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Mid-Continent Mapping Center, National Mapping Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Rolla, Missouri (Activity) and National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 1960 (Labor Organization/Petitioner) 



[ v04 p426 ]
04:0426(58)RO
The decision of the Authority follows:


 4 FLRA No. 58
 
 MID-CONTINENT MAPPING CENTER
 NATIONAL MAPPING DIVISION
 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
 ROLLA, MISSOURI
 Activity
 
 and
 
 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL
 EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1960
 Labor Organization/Petitioner
 
                                            Case No. 7-RO-31
 
                            DECISION AND ORDER
 
    UPON A PETITION DULY FILED WITH THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY
 UNDER SECTION 7111(B)(1) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT
 RELATIONS STATUTE, 5 U.S.C.  7101-7135, A HEARING WAS HELD BEFORE A
 HEARING OFFICER OF THE AUTHORITY.  THE HEARING OFFICER'S RULINGS MADE AT
 THE HEARING ARE FREE FROM PREJUDICIAL ERROR AND ARE HEREBY AFFIRMED.
 
    UPON THE ENTIRE RECORD IN THE SUBJECT CASE THE AUTHORITY FINDS:  THE
 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1960 (NFFE), FILED A
 PETITION FOR EXCLUSIVE RECOGNITION FOR CERTAIN OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE
 MID-CONTINENT MAPPING CENTER, NATIONAL MAPPING DIVISION, U.S. GEOLOGICAL
 SURVEY, ROLLA, MISSOURI.  THE PETITION WAS AMENDED THREE TIMES.  THE
 FIRST AMENDED PETITION WAS FOR THE FOLLOWING UNIT:
 
    INCLUDED:  ALL NON-PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE UNITED STATES
 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WHOSE DUTY
 
    STATION IS ROLLA, MISSOURI.
 
    EXCLUDED:  ALL PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS,
 SUPERVISORS, AND EMPLOYEES
 
    DESCRIBED IN 5 U.S.C. 7112(B)(2), (3), (4), (6) AND (7).
 
    AT THE HEARING NFFE TENDERED A SECOND AMENDMENT DESCRIBING THE
 PROPOSED UNIT AS:
 
    INCLUDED:  ALL NON-PROFESSIONAL GS AND WG EMPLOYEES OF THE NATIONAL
 MAPPING DIVISION,
 
    UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY LOCATED AT ROLLA, MISSOURI.
 
    EXCLUDED:  ALL PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS,
 SUPERVISORS, AND EMPLOYEES
 
    DESCRIBED IN 5 U.S.C. 7112(B)(2), (3), (4), (6) AND (7).
 
    ALSO AT THE HEARING, NFFE PROPOSED A THIRD AMENDMENT AS FOLLOWS:
 
    INCLUDED:  ALL GS AND WG EMPLOYEES OF THE NATIONAL MAPPING DIVISION,
 UNITED STATES
 
    GEOLOGICAL SURVEY HEADQUARTERED AT ROLLA, MISSOURI.
 
    EXCLUDED:  ALL PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS,
 SUPERVISORS, AND EMPLOYEES
 
    DESCRIBED IN 5 U.S.C. 7112(B)(2), (3), (4), (6) AND (7).
 
    NFFE HAS INDICATED THAT IT IS WILLING TO PROCEED TO AN ELECTION IN
 ANY OF THE UNITS DESCRIBED IN THE THREE AMENDED PETITIONS.
 
    THE ACTIVITY CONTENDS THAT THE UNITS DESCRIBED IN THE VARIOUS AMENDED
 PETITIONS ARE INAPPROPRIATE AND THAT THE ONLY APPROPRIATE UNIT WOULD BE
 ONE THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE SERVICED BY THE MID-CONTINENT
 STATES PERSONNEL OFFICE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE
 CONSERVATION DIVISION, GULF OF MEXICO REGION, METAIRIE, LOUISIAN, WHO
 ARE COVERED BY AN EXISTING RECOGNITION.
 
    THE MID-CONTINENT MAPPING CENTER, NATIONAL MAPPING DIVISION, IS AN
 ACTIVITY WITHIN THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WHICH, IN TURN, IS AN
 ACTIVITY WITHIN THE U.S.  DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.  THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF PUBLIC LANDS AND THE
 EXAMINATION OF THE GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, MINERAL RESOURCES, AND PRODUCTS
 OF THE NATIONAL DOMAIN.  ADDITIONALLY, IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR GAGING THE
 STREAMS AND DETERMINING THE WATER SUPPLY OF THE UNITED STATES.
 
    WITHIN THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ARE SEVERAL MAJOR DIVISIONS;  FOUR OF
 WHICH ARE INVOLVED IN THE INSTANT CASE-- THE NATIONAL MAPPING DIVISION,
 THE WATER RESOURCES DIVISION, THE CONSERVATION DIVISION AND THE
 ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION.  THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CONSISTS OF THREE BASIC
 REGIONS (THE EASTER, CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGIONS);  HOWEVER, NOT ALL
 DIVISIONS FOLLOW THE BASIC REGIONAL STRUCTURE.
 
    THE FIELD STRUCTURE OF THE NATIONAL MAPPING DIVISION IS COMPOSED OF
 FOUR MAPPING CENTERS AND ONE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION CENTER.  ONE OF
 THE MAPPING CENTERS IS THE MID-CONTINENT MAPPING CENTER WHICH IS THE
 FOCAL POINT OF THE SECOND AND THIRD AMENDED PETITIONS IN THE INSTANT
 CASE.  HEADQUARTERED IN ROLLA, MISSOURI, ITS FUNCTION IS, ESSENTIALLY,
 MAKING MAPS.  IT IS COMPOSED ORGANIZATIONALLY OF AN INSTRUMENT
 MAINTENANCE UNIT, A CARTOGRAPHER TRAINEE GROUP AND FOUR BRANCHES (EACH
 HEADED BY A BRANCH CHIEF) WITH VARYING NUMBERS OF ORGANIZATIONAL
 SUBELEMENTS.
 
    THE BRANCH CHIEFS REPORT TO THE OFFICE OF THE CENTER CHIEF.  THE
 CHIEF, MID-CONTINENT MAPPING CENTER, WHO IS UNDER THE LINE DIRECTION OF
 THE CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL MAPPING DIVISION, HAS OVERALL PROGRAM
 RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CENTER.  THE CHIEF ALSO HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR
 THE BUDGET AND DETERMINING PERSONNEL ALLOCATIONS WITHIN THE CENTER.
 PERSONNEL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE MID-CONTINENT STATES PERSONNEL
 OFFICE.
 
    MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE ASSIGNED TO THE VARIOUS BRANCHES LOCATED IN
 ROLLA, MISSOURI;  HOWEVER, ONE GROUP OF EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO
 THE FIELD DISTRICT SECTION OF THE BRANCH OF FIELD SURVEYS PERFORM FIELD
 WORK IN A 14 STATE AREA OF THE CENTRAL U.S.  THE BULK OF THE ELIGIBLE
 EMPLOYEES OF THE MID-CONTINENT MAPPING CENTER ARE CARTOGRAPHIC
 TECHNICIANS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES RELATING TO THE
 MANUFACTURE OF MAPS.  THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FIELD DISTRICT SECTION ARE
 RESPONSIBLE FOR GATHERING MAPPING DATA AND INFORMATION WHICH IS FED BACK
 TO AND USED BY THE BRANCHES HOUSED IN ROLLA.  THE DUTY STATION OF THIS
 CONTINGENT OF FIELD EMPLOYEES IS WHEREVER THEIR ASSIGNMENT IS AT A
 PARTICULAR TIME.  TYPICALLY, THEY WORK IN THE SOUTHERN STATES OF THEIR
 JURISDICTION IN THE WINTER AND THE NORTHERN STATES IN THE SUMMER.  THEY
 ARE SUPERVISED BY FOUR PROJECT CHIEFS WHO ARE LOCATED IN THE FIELD, WHO
 REPORT TO TWO DISTRICT CHIEFS LOCATED IN THE ROLLA OFFICE.  THE FIELD
 DISTRICT SECTION IN TURN REPORTS TO THE CHIEF OF THE BRANCH OF FIELD
 SURVEYS.
 
    THE WATER RESOURCES DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND
 ANALYSIS OF THE OCCURRENCE, QUANTITY, QUALITY, DISTRIBUTION AND MOVEMENT
 OF SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND WATERS THAT COMPRISE THE NATION'S WATER
 RESOURCES.  ITS FIELD STRUCTURE CONSISTS OF FOUR REGIONS, EACH HEADED BY
 A REGIONAL HYDROLOGIST WHO HAS OVERALL PROGRAM AUTHORITY FOR THE REGION.
  INVOLVED IN THE INSTANT PROCEEDING IS THE CENTRAL REGION WHICH CONSISTS
 OF 15 STATES.  WITHIN THE CENTRAL REGION ARE DISTRICT OFFICES HEADED BY
 DISTRICT CHIEFS.  WITHIN THE DISTRICTS ARE ONE OR MORE SUBDISTRICT
 OFFICES WHICH ARE HEADED BY A SUPERVISORY HYDROLOGIST.  FOUR OF THE
 DISTRICTS (THE ARKANSAS, IOWA, LOUISIANA AND MISSOURI DISTRICTS) ARE
 SERVICED BY THE MID-CONTINENT STATES PERSONNEL OFFICE.  THE MISSOURI
 DISTRICT IS HEADQUARTERED IN ROLLA BUT ALSO HAS SUBOFFICES AND EMPLOYEES
 LOCATED IN CREVE COEUR AND INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI.  THE MAJORITY OF
 ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES ARE HYDROLOGIC TECHNICIANS WHOSE DUTIES GENERALLY
 INVOLVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF FIELD WORK AND A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF
 OFFICE WORK DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF ACTIVITIES THEY ARE INVOLVED IN.
 
    ANOTHER OFFICE WHICH IS LOCATED IN ROLLA AND SERVICED BY THE
 MID-CONTINENT STATES PERSONNEL OFFICE IS THE ROLLA DISTRICT OFFICE OF
 THE AREA MINING SUPERVISOR, CENTRAL REGION, CONSERVATION DIVISION.  IT
 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING EXPERTISE TO OTHER FEDERAL AND STATE
 OFFICES ON MINERAL LEASING MATTERS AND THE FIELD REGULATION OF
 OPERATIONS FOR THE EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF LEASABLE
 MINERALS ON FEDERAL AND INDIAN LANDS IN THE DISTRICT.  THERE ARE THREE
 EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO THAT OFFICE-- TWO MINING ENGINEERS AND ONE
 SECRETARY.  THE OFFICE IS HEADED BY A DISTRICT MINING ENGINEER WHO
 REPORTS TO THE ASSISTANT CONSERVATION MANAGER FOR MINING AT THE REGIONAL
 LEVEL (THE REGION IS HEADQUARTERED IN LAKEWOOD, COLORADO).
 
    THE RECORD ALSO CONTAINS REFERENCE TO THE GEOGRAPHY PROGRAM OF THE
 LAND INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS OFFICE WHICH IS LOCATED IN ROLLA.
 HOWEVER, THE RECORD INDICATES THAT THE FUNCTIONS OF THIS OFFICE WERE
 TRANSFERRED TO THE NATIONAL MAPPING DIVISION EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 1980.
 
    THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION GENERALLY FOLLOWS THE BASIS THREE REGION
 FIELD STRUCTURE OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY;  HOWEVER, EXCEPTIONS EXIST
 WITH RESPECT TO THE PERSONNEL OFFICE AND THE GENERAL SERVICES OFFICE
 BOTH OF WHICH, IN ADDITION TO HAVING OFFICES IN THE THREE REGIONS, HAVE
 OFFICES IN ROLLA.  THESE TWO OFFICES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING
 SERVICES TO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY UNITS IN THE MID-CONTINENT STATES (DEFINED
 AS ARKANSAS, IOWA, LOUISIANA AND MISSOURI).
 
    THE MID-CONTINENT STATES PERSONNEL OFFICE HAS PRIMARY STAFF AND
 OPERATING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN ITS
 JURISDICTION.  LOCATED IN ROLLA, IT HAS A SATELLITE OFFICE IN METAIRIE,
 LOUISIANA, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING PERSONNEL FUNCTIONS FOR
 THE CONSERVATION DIVISION, GULF OF MEXICO REGION, METAIRIE, LOUISIANA
 (THE EMPLOYEES OF THAT ORGANIZATION ARE COVERED BY AN EXISTING EXCLUSIVE
 RECOGNITION).  THE MID-CONTINENT STATES PERSONNEL OFFICE REPORTS TO THE
 BRANCH OF PERSONNEL LOCATED IN RESTON, VIRGINIA, WHICH IN TURN REPORTS
 TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION ALSO LOCATED IN RESTON.  THE EMPLOYEES
 ASSIGNED TO THE ROLLA AND METAIRIE OFFICES ARE CLERICAL SUPPORT,
 PERSONNEL ASSISTANTS AND CATEGORIES INVOLVED IN THE VARIOUS PERSONNEL
 SPECIALTIES.
 
    THE GENERAL SERVICES OFFICE IN ROLLA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING
 SUPPORT IN THE AREAS OF SPACE, SAFETY AND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS
 OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ACTIVITIES IN THE
 MID-CONTINENT STATES AREA.  IT REPORTS TO THE BRANCH OF GENERAL SERVICES
 IN RESTON, VIRGINIA, WHICH REPORTS TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION IN
 RESTON.  THE EMPLOYEES OF THE ROLLA OFFICE FALL INTO SEVERAL CLERICAL
 CATEGORIES AND THAT OF GENERAL SUPPLY SPECIALIST.
 
    RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERSONNEL AND LABOR RELATIONS FUNCTIONS FOR THE
 EMPLOYEES IN THE OFFICES DISCUSSED HEREIN RESTS WITH THE MID-CONTINENT
 STATES PERSONNEL OFFICE.  IN THIS REGARD, THE VARIOUS OPERATING
 OFFICIALS INITIATE PERSONNEL ACTIONS AND THE PERSONNEL OFFICE REVIEWS
 THEM FOR CONFORMANCE WITH PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS, APPROVES AND
 EFFECTUATES THE ACTION.  THE PERSONNEL OFFICE SHARES JOINT
 RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRAINING WITH THE OPERATIONAL DIVISIONS.
 
    THE RECORD REVEALS THAT THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MANUAL ESTABLISHES
 UNIFORM PROCEDURES FOR PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION AND
 IMPLEMENTS PROVISIONS OF THE FEDERAL PERSONNEL MANUAL AND DEPARTMENT OF
 INTERIOR MANUAL.  THERE IS NO EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD OF ANY PERSONNEL
 REGULATIONS ISSUED BELOW THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY LEVEL.  IN THE AREA OF
 LABOR RELATIONS, THE MID-CONTINENT STATES PERSONNEL OFFICE HAS THE
 AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE AND SIGN AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICES
 WHICH IT SERVICES.  ACCORDING TO UNREFUTED TESTIMONY, THE PERSONNEL
 OFFICE POSSESSES THE AUTHORITY TO DECIDE ANY MATTER IN DISPUTE.  ALSO
 THE RECORD INDICATES THAT EXPERTISE IN LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATION RESTS
 IN THE PERSONNEL OFFICE AS OPPOSED TO ANY OF THE OPERATING
 ORGANIZATIONS.
 
    THE RECORD REVEALS THAT THERE IS FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION INVOLVING THE
 ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENTS WHICH ARE HEADQUARTERED IN ROLLA.  SPECIFICALLY
 THE PERSONNEL OFFICE AND GENERAL SERVICES OFFICE PROVIDE SUPPORT IN
 THEIR RESPECTIVE SPECIALTIES TO THE OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THEIR
 JURISDICTION.  THE WATER RESOURCES DIVISION AND MID-CONTINENT MAPPING
 CENTER PROVIDE DATA AND INFORMATION TO EACH OTHER AND IN THE PAST HAVE
 WORKED ON AT LEAST ONE JOINT PROJECT.  FURTHERMORE, THE RECORD INDICATES
 THAT THE WATER RESOURCES DIVISION DISTRICT OFFICE IN ROLLA RELIES UPON
 THE MID-CONTINENT MAPPING CENTER FOR CERTAIN COMPUTER AND PHOTOGRAPHIC
 SERVICES.
 
    THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS A CONCLUSION THAT WHATEVER DETAILS OCCUR ARE
 PREDOMINANTLY INTRADIVISIONAL;  HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN SOME MOVEMENT
 VIA PROMOTION AND/OR REASSIGNMENT BETWEEN DIVISIONS.  MANY OF THE
 EMPLOYEES LOCATED IN ROLLA WORK IN THE SAME BUILDING AND SHARE COMMON
 FACILITIES SUCH AS CANTEEN AND PARKING AREAS.
 
    IN THE AREA OF BARGAINING HISTORY, THE RECORD INDICATES THAT IN 1971
 A UNIT WAS CERTIFIED WHICH CONSISTED OF ALL GEOLOGICAL SURVEY EMPLOYEES
 WORKING IN ROLLA.  AFTER ONE YEAR OF NEGOTIATION, A CONTRACT COVERING
 THE UNIT BECAME EFFECTIVE IN 1973.  THE UNIT WAS DECERTIFIED IN 1978.
 
    THE ACTIVITY ARGUES THAT, IF THE MID-CONTINENT STATES PERSONNEL
 OFFICE HAS SEVERAL UNITS IN ITS JURISDICTION, IT WILL BE FORCED TO
 INCREASE EXPENDITURES AND STAFF IN ORDER TO ADMINISTER THE VARIOUS
 BARGAINING RELATIONSHIPS.  IN SUPPORT OF THIS ARGUMENT IT CONTENDS THAT
 A LABOR RELATIONS SPECIALIST HAD TO BE HIRED IN THE METAIRIE PERSONNEL
 OFFICE BECAUSE OF THE CONSERVATION DIVISION UNIT THERE.
 
    THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT NONE OF THE UNITS SOUGHT BY THE PETITIONER
 AND SET FORTH IN THE VARIOUS AMENDED PETITIONS ARE APPROPRIATE.  THE
 EMPLOYEES IN THE UNIT PROPOSED IN THE FIRST AMENDED PETITION (I.E.,
 THOSE EMPLOYEES WHOSE DUTY STATION IS ROLLA) DO NOT SHARE A CLEAR AND
 IDENTIFIABLE COMMUNITY OF INTEREST WHICH IS SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM
 THE VARIOUS EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO THOSE OFFICES HEADQUARTERED IN ROLLA
 BUT WHO ARE LOCATED ELSEWHERE.  PARTICULARLY, THE AUTHORITY NOTES THAT
 THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FIELD DISTRICT SECTION OF THE MID-CONTINENT MAPPING
 CENTER, THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CREVE COEUR AND INDEPENDENCE SUBDISTRICT
 OFFICES OF THE MISSOURI DISTRICT OF THE WATER RESOURCES DIVISION AND THE
 EMPLOYEES OF THE METAIRIE PERSONNEL OFFICE SHARE A COMMON MISSION,
 FUNCTION AND SUPERVISION WITH, AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME PERSONNEL
 POLICIES AND PRACTICES AS THE EMPLOYEES IN THE PROPOSED UNIT.
 
    AS FOR THE EMPLOYEES IN THE UNIT PROPOSED IN THE SECOND AMENDED
 PETITION (NON-PROFESSIONALS ASSIGNED TO THE MID-CONTINENT MAPPING CENTER
 WHO ARE LOCATED IN ROLLA) THE AUTHORITY ALSO FINDS THAT THEY DO NOT
 POSSESS A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST THAT IS SUFFICIENTLY UNIQUE FROM OTHER
 EMPLOYEES.  THEY SHARE COMMON MISSION, FUNCTION, SUPERVISION AND
 PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PRACTICES WITH THE EMPLOYEES OF THE MID-CONTINENT
 MAPPING CENTER WHO ARE NOT LOCATED IN ROLLA.  MOREOVER, THE FLOW OF WORK
 WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO COMMONALITY AMONG THOSE EMPLOYEES LOCATED IN ROLLA
 AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT.  ADDITIONALLY, IT IS NOTED THAT EMPLOYEES OF THE
 OTHER DIVISIONS IN THE AREA SHARE FACILITIES AND RELATED AND/OR
 SUPPORTIVE FUNCTIONS WITH THE EMPLOYEES OF THE MID-CONTINENT MAPPING
 CENTER.
 
    SIMILARLY, THE AUTHORITY FINDS THAT THE EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN THE
 THIRD AMENDED PETITION (THE NON-PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF THE
 MID-CONTINENT MAPPING CENTER) DO NOT POSSESS A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST
 WHICH IS SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM OTHER EMPLOYEES.  AS NOTED ABOVE,
 THOSE EMPLOYEES SHARE FACILITIES AND RELATED FUNCTIONS WITH EMPLOYEES OF
 OTHER GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA.  THEY ARE ALSO SUBJECT
 TO THE SAME PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PRACTICES AS OTHERS.  IN REACHING
 THIS CONCLUSION THE AUTHORITY HAS ALSO CONSIDERED THE EVIDENCE
 INDICATING THE OCCURRENCE OF INTERDIVISIONAL TRANSFERS AND REASSIGNMENTS
 INVOLVING THE ROLLA AREA ACTIVITIES.
 
    IN ADDITION TO THE ABSENCE OF A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT COMMUNITY OF
 INTEREST, THE AUTHORITY CONCLUDES THAT NONE OF THE PROPOSED UNITS IN THE
 AMENDED PETITIONS WOULD PROMOTE EFFICIENCY OF OPERATIONS.  IN THE
 AUTHORITY'S VIEW, ALL THREE WOULD TEND TO RESULT IN THE EXISTENCE OF
 NUMEROUS UNITS WHICH WOULD, IN TURN, TEND TO RESULT IN INCREASED
 EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BARGAINING
 RELATIONSHIPS.
 
    IN VIEW OF THE FINDINGS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE
 PETITIONED-FOR UNITS, THE AUTHORITY FINDS IT UNNECESSARY TO RULE UPON
 THE ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS RAISED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PETITION.
 
                                   ORDER
 
    IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT THE AMENDED PETITIONS IN CASE NO. 7-RO-31
 BE, AND HEREBY ARE, DISMISSED.
 
    ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPTEMBER 30, 1980
 
                       RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN
 
                       HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER
 
                        LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER
 
                     FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY
 
                          CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
 
    COPIES OF THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS
 AUTHORITY IN THE SUBJECT PROCEEDING HAVE THIS DAY BEEN SENT TO THE
 PARTIES BELOW:
 
    MR. BILL BAKER
 
    NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
 
    NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
 
    5075 CLAYRIDGE DRIVE, APT. 315
 
    ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63129
 
    BOSCO CUDALY
 
    PERSONNEL OFFICER
 
    U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
 
    1400 INDEPENDENCE ROAD
 
    ROLLA, MISSOURI 65401
 
    GORDON E. BREWER
 
    REGIONAL DIRECTOR
 
    FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY
 
    REGION 7
 
    SUITE 680, CITY CENTER SQUARE
 
    1100 MAIN STREET
 
    KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64105