[ v03 p676 ]
03:0676(108)AR
The decision of the Authority follows:
3 FLRA No. 108 OVERSEAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION Union and DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPENDENTS SCHOOLS Activity Case No. 0-AR-19 DECISION THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE AUTHORITY ON A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF THE AWARD OF ARBITRATOR IDA KLAUS FILED BY THE AGENCY UNDER SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (5 U.S.C. 7122(A)). ACCORDING TO THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD, THIS MATTER INVOLVED MEETINGS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR CURRICULUM REVIEW OF THE AGENCY'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN AUGSBURG, GERMANY. MEETINGS OF THIS COMMITTEE WERE HELD MONTHLY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS COMMENCED AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE "SCHOOL WORKDAY FOR TEACHERS," AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN ARTICLE 38, SECTION 1 OF THE PARTIES' NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT, AND THEY LASTED FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR. ACCORDING TO THE ARBITRATOR, ARTICLE 38, SECTION 1 PERTINENTLY PROVIDES: THE SCHOOL WORKDAY FOR TEACHERS . . . SHALL COMMENCE NOT MORE THAN TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE AND TERMINATE NOT MORE THAN THIRTY MINUTES AFTER THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY. THE PARTIES' NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT DEFINES THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY TO BE THE "NUMBERS OF HOURS IN THE WORKDAY IN WHICH CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION TAKES PLACE." AT AUGSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY CONCLUDED AT 2:50 P.M. AND THE SCHOOL WORKDAY FOR TEACHERS CONCLUDED AT 3:10 P.M. THUS, IT APPEARS THAT THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS COMMENCED AT APPROXIMATELY 3:20 P.M. AND LASTED UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 4:20 P.M. AT THE START OF THE 1977-78 SCHOOL YEAR, A TEACHER ON THE COMMITTEE, WHO WAS ALSO A UNION REPRESENTATIVE, COMPLAINED TO THE SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL THAT PURSUANT TO THE AGREEMENT, THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS WERE TO BE ON "OFFICIAL TIME," IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 31, SECTION 4 OF THE AGREEMENT, WHICH PROVIDES: MEMBERS SERVING ON AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR CURRICULUM REVIEW SHALL BE ON OFFICIAL TIME DURING MEETINGS OF SUCH COMMITTEES. MEMBERS SERVING ON SUCH COMMITTEES AT THE DISTRICT AND REGIONAL LEVEL SHALL RECEIVE TRAVEL AND PER DIEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JTR. IT WAS ASSERTED THAT THE TERM "OFFICIAL TIME" AS USED IN THAT AGREEMENT PROVISION MEANT "DUTY TIME." THE UNION REPRESENTATIVE THEREFORE REQUESTED ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1977, THAT THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS BE HELD DURING THE SCHOOL WORKDAY FOR TEACHERS AND THAT THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS BE GRANTED ONE HOUR OF "RELEASE TIME" TO ATTEND THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS. IT WAS OBSERVED IN THE AWARD THAT IT IS COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE TERM "RELEASE TIME" REFERS TO THE RELEASE WITH PAY OF A TEACHER FROM THE COMPLETION OF THE TEACHER'S CLASSROOM DUTIES, EITHER BY EARLY DISMISSAL OF THE TEACHER'S CLASS OR BY USE OF A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER. THE PRINCIPAL DENIED THE REQUEST AND A GRIEVANCE WAS FILED WHICH CLAIMED THAT PURSUANT TO THE PARTIES' NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT, "OFFICIAL TIME" IS THE SAME AS THE SCHOOL WORKDAY FOR TEACHERS. THE GRIEVANCE SOUGHT THE GRANT OF RELEASE TIME FOR THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS. THE DISPUTE ULTIMATELY WAS SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION WITH THE PARTIES UNABLE TO AGREE ON THE ISSUES. THEREFORE, THE ARBITRATOR STATED THE ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: 1. WHETHER THE TERM "OFFICIAL TIME" AS USED IN ARTICLE 31, SECTION 4 IS TO BE CONSTRUED AS MEANING THAT PERIOD OF TIME ESTABLISHED IN ARTICLE 38, SECTION 1 AS "THE SCHOOL WORKDAY FOR TEACHERS." 2. WHETHER THE PRINCIPAL OF THE AUGSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VIOLATED ARTICLE 31, SECTION 4 BY REFUSING TO ALLOW RELEASE TIME FOR TEACHERS TO ATTEND ADVISORY CURRICULUM REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETINGS. IN RESOLVING THE FIRST ISSUE, THE ARBITRATOR OBSERVED THAT BOTH THE COMMITTEE AND ITS MEETING TIME WERE EXCLUSIVELY DERIVED FROM AND GOVERNED BY THE TERMS OF THE PARTIES' NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT. IT WAS THE ARBITRATOR'S FINDING AND AWARD THAT THE INTENT OF THE PARTIES IN THAT AGREEMENT WAS THAT (T)HE TERM "OFFICIAL TIME" AS USED IN ARTICLE 31, SECTION 4 OF THE AGREEMENT REFERS TO THAT PERIOD OF TIME ESTABLISHED IN ARTICLE 38, SECTION 1 AS THE "SCHOOL WORKDAY FOR TEACHERS." AS TO THE SECOND ISSUE, THE ARBITRATOR PARTICULARLY NOTED THAT THE ACTIVITY CONCEDED THAT IT GRANTED RELEASE TIME TO TEACHERS TO ATTEND THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AT THE AREA AND REGIONAL LEVELS. THE ARBITRATOR CONCLUDED IN THIS RESPECT THAT THE PARTIES' NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT DID NOT PERMIT DISPARATE TREATMENT OF THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. ACCORDINGLY, THE ARBITRATOR FOUND IN HER AWARD THAT THE ACTIVITY VIOLATED ARTICLE 31, SECTION 4 OF THE AGREEMENT BY REFUSING TO GRANT COMMITTEE MEMBERS RELEASE TIME TO ALLOW THEM TO ATTEND THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. TO REMEDY THIS VIOLATION OF THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT, THE ARBITRATOR ORDERED IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF HER AWARD AS FOLLOWS: 4. MEMBERS OF THE AUGSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMMITTEE SHALL BE PAID "EXTRA DUTY" COMPENSATION FOR THE TIME THEY HAVE SPENT SINCE SEPTEMBER 13, 1977, OUTSIDE THE WORKDAY AS DEFINED BY ARTICLE 38, SECTION 1 IN ATTENDANCE AT COMMITTEE MEETINGS. THE AGENCY FILED A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE SET FORTH IN 5 C.F.R. PART 2411 (1978), WHICH, TO THE EXTENT CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 7122(A) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (5 U.S.C. 7122(A)) AND AS AMENDED BY SECTION 2400.5 OF THE TRANSITION RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY, 44 F.R. 44741, REMAIN OPERATIVE WITH RESPECT TO THIS CASE. THE AGENCY REQUESTS THAT THE AUTHORITY ACCEPT ITS PETITION FOR REVIEW OF PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD ON THE BASIS OF ITS EXCEPTION WHICH IS DISCUSSED BELOW. THE UNION DID NOT FILE AN OPPOSITION. IN ITS EXCEPTION TO THE AWARD, THE AGENCY CONTENDS THAT PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD IS CONTRARY TO LAW AND REGULATION. IN SUPPORT OF ITS EXCEPTION, THE AGENCY EXPLAINS THAT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TEACHERS LOCATED IN OVERSEAS AREAS ARE COVERED BY THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OVERSEAS TEACHERS PAY AND PERSONNEL PRACTICES ACT (OVERSEAS TEACHERS PAY ACT), 20 U.S.C.901-907 (1976). THE AGENCY ARGUES THAT NO PROVISION OF THIS LAW REQUIRES THE PAYMENT OF OVERTIME FOR TIME REQUIRED BY MANAGEMENT AND SPENT BY TEACHERS OUTSIDE THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY. THE AGENCY FURTHER ARGUES THAT THE IMPLEMENTING REGULATION TO THE ACT, DOD DIRECTIVE 1400.13, LIKEWISE MAKES NO PROVISION FOR THE PAYMENT OF OVERTIME. THE AGENCY STATES THAT THIS REGULATION DOES PROVIDE FOR APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN EXTRA-DUTY ASSIGNMENTS WHICH HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY A PAY SCHEDULE FOR "OTHER COMPENSATION" WHICH ALLOWS ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION, BUT ONLY WHEN 40 OR MORE HOURS AND THE DUTY PERFORMED IN THIS CASE WAS CURRICULAR IN NATURE RATHER THAN EXTRA-CURRICULAR. THE AGENCY ALSO MAKES A DERIVATIVE ARGUMENT THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NO EXTRA COMPENSATION AUTHORIZED IN THIS CASE, COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE AWARD WOULD VIOLATE THE BACK PAY ACT OF 1966. /1/ PURSUANT TO SECTION 2411.32 OF THE AMENDED RULES AND SECTION 7122(A) OF THE STATUTE, THE AUTHORITY WILL GRANT A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF AN ARBITRATION AWARD WHERE IT APPEARS, BASED ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE PETITION, THAT AN EXCEPTION PRESENTS THE GROUND THAT THE AWARD VIOLATES LAW OR REGULATION. IN THIS CASE, HOWEVER, THE AGENCY'S PETITION FAILS TO DESCRIBE THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES NECESSARY TO SUPPORT ITS EXCEPTION THAT PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE ARBITRATOR'S AWARD, ORDERING THE PAYMENT OF ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR THE TIME SPENT IN ATTENDANCE AT THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS OUTSIDE THE TEACHER'S WORKDAY, IS CONTRARY TO LAW OR REGULATION. ALTHOUGH THE AGENCY CONTENDS THAT THE COMPENSATION ORDERED IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE AWARD IS CONTRARY TO LAW AND REGULATION, THE SUBSTANCE OF ITS SUPPORTING ARGUMENT IS SOLELY THAT "THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVED HEREIN." HOWEVER, THE LAW, THE REGULATION, AND THE COMPENSATION SCHEDULE CITED BY THE AGENCY DO NOT DEMONSTRATE THAT PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE AWARD VIOLATES LAW OR REGULATION, BUT RATHER DEMONSTRATE ONLY THAT THE PARTICULAR LAW, REGULATION, AND COMPENSATION SCHEDULE CITED BY THE AGENCY DO NOT EXPRESSLY ADDRESS THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE-- COMPENSATION FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF ADDITIONAL CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. IN THIS REGARD THE OVERSEAS TEACHERS PAY ACT PROVIDES, IN PERTINENT PART, AS FOLLOWS: SEC. 902. REGULATIONS OF SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (A) . . . THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SHALL PRESCRIBE AND ISSUE REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS CHAPTER. SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL GOVERN-- * * * * (3) THE ENTITLEMENT OF TEACHERS TO COMPENSATION; (4) THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO TEACHERS; * * * * (10) SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY BE RELEVANT AND APPROPRIATE TO THE PURPOSES OF THIS CHAPTER. SEC. 903. ADMINISTRATION-- EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY PRACTICES (A) THE SECRETARY OF EACH MILITARY DEPARTMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SHALL CONDUCT THE EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY PRACTICES APPLICABLE TO TEACHERS AND TEACHING POSITIONS IN HIS MILITARY DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS CHAPTER, OTHER APPLICABLE LAW, AND THE REGULATIONS PRESCRIBED AND ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE UNDER SECTION 902 OF THIS TITLE. * * * * (D) THE SECRETARY OF EACH MILITARY DEPARTMENT MAY PRESCRIBE AND ISSUE SUCH REGULATIONS AS HE DEEMS APPROPRIATE TO CARRY OUT HIS FUNCTIONS UNDER THIS CHAPTER. SIMILARLY, DOD DIRECTIVE 1400.13 PROVIDES, IN PERTINENT PART, AS FOLLOWS: V. RESPONSIBILITIES A. THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE . . . SHALL: * * * * 2. DEVELOP, ADOPT, AND FROM TIME TO TIME ADJUST, AS APPROPRIATE, A SINGLE UNIFORM COMPENSATION SCHEDULE, CONSISTENT WITH THE FOLLOWING: * * * * D. PROVIDE FOR APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN EXTRA-DUTY ASSIGNMENTS NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS. LIKEWISE, THE SCHEDULE FOR "OTHER COMPENSATION" BY ITS OWN TERMS, AS INDICATED BY THE AGENCY, DEALS NOT WITH CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES BUT RATHER WITH EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. THE AUTHORITY NOTES THAT THE OVERSEAS TEACHERS PAY ACT AND DOD DIRECTIVE 1400.13 BOTH GRANT BROAD DISCRETION TO THE AGENCY IN THE PROVISION OF COMPENSATION FOR TEACHERS. IN TERMS OF THIS CASE, THE AUTHORITY ALSO NOTES THAT THE GRIEVANCE SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION QUESTIONED THE PROPRIETY OF THE ACTIVITY'S SCHEDULING OF THE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE MEETINGS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL WORKDAY FOR TEACHERS. FINDING SUCH SCHEDULING A VIOLATION OF THE PARTIES' NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT, THE ARBITRATOR ORDERED AS A REMEDY THAT THE TEACHERS BE COMPENSATED FOR THE EXTRA-DUTY TIME SPENT IN ATTENDANCE OF THESE MEETINGS. IN VIEW OF THE BROAD DISCRETION GIVEN THE AGENCY TO GRANT COMPENSATION, AND SINCE, AS INDICATED, NOTHING IN LAW OR REGULATION EXPRESSLY PRECLUDES GRANTING THE COMPENSATION ORDERED BY THE ARBITRATOR IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE, THE AUTHORITY FINDS NO BASIS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENCY'S PETITION FOR REVIEW UNDER SECTION 2411.32 OF THE AMENDED RULES. THEREFORE, THE AGENCY'S PETITION FOR REVIEW IS DENIED BECAUSE IT FAILS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 2411.32 OF THE AMENDED RULES FOR ACCEPTANCE BY THE AUTHORITY OF A PETITION FOR REVIEW OF AN ARBITRATOR'S AWARD. THE AGENCY'S REQUEST FOR A STAY OF THE AWARD IS ALSO DENIED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 18, 1980 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER 222, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY /1/ 5 U.S.C. 5596(1976), AS AMENDED BY CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF 1978, PUB. L. NO. 95-454, SEC. 702, 92 STAT. 1216.