---

29 FLRA No. 30

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. AND UNITED STATES
COAST GUARD, FIFTH DISTRICT
PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA

              Respondents

        and

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 22, AFL-CIO

              Charging Party

Case No. 34-CA-70405

DECISION AND ORDER

I. Statement of the Case

This matter is before the Authority under section 2429.1(a) of the Authority's Rules and Regulations based on the parties' stipulation of facts. The complaint alleges that the Respondents violated section 7116(a)(1), (5), and (8) of the Federal Service Labor - Management Relations Statute (the Statute) by refusing to provide the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 22, AFL - CIO (the Union) with the names and home addresses of bargaining unit employees of the United States Coast Guard, Fifth District, located at Portsmouth, Virginia. The Respondents and the General Counsel filed briefs. For the reasons stated below, we find that the Respondents have committed the unfair labor practice as alleged.

II. Facts

The Union is the exclusive representative of a unit of nonprofessional employees at the Respondent Coast Guard's Portsmouth, Virginia location. By letter dated February 23, 1987, the Union requested that the Coast Guard furnish it with the names and home addresses of all bargaining unit employees. By letter dated March 20, 1987, the Coast Guard refused to furnish the Union with the information requested. The parties stipulated that the information requested is normally maintained by the Respondent Coast Guard in the [PAGE] regular course of business, is reasonably available and does not constitute guidance, advice, counsel or training for management officials or supervisors, relating to collective bargaining. The parties further stipulate that at all times the Respondent Department of Transportation has directed the Coast Guard to refuse to furnish the Union with the information requested pending judicial review of the Authority's Decision on Remand in Farmers Home Administration Finance Office, St. Louis, Missouri, 23 FLRA No. 101 (1986) (Farmers Home), petition for review filed sub nom. U.S. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Home Administration Finance Office, St. Louis Missouri v. FLRA, No. 86-2579 (8th Cir. Dec. 23, 1986).

III. Positions of the Parties

The Respondents contend that the Authority erred in its Decision on Remand in Farmers Home. In particular, the Respondents argue that disclosure of the information requested by the Union is prohibited by law within the meaning of section 7114(b)(4) of the Statute. The Respondents also argue that the General Counsel has not demonstrated that the names and home addresses of bargaining unit employees are "data" which is relevant and necessary for the Union to fulfill its representational responsibilities. Finally, the Respondents argue that the Authority should consider the availability of reasonable alternative means for the Union to communicate with employees in determining whether the employees' substantial privacy interest in nondisclosure of their home addresses is outweighed by the Union's need for the addresses.

The General Counsel contends that this case is controlled by our Decision on Remand in Farmers Home. The General Counsel argues that the release of employees' names and home addresses is not prohibited by the Privacy Act and that the information should be provided regardless of whether alternative means of communication are available to a union. Further, the General Counsel contends that Respondent Department of Transportation is responsible for directing Respondent Coast Guard to refuse to furnish the information requested by the Union and that it thereby violated section 7116(a)(1), (5), and (8) of the Statute. Alternatively, the General Counsel argues that if it is found that the Department of Transportation was not responsible for directing that refusal, then Respondent Coast Guard should be found to have committed the violation. [ v29 p2 ]

IV. Discussion

In our Decision on Remand in Farmers Home, we held that the release of names and home addresses of bargaining unit employees to their exclusive representatives is not prohibited by law, is necessary for unions to fulfill their duties under the Statute, and meets all of the other requirements established by section 7114(b)(4) of the Statute. We also determined that the release of the information is generally required without regard to whether alternate means of communication are available.

The arguments made by the Respondents in this case are essentially the same arguments asserted by the agency in Farmers Home. Based on our Decision on Remand in Farmers Home, we reject the Respondents' assertions in this case and find that the Respondent Coast Guard was required to release the information under section 7114(b)(4). The parties stipulated that the Department of Transportation directed the Coast Guard to refuse to furnish the Union with the information requested pending judicial review of the Authority's decision in Farmers Home and other cases on the issue of the release of employees' names and home addresses. Stipulation, paragraph 9. We have long held that higher level management would be held responsible for requiring management at the level of exclusive recognition to follow its directions. See, for example, Department of Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Region VI and Department of Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Galveston, Texas, 10 FLRA 26 (1982).

Accordingly, we find that the Respondent Department of Transportation violated section 7116(a)(1), (5), and (8) of the Statute when it directed the Respondent Coast Guard to refuse to furnish the Union with the information requested. In these circumstances, we will not find that the Respondent Coast Guard's refusal to provide the Union with the names and home addresses sought in this case violated section 7116(a)(1), (5), and (8) of the Statute.

ORDER

Pursuant to section 2423.29 of the Authority's Rules and Regulations and section 7118 of the Federal Service Labor - Management Relations Statute, the Department of Transportation shall: [ v29 p3 ]

1. Cease and desist from:

(a) Directing the United States Coast Guard, Fifth District, located at Portsmouth, Virginia, not to furnish, upon request by the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 22, AFL - CIO, the exclusive representative of a bargaining unit of its employees, the names and home addresses of employees in the bargaining unit.

(b) In any like or related manner, interfering with, restraining, or coercing its employees in the exercise of the rights assured them by the Statute.

2. Take the following affirmative actions in order to effectuate the purposes and policies of the Statute:

(a) Permit the United States Coast Guard, Fifth District, located at Portsmouth, Virginia, to furnish the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 22, AFL - CIO, the names and home addresses of all bargaining unit employees of the United States Coast Guard, Fifth District, Portsmouth, Virginia.

(b) Post at Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. headquarters and the United States Coast Guard, Fifth District, Portsmouth, Virginia copies of the attached Notice on forms to be furnished by the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Upon receipt of such forms, they shall be signed by the Secretary of Transportation and shall be posted in conspicuous places, including all bulletin boards and other places where notices to employees are customarily posted, and shall be maintained for 60 consecutive days thereafter. Reasonable steps shall be taken to ensure that such Notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.

(c) Pursuant to section 2423.30 of the Authority's Rules and Regulations, notify the Regional Director, Region III, Federal Labor Relations Authority, in writing, within 30 days from the date of this Order as to what steps have been taken to comply. [ v29 p4 ]

Further, that part of the complaint alleging a violation by the United States Coast Guard, Fifth District, Portsmouth, Virginia is dismissed.

Issued, Washington, D.C., September 30, 1987.

Jerry L. Calhoun, Chairman

Henry B. Frazier III, Member

Jean McKee, Member

FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY [ v29 p5 ]

                   NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES
     AS ORDERED BY THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY
            AND TO EFFECTUATE THE POLICIES OF THE
      FEDERAL SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE
                WE NOTIFY OUR EMPLOYEES THAT:

WE WILL NOT direct the United States Coast Guard, Fifth District, Portsmouth, Virginia, to refuse or fail to furnish, upon request of the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 22, AFL - CIO, the exclusive representative of certain of its employees, the names and home addresses of all employees in the bargaining unit it represents.

WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner, interfere with, restrain, or coerce our employees in the exercise of their rights assured them by the Federal Service Labor - Management Relations Statute.

WE WILL permit the United States Coast Guard, Fifth District, Portsmouth, Virginia, to furnish the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 22, AFL - CIO, the exclusive representative of a bargaining unit of its employees, the names and home addresses of all employees in the bargaining unit it represents.

                             ______________________________
                                        (Agency)

Dated:____________________By:______________________________
                             (Signature)          (Title)

This Notice must remain posted for 60 consecutive days from the date of posting, and must not be altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.

If employees have any questions concerning this Notice or compliance with its provisions, they may communicate directly with the Regional Director, Region III, Federal Labor Relations Authority, whose address is: 1111 18th Street, N.W., 7th Floor (P.O. Box 33758), Washington, D.C. 20033-0758, and whose telephone number is: (202) 653-8500. [PAGE]

---