECT, SECTION 7116 OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE, 5 U.S.C.7116 (92 STAT. 1204) PROVIDES THAT IT SHALL BE AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE FOR AN AGENCY UNDER SUBSECTION (A) (5 U.S.C. 7116(A)) OR A LABOR ORGANIZATION UNDER SUBSECTION (B) (5 U.S.C.7116(B)) RESPECTIVELY, "(6) TO FAIL OR REFUSE TO COOPERATE IN IMPASSE PROCEDURES AND IMPASSE DECISIONS AS REQUIRED BY THIS CHAPTER . .. " "(8) TO OTHERWISE FAIL OR REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH ANY PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER." THUS, A PARTY AGGRIEVED BY A PANEL DECISION AND ORDER IS EMPOWERED TO OBTAIN AUTHORITY REVIEW OF SUCH DECISION AND ORDER AFTER THE FILING BY THE OTHER PARTY OF AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE CHARGE ALLEGING NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THE DECISION AND ORDER; THE ISSUANCE OF AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE COMPLAINT BY THE GENERAL COUNSEL; THE RENDERING OF A DECISION ON THE COMPLAINT BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE; AND AN APPEAL OF THAT ALJ DECISION TO THE AUTHORITY. /4/ MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESENT CASE, WHICH HAD BEEN PROCESSED TO HIS CONFIRMATION BY THE UNITED STATES AS A MEMBER OF THE AUTHORITY.