U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Mint (Activity) and American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (Petitioner)
[ v02 p458 ]
02:0458(63)UC
The decision of the Authority follows:
2 FLRA No. 63
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY,
BUREAU OF THE MINT
Activity
and
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
Petitioner
Assistant Secretary
Case No. 22-09512(UC)
DECISION AND DIRECTION OF ELECTION
UPON AN AMENDED PETITION DULY FILED UNDER SECTION 6 OF EXECUTIVE
ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED, A HEARING WAS HELD BEFORE HEARING OFFICER
COLLEN DUFFY RAAP. THE HEARING OFFICER'S RULINGS MADE AT THE HEARING
ARE FREE FROM PREJUDICIAL ERROR AND ARE HEREBY AFFIRMED.
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR
LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS, UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED,
WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE AUTHORITY UNDER SECTION 304 OF REORGANIZATION
PLAN NO. 2 OF 1978 (43 F.R. 36040), WHICH TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS IS
IMPLEMENTED BY SECTION 2400.2 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS
(44 F.R. 44741, JULY 30, 1979). THE AUTHORITY CONTINUES TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE FUNCTIONS AS PROVIDED IN
SECTION 7135(B) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS
STATUTE (92 STAT. 1215).
UPON CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD IN THIS CASE, INCLUDING
BRIEFS FILED BY THE PARTIES, THE AUTHORITY FINDS:
THE PETITIONER, THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES,
AFL-CIO (AFGE), FILED THE INSTANT PETITION SEEKING TO CONSOLIDATE THE
THREE UNITS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, BUREAU OF THE MINT
(THE MINT), FOR WHICH IT IS THE CURRENT EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE. THE
AFGE IS THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE FOR ONE UNIT CONSISTING OF ALL THE
NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE MINT, FOR ANOTHER UNIT CONSISTING OF
ALL THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE MINT, FOR ANOTHER UNIT CONSISTING
OF ALL THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE MINT, AND FOR A THIRD UNIT
CONSISTING OF ALL THE GUARD EMPLOYEES OF THE MINT, EXCLUDING THE GUARDS
AT THE PHILADELPHIA MINT.
THE MINT DOES NOT OPPOSE THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION OF THE
PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL UNITS REPRESENTED BY THE AFGE.
HOWEVER, THE MINT OPPOSES THE INCLUSION OF THE GUARDS IN THE PROPOSED
NATIONWIDE UNIT. THE MINT CONTENDS THAT, AS THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY
OF ITS GUARD EMPLOYEES INVOLVES SECURITY, THEY ARE A FUNCTIONALLY
DISTINCT GROUP WHOSE INCLUSION IN THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED UNIT WOULD
BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE CRITERIA FOR INCLUSIVE UNITS SET FORTH IN
SECTION 10(B) OF THE ORDER. THE AFGE, ON THE OTHER HAND, ARGUES THAT
THE GUARD EMPLOYEES OF THE MINT SHARE A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST WITH THE
OTHER MINT EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS MANIFESTED BY THE COMMON MISSION, COMMON
OVERALL SUPERVISION, AND SIMILAR PERSONNEL AND LABOR RELATIONS POLICIES
ESTABLISHED BY THE MINT'S HEADQUARTERS, WHICH THEY SHARE. ALSO, THE
AFGE NOTES THAT THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED UNIT WOULD PROMOTE A MORE
COMPREHENSIVE BARGAINING STRUCTURE, WHILE REDUCING UNIT FRAGMENTATION.
/1/
THE MINT'S MISSION INCLUDES THE PRODUCTION OF COINS, BOTH DOMESTIC
AND FOREIGN; THE CUSTODY, PROCESSING, AND MOVEMENT OF BULLION; AND THE
MANUFACTURE OF VARIOUS NUMISMATIC ITEMS. HEADED BY A DIRECTOR, WHO IS
SUPPORTED BY A HEADQUARTERS STAFF LOCATED IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THE MINT
OPERATES SEVEN FIELD FACILITIES. THESE FACILITIES INCLUDE THE UNITED
STATES MINTS IN PHILADELPHIA AND DENVER, THE UNITED STATES ASSAY OFFICES
IN SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW YORK, THE UNITED STATES BULLION DEPOSITORIES IN
FORT KNOX AND WEST POINT, AND THE OLD MINT IN SAN FRANCISCO. THE
FACILITIES ARE INVOLVED PRIMARILY WITH EITHER PRODUCTION OR STORAGE.
THEY ARE ALL CHARACTERIZED BY A MIX OF WAGE GRADE AND GENERAL SCHEDULE
EMPLOYEES.
THERE ARE GUARDS EMPLOYED AT EACH OF THE MINT'S FIELD FACILITIES.
THEY ARE THE EMPLOYEES PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY OF
PROPERTY AND THE VALUABLES STORED AT THE FACILITIES, A TASK WHOSE
MAGNITUDE IS OBVIOUSLY GREATER THAN FOR GUARD EMPLOYEES AT MANY OTHER
FEDERAL ACTIVITIES. THE GUARDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SCREENING OR
CONTROLLING ACCESS TO THE BUILDINGS OPERATED BY THE MINT, AND THROUGH A
VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES, FOR SCREENING THE MINT'S OWN EMPLOYEES IN THE
COURSE OF THEIR DAILY ACTIVITY. THE GUARDS WEAR UNIFORMS IN PERFORMING
THEIR FUNCTION, INCLUDING AN IDENTIFYING BADGE. THEY CARRY FIREARMS AND
MUST DEMONSTRATE CONTINUED PROFICIENCY WITH THEM. THEY PROVIDE 24-HOUR
COVERAGE FOR THE MINT'S FACILITIES ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS. IN MOST OF
THE FACILITIES THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH SEPARATE EATING AND LOCKER
ROOM FACILITIES SO AS TO DISCOURAGE FRATERNIZATION WITH NONGUARD
EMPLOYEES. THE MINT HAS RECENTLY BEGUN A PROGRAM OF CONVERTING ITS
GUARD EMPLOYEES FROM GUARD TO POLICE OFFICER CLASSIFICATIONS, AND IN SO
DOING THEY HAVE PROVIDED SOME GUARD EMPLOYEES WITH EXTENSIVE TRAINING
AVAILABLE THROUGH THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER. HOWEVER,
THE RECORD REVEALS THAT GUARD EMPLOYEES OFTEN SEEK PROMOTIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO NONGUARD POSITIONS WITH THE MINT, AS EVIDENCED BY THE
FACT THAT NINE GUARD EMPLOYEES HAVE TRANSFERRED TO NONGUARD POSITIONS AT
THE SAN FRANCISCO ASSAY OFFICE IN THE RECENT PAST, AND SOME 12 TO 15
EMPLOYEES HAVE MADE SIMILAR MOVES AT THE PHILADELPHIA MINT.
UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 10988, LABOR ORGANIZATIONS WERE ALLOWED TO BE
RECOGNIZED AS THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF UNITS WHICH INCLUDED BOTH
GUARD AND NONGUARD EMPLOYEES. DURING THAT PERIOD, AFGE LOCALS GAINED
RECOGNITION FOR UNITS OF ALL NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING
GUARDS, AT THE DENVER MINT AND THE NEW YORK, N.Y. AND SAN FRANCISCO
ASSAY OFFICES, AND FOR A UNIT OF ALL NONSUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING
GUARDS, AT THE PHILADELPHIA MINT. IN ALL OF THESE LOCATIONS, THERE WERE
NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS WHICH COVERED GUARD AND NONGUARD EMPLOYEES.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 1970, REQUIRED SEPARATE
UNITS FOR GUARDS, AND IT PERMITTED NEW UNITS OF GUARDS TO BE REPRESENTED
ONLY BY LABOR ORGANIZATIONS WHICH REPRESENTED GUARDS EXCLUSIVELY.
HOWEVER, MIXED UNITS, SUCH AS THE FOUR NOTED ABOVE, WERE ALLOWED TO
CONTINUE AS THEY HAD EXISTED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1970. IN 1971, AS THE
RESULT OF A TIMELY PETITION AND SUBSEQUENT ELECTION, FRATERNAL ORDER OF
POLICE LODGE NO. 81(FOP) WAS CERTIFIED AS THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE GUARD EMPLOYEES OF THE PHILADELPHIA MINT, REPLACING AFGE. THE
AFGE PETITIONED FOR A NATIONWIDE UNIT OF MINT EMPLOYEES IN 1972. THEY
WERE REQUIRED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 11491 TO EXCLUDE GUARD EMPLOYEES FROM
THEIR PETITION. ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1973, AFGE WAS CERTIFIED AS THE
EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE FOR SEPARATE NATIONWIDE UNITS OF THE MINT'S
PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, THEREBY LEAVING MOST GUARD
EMPLOYEES UNREPRESENTED.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11838, DATED FEBRUARY 6, 1975, AMENDED EXECUTIVE
ORDER 11491, IN PART, BY ELIMINATING THE REQUIREMENT THAT GUARDS BE
REPRESENTED IN SEPARATE UNITS AND ONLY BY LABOR ORGANIZATIONS WHICH
REPRESENTED GUARDS EXCLUSIVELY. IN ITS REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH
ACCOMPANIED THE ISSUANCE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11838, THE FEDERAL LABOR
RELATIONS COUNCIL INDICATED THAT THE EXPERIENCE ACQUIRED UNDER EXECUTIVE
ORDER 11491 HAD "DEMONSTRATED NO NEED FOR THE SPECIAL TREATMENT OF
GUARDS." IN THIS REGARD, THEY NOTED THAT "MIXED UNITS OF GUARDS AND
OTHER EMPLOYEES, WHICH WERE RECOGNIZED PRIOR TO 1970, HAVE CONTINUED TO
PROVIDE EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION FOR ALL MEMBERS." /2/ ON JULY 7, 1976,
AFGE PETITIONED FOR, AND WAS CERTIFIED AS THE EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE
OF A NATIONWIDE UNIT OF THE MINT'S NONSUPERVISORY SPECIAL POLICE AND
GUARDS, EXCLUSIVE OF THE GUARD EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY THE FOP AT THE
PHILADELPHIA MINT. THE AFGE MINT COUNCIL PRESENTLY HAS A NEGOTIATED
AGREEMENT WITH THE MINT COVERING THE MINT'S PROFESSIONAL AND
NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, OTHER THAN GUARDS, REPRESENTED BY AFGE, WHICH
WAS EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 15, 1977. IN ADDITION, THE AFGE MINT COUNCIL HAS
A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE MINT COVERING THE MINT'S GUARD
EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY THE AFGE, WHICH WAS EFFECTIVE APRIL 28, 1977,
AND PROVIDES FOR UNION REPRESENTATION OF GUARD EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTARY
DUES ALLOTMENT.
BASED ON THE PARTICULAR FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES PRESENTED, THE
AUTHORITY CONCLUDES THAT THE PETITIONED FOR CONSOLIDATED UNIT, INCLUDING
GUARDS, IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION UNDER
THE CRITERIA OF SECTION 10(B) OF THE ORDER. /3/ AS INDICATED ABOVE, THE
UNIT SOUGHT ENCOMPASSES ALL THE EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE MINT REPRESENTED BY
THE AFGE. THESE EMPLOYEES SHARE A COMMON MISSION, COMMON JOB
CLASSIFICATIONS AND COMMON WORKING CONDITIONS, AND WORK UNDER SIMILAR
PERSONNEL AND LABOR RELATIONS POLICIES AS ESTABLISHED BY THE DIRECTOR OF
THE MINT. MORE PARTICULARLY, WITH RESPECT TO THE GUARD EMPLOYEES OF THE
MINT, THE EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT THEY ARE COVERED BY THE SAME PERSONNEL
POLICIES WHICH AFFECT ALL MINT EMPLOYEES, AND THAT GUARDS HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO SEEK PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES BY MOVING TO NONGUARD POSITIONS WITHIN
THE MINT. THUS, THE EMPLOYEES IN THE PETITIONED FOR UNIT SHARE A
COMMUNITY OF INTEREST.
FURTHER, THE RECORD REVEALS THAT ALL PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
AUTHORITY FOR THE MINT LIES WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE MINT. THE
PERSONNEL OFFICE ESTABLISHES, THROUGH THE PERSONNEL MANUAL, CENTRALIZED
POLICIES APPLICABLE TO ALL EMPLOYEES CONCERNING PERSONNEL AND LABOR
RELATIONS MATTERS. THERE IS CURRENTLY A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE MINT AND THE AFGE MINT COUNCIL WHICH DEALS WITH WORKING CONDITIONS
FOR THE PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE MINT
NATIONWIDE, AND A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE MINT AND THE
AFGE MINT COUNCIL PROVIDING FOR REPRESENTATION AND VOLUNTARY DUES
CHECKOFF FOR ALL GUARD EMPLOYEES, EXCEPT FOR GUARD EMPLOYEES OF THE
PHILADELPHIA MINT. THE RECORD INDICATES THAT GUARDS WERE EFFECTIVELY
REPRESENTED IN MIXED UNITS FOR VARYING PERIODS OF TIME PRIOR TO THE
NECESSITY OF THEIR BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE AFGE'S NATIONWIDE UNITS, AND
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THEY COULD NOT BE EFFECTIVELY REPRESENTED IN A
MIXED UNIT AGAIN, NOW THAT THE REQUIREMENT FOR THEIR EXCLUSION NO LONGER
EXISTS. UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE
PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED UNIT WILL PROMOTE EFFECTIVE DEALINGS AND
EFFICIENCY OF THE ACTIVITY'S OPERATIONS. FURTHER, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT
EFFECTIVE DEALINGS AND EFFICIENCY OF AGENCY OPERATIONS WILL BE ENHANCED
BY THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED UNIT, WHICH COVERS ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES
REPRESENTED BY THE AFGE WITHIN THE MINT, AS IT WILL PROVIDE FOR
BARGAINING IN A SINGLE UNIT RATHER THAN IN THE EXISTING THREE BARGAINING
UNITS, THEREBY REDUCING FRAGMENTATION AND PROMOTING A MORE EFFECTIVE,
COMPREHENSIVE BARGAINING UNIT STRUCTURE.
ACCORDINGLY, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE FOLLOWING UNIT /4/ IS
APPROPRIATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION UNDER EXECUTIVE
ORDER 11491, AS AMENDED: /5/
ALL PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
THE TREASURY, BUREAU OF
THE MINT, INCLUDING SPECIAL POLICE AND GUARDS, EXCLUDING SPECIAL
POLICE AND GUARDS ASSIGNED TO
THE PHILADELPHIA MINT, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN
FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN
OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY, CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES, AND
SUPERVISORS AS DEFINED IN
THE ORDER.
THE ACTIVITY REQUESTED THAT IN THE EVENT THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED
UNIT WAS FOUND APPROPRIATE, AN ELECTION BE HELD TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR
NOT THE EMPLOYEES INVOLVED DESIRE TO BE REPRESENTED IN THE PROPOSED
CONSOLIDATED UNIT BY THE AFGE. AS NOTED ABOVE, THE UNIT FOUND
APPROPRIATE INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES. HOWEVER, THE AUTHORITY IS
PROHIBITED BY SECTION 10(B)(4) OF THE ORDER FROM INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL
EMPLOYEES IN A UNIT WITH NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES UNLESS A MAJORITY OF
THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES VOTES FOR INCLUSION IN SUCH A UNIT.
ACCORDINGLY, THE DESIRES OF THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES MUST BE
ASCERTAINED, AND THE AUTHORITY WILL DIRECT THAT SEPARATE ELECTIONS BE
CONDUCTED IN THE FOLLOWING VOTING GROUPS:
VOTING GROUP (A): ALL PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
THE TREASURY, BUREAU OF
THE MINT, EXCLUDING ALL NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, SPECIAL POLICE AND
GUARDS, MANAGEMENT
OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN
A PURELY CLERICAL
CAPACITY, CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES, AND SUPERVISORS AS DEFINED IN THE
ORDER.
VOTING GROUP (B): ALL NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
THE TREASURY, BUREAU
OF THE MINT, INCLUDING SPECIAL POLICE AND GUARDS, EXCLUDING ALL
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES,
SPECIAL POLICE AND GUARDS ASSIGNED TO THE PHILADELPHIA MINT,
MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES
ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL
CAPACITY, CONFIDENTIAL
EMPLOYEES, AND SUPERVISORS AS DEFINED IN THE ORDER.
EMPLOYEES IN THE NONPROFESSIONAL VOTING GROUP (B) WILL BE POLLED
WHETHER THEY DESIRE TO BE REPRESENTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE
RECOGNITION IN THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED UNIT BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.
EMPLOYEES IN THE PROFESSIONAL VOTING GROUP (A) WILL BE ASKED TWO
QUESTIONS ON THEIR BALLOTS: (1) WHETHER THEY DESIRE TO BE REPRESENTED
FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION IN THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED
UNIT BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AND (2) WHETHER
THEY DESIRE TO BE REPRESENTED IN A SEPARATE CONSOLIDATED PROFESSIONAL
UNIT IF THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED UNIT IS APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF ALL
THE EMPLOYEES VOTING.
THE VALID VOTES CAST BY ALL THE ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES WILL BE TALLIED TO
DETERMINE IF A MAJORITY OF THE VALID VOTES HAS BEEN CAST IN FAVOR OF THE
PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED UNIT. IF A MAJORITY OF THE VALID VOTES HAS NOT
BEEN CAST IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED UNIT, THE EMPLOYEES WILL
BE TAKEN TO HAVE INDICATED THEIR DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO BE REPRESENTED IN
THEIR CURRENT UNITS OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION. IF A MAJORITY OF THE
VALID VOTES IS CASE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED UNIT, THE
BALLOTS OF THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES IN VOTING GROUP(A) WILL THEN BE
TALLIED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WISH TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SAME
CONSOLIDATED UNIT WITH THE NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES. UNLESS A MAJORITY
OF THE VALID VOTES OF VOTING GROUP (A) IS CAST FOR INCLUSION IN THE SAME
CONSOLIDATED UNIT AS THE NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, THE PROFESSIONAL
EMPLOYEES WILL BE TAKEN TO HAVE INDICATED THEIR DESIRE TO CONSTITUTE A
SEPARATE CONSOLIDATED PROFESSIONAL UNIT AND AN APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATION
WILL BE ISSUED BY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR.
THE UNIT DETERMINATION IN THE SUBJECT CASE THUS IS BASED IN PART UPON
THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION AMONG THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES. HOWEVER,
THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS IN REGARD TO THE APPROPRIATE
UNIT:
1. IF A MAJORITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES DOES NOT VOTE FOR
INCLUSION IN THE SAME UNIT AS THE NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, THE
AUTHORITY FINDS THE FOLLOWING UNITS APPROPRIATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 10 OF THE ORDER:
ALL PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, BUREAU
OF THE MINT, EXCLUDING
ALL NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, SPECIAL POLICE AND GUARDS, MANAGEMENT
OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES
ENGAGED IN FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL
CAPACITY, CONFIDENTIAL
EMPLOYEES, AND SUPERVISORS AS DEFINED IN THE ORDER.
ALL NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY,
BUREAU OF THE MINT,
INCLUDING SPECIAL POLICE AND GUARDS, EXCLUDING ALL PROFESSIONAL
EMPLOYEES, SPECIAL POLICE AND
GUARDS ASSIGNED TO THE PHILADELPHIA MINT, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS,
EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN FEDERAL
PERSONNEL WORK IN OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY, CONFIDENTIAL
EMPLOYEES, AND
SUPERVISORS AS DEFINED IN THE ORDER.
2. IF A MAJORITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES VOTES FOR INCLUSION
IN THE SAME CONSOLIDATED UNIT AS THE NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, THE
AUTHORITY FINDS THE FOLLOWING UNIT APPROPRIATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 10 OF THE ORDER:
ALL PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
THE TREASURY, BUREAU OF
THE MINT, INCLUDING SPECIAL POLICE AND GUARDS, EXCLUDING SPECIAL
POLICE AND GUARDS ASSIGNED TO
THE PHILADELPHIA MINT, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN
FEDERAL PERSONNEL WORK IN
OTHER THAN A PURELY CLERICAL CAPACITY, CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES, AND
SUPERVISORS AS DEFINED IN
THE ORDER.
DIRECTION OF ELECTION
AN ELECTION BY SECRET BALLOT SHALL BE CONDUCTED AMONG THE EMPLOYEES
IN THE VOTING GROUPS DESCRIBED ABOVE, AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT NOT
LATER THAN 60 DAYS FROM THE DATE BELOW. THE APPROPRIATE REGIONAL
DIRECTOR SHALL SUPERVISE THE ELECTION, SUBJECT TO THE AUTHORITY'S
TRANSITION RULES AND REGULATIONS. ELIGIBLE TO VOTE ARE THOSE IN THE
VOTING GROUPS WHO WERE EMPLOYED DURING THE PAYROLL PERIOD IMMEDIATELY
PRECEDING THE DATE BELOW, INCLUDING EMPLOYEES WHO DID NOT WORK DURING
THAT PERIOD BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT ILL, OR ON VACATION OR ON FURLOUGH,
INCLUDING THOSE IN THE MILITARY SERVICE WHO APPEAR IN PERSON AT THE
POLLS. INELIGIBLE TO VOTE ARE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE QUIT OR WERE
DISCHARGED FOR CAUSE SINCE THE DESIGNATED PAYROLL PERIOD AND WHO HAVE
NOT BEEN REHIRED OR REINSTATED BEFORE THE ELECTION DATE. THOSE ELIGIBLE
SHALL VOTE WHETHER OR NOT THEY DESIRE TO BE REPRESENTED FOR THE PURPOSE
OF EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION IN THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED UNIT BY THE
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.
ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY 17, 1980
RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN
HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER
LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER
FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY
/1/ AS THE PARTIES, IN EFFECT, BILATERALLY AGREED TO THE PROPOSED
CONSOLIDATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL UNITS, THE
TESTIMONY ADDUCED AT THE HEARING IN THIS MATTER WAS PRIMARILY LIMITED TO
THE APPROPRIATENESS OF INCLUDING THE GUARDS IN THE PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED
UNIT.
/2/ LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE(1975), AT 30.
/3/ VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, WASHINGTON, D.C., 1 FLRA 55, AND THE
CASES CITED THEREIN AT FOOTNOTE 9. ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN FINDINGS,
AS RELIED ON BY THE ACTIVITY HEREIN, THAT GUARD EMPLOYEES MIGHT BE
REPRESENTED IN SEPARATE GUARD UNITS IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY FORM A
FUNCTIONALLY DISTINCT GROUP, THIS DOES NOT PRECLUDE A FINDING, UNDER
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT GUARDS SHOULD APPROPRIATELY BE INCLUDED IN A
MIXED UNIT, CONSOLIDATED OR OTHERWISE, WHICH IS SOUGHT BY A PARTICULAR
PETITIONER, NOTING ESPECIALLY THE CURRENT POLICY REGARDING GUARD
REPRESENTATION CITED ABOVE. SEE NAVAL AIR TEST CENTER/NAVAL AIR
STATION, PATUXENT RIVER, MARYLAND, A/SLMR NO. 1019(APRIL 13, 1978);
GENERAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION, REGION 4, 7 A/SLMR 856, A/SLMR NO.
911(1977); AND DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY, LONG
BEACH, CALIFORNIA, 6 A/SLMR 150, A/SLMR NO. 629(1976). IN DEPARTMENT OF
THE NAVY, A/SLMR NO. 629, WHILE THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY REJECTED
INTERVENOR INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL
EMPLOYEES' (IFPTE) ARGUMENT THAT THE GUARDS HAD ACCRETED TO THEIR UNIT
OF ALL THE ACTIVITY'S NONPROFESSIONAL GS EMPLOYEES WITH THE AMENDMENT OF
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IN 1975, THE DIRECTION OF ELECTION THEREIN GAVE THE
GUARD EMPLOYEES THE OPTION OF CHOOSING THE PETITIONER INTERNATIONAL
BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS AS THEIR EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE FOR AN
EXCLUSIVELY GUARD UNIT OR OF CHOOSING THE IFPTE AND BECOMING PART OF
THEIR EXISTING UNIT.
/4/ INSOFAR AS THE ACTUAL STATE OF THE EXCLUSIVELY RECOGNIZED UNITS
AT THE TIME OF THE CONSOLIDATION ELECTION MAY DIFFER, IF AT ALL, FROM
THE UNIT FOUND APPROPRIATE HEREIN, THE UNIT DESCRIPTION SHOULD BE SO
MODIFIED.
/5/ IN CONFORMITY WITH SECTION 902(B) OF THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT
OF 1978(92 STAT. 1224), THE INSTANT CASE WAS DECIDED SOLELY ON THE BASIS
OF E.O. 11491, AS AMENDED, AND AS IF THE NEW FEDERAL SERVICE
LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE(92 STAT. 1191) HAD NOT BEEN ENACTED.
THE DECISION AND DIRECTION OF ELECTION DOES NOT PREJUDGE IN ANY MANNER
EITHER THE MEANING OR APPLICATION OF RELATED PROVISIONS IN THE NEW
STATUTE OR THE RESULT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN REACHED BY THE AUTHORITY IF
THE CASE HAD ARISEN UNDER THE STATUTE RATHER THAN THE ORDER.