[ v03 p465 ]
03:0465(69)PS
The decision of the Authority follows:
3 FLRA No. 69 Case No. 0-PS-18 DECISION ON REQUEST FOR GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY OR GUIDANCE THE AUTHORITY RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ON BEHALF OF ITS AFFILIATE THE FEDERAL AVIATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (UNION) THAT THE AUTHORITY ISSUE A GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY OR GUIDANCE ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: WHETHER OR NOT A BARGAINED-FOR PRIVILEGE IN A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT COVERING CERTAIN, ASCERTAINABLE, DEFINITE EMPLOYEES CAN BE EXTENDED BY THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL TO INCLUDE EMPLOYEES NOT INCLUDED IN THE UNIT COVERED BY THE AGREEMENT. ACCORDING TO THE REQUEST, THE UNION NEGOTIATED THE PRIVILEGE OF A BARGAINING UNIT EMPLOYEE OPERATING A PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE DURING TRAINING AT THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION'S OKLAHOMA CITY TRAINING ACADEMY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL RULED THAT AN EMPLOYEE NOT COVERED BY THE PRIVILEGE NEGOTIATED BY THE UNION SHOULD ALSO BE ALLOWED TO USE A PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE DURING TRAINING AT THE ACADEMY UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. THE UNION CONTENDS "(T)HE DECISION STANDS FOR THE PRINCIPLE THAT A BARGAINED FOR PRIVILEGE OF AN EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE APPLIES TO SIMILARLY SITUATED EMPLOYEES NOT SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE BARGAINING AGREEMENT UPON THE PROPER AND TIMELY FILING FOR THE SAME PRIVILEGE." THE AUTHORITY HAS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THIS REQUEST AND HAS DETERMINED THAT IT DOES NOT SATISFY THE STANDARDS GOVERNING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL STATEMENTS OF POLICY AND GUIDANCE SET FORTH IN SECTION 2427.5 OF THE RULES OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, 45 FED.REG. 3516, WHICH PROVIDES IN PERTINENT PART: SEC. 2427.5 STANDARDS GOVERNING ISSUANCE OF GENERAL STATEMENTS OF POLICY AND GUIDANCE. IN DECIDING WHETHER TO ISSUE A GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY OR GUIDANCE, THE AUTHORITY SHALL CONSIDER: (A) WHETHER THE QUESTION PRESENTED CAN MORE APPROPRIATELY BE RESOLVED BY OTHER MEANS; (B) WHERE OTHER MEANS ARE AVAILABLE, WHETHER AN AUTHORITY STATEMENT WOULD PREVENT THE PROLIFERATION OF CASES INVOLVING THE SAME OR SIMILAR QUESTION(.) THE QUESTION PRESENTED IN THIS REQUEST FOR A GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY OR GUIDANCE CAN BE MORE APPROPRIATELY RESOLVED BY OTHER MEANS. FOR EXAMPLE, PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN THE STATUTE AND APPROPRIATE REGULATIONS FOR THE RESOLUTION OF UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES PROVIDE A MORE FLEXIBLE MECHANISM FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ISSUES OF FACT WITH RESPECT TO THE ALLEGED CONSEQUENCES RESULTING FROM THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL'S RULING. MOREOVER, AUTHORITY ACTION ON THIS REQUEST IS NOT WARRANTED SINCE IT WOULD NOT PREVENT THE PROLIFERATION OF CASES INVOLVING THE SAME OR SIMILAR QUESTION. IN THIS REGARD, YOUR CONTENTIONS ESSENTIALLY RELATE TO THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE SITUATION DESCRIBED. THEREFORE, THE STATEMENT OF POLICY REQUESTED WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE DISPOSITIVE OF POSSIBLE CASES GROWING OUT OF OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. ACCORDINGLY, THE REQUEST FOR A GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY OR GUIDANCE IS DENIED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 25, 1980 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY