[ v10 p405 ]
10:0405(67)NG
The decision of the Authority follows:
10 FLRA No. 67 NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION Union and FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION WASHINGTON, D.C. Agency Case No. O-NG-401 DECISION AND ORDER ON NEGOTIABILITY ISSUE THE PETITION FOR REVIEW IN THIS CASE COMES BEFORE THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY (THE AUTHORITY) PURSUANT TO SECTION 7105(A)(2)(E) OF THE FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE (THE STATUTE) AND RAISES THE QUESTION OF THE NEGOTIABILITY OF THE FOLLOWING UNION PROPOSAL: THE EMPLOYER MAY NOT DENY ANNUAL LEAVE AS AN ACT IN LIEU OF DISCIPLINE OR IN CONNECTION WITH DISCIPLINE. UPON CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE ENTIRE RECORD, INCLUDING THE PARTIES' CONTENTIONS, THE AUTHORITY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DETERMINATIONS. THE AGENCY'S ALLEGATION OF NONNEGOTIABILITY CONCERNS ONLY THAT PORTION OF THE UNION'S PROPOSAL WHICH PREVENTS THE AGENCY FROM DENYING ANNUAL LEAVE IN CONNECTION WITH DISCIPLINE. THE PARTIES ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT THE EFFECT OF THAT PORTION OF THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO PREVENT THE AGENCY FROM DENYING A REQUEST FOR ANNUAL LEAVE DURING THE DAYS UPON WHICH A SUSPENSION WOULD BE EFFECTIVE. CHAPTER 63 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE ACCRUAL AND USE OF LEAVE, INCLUDING PRINCIPALLY ANNUAL AND SICK LEAVE, GENERALLY PROVIDES AT 5 U.S.C. 6302(A) AS FOLLOWS: THE DAYS OF LEAVE PROVIDED BY THIS SUBCHAPTER ARE DAYS ON WHICH AN EMPLOYEE WOULD OTHERWISE WORK AND RECEIVE PAY AND ARE EXCLUSIVE OF HOLIDAYS AND NONWORKDAYS ESTABLISHED BY FEDERAL STATUTE, EXECUTIVE ORDER, OR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER. THUS, UNDER FEDERAL LAW, ANNUAL LEAVE IS TO BE GRANTED ONLY ON DAYS DURING WHICH AN EMPLOYEE WOULD OTHERWISE WORK AND RECEIVE PAY. CHAPTER 75 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, ESTABLISHES THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THE SUSPENSION OF AN EMPLOYEE. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS CHAPTER, 5 U.S.C 7501(2) DEFINES SUSPENSION AS " . . . PLACING AN EMPLOYEE, FOR DISCIPLINARY REASONS, IN A TEMPORARY STATUS, WITHOUT DUTIES AND PAY." THEREFORE, A SUSPENDED EMPLOYEE WOULD NOT WORK AND WOULD NOT BE PAID. THE DISPUTED PROPOSAL WOULD REQUIRE THE AGENCY TO GRANT ANNUAL LEAVE STATUS TO AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS SUSPENDED UNDER CHAPTER 75 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE. THUS, IT WOULD REQUIRE THE GRANTING OF LEAVE FOR A PERIOD WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS IN A NONDUTY, NONPAY STATUS. THIS RESULT IS INCONSISTENT WITH 5 U.S.C. 6302(A), AS QUOTED ABOVE, AND IS THEREFORE NOT WITHIN THE AGENCY'S DUTY TO BARGAIN. /1/ ACCORDINGLY, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2424.10 OF THE AUTHORITY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS (5 CFR 2424.10 (1981)), IT IS ORDERED THAT THE UNION'S PETITION AS TO THAT PORTION OF THE PROPOSAL WHICH PREVENTS THE AGENCY FROM DENYING ANNUAL LEAVE IN CONNECTION WITH DISCIPLINE BE, AND IT HEREBY IS, DISMISSED. ISSUED, WASHINGTON, D.C., OCTOBER 22, 1982 RONALD W. HAUGHTON, CHAIRMAN HENRY B. FRAZIER III, MEMBER LEON B. APPLEWHAITE, MEMBER FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY --------------- FOOTNOTES$ --------------- /1/ IN VIEW OF ITS DECISION HEREIN, THE AUTHORITY FINDS IT UNNECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE AGENCY'S OTHER CONTENTIONS. HOWEVER, THE AUTHORITY NOTES THAT, BASED UPON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE PROPOSAL GIVEN IT BY THE PARTIES, THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT AFFECT MANAGEMENT'S RIGHT TO SUSPEND EMPLOYEES UNDER SECTION 7106(A) OF THE STATUTE.