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50:0701(88)CA - - 92 Bomb Wing, Fairchild AFB, Spokane, WA and NFFE, Local 11 - - 1995 FLRAdec CA - - v50 p701



[ v50 p701 ]
50:0701(88)CA
The decision of the Authority follows:


50 FLRA No. 88

FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

_____

92 BOMB WING

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON

(Respondent/Agency)

and

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

LOCAL 11

(Charging Party/Union)

SF-CA-31724

_____

DECISION AND ORDER

July 31, 1995

_____

Before the Authority: Phyllis N. Segal, Chair; Tony Armendariz and Pamela Talkin, Members.

I. Statement of the Case

This unfair labor practice case is before the Authority on exceptions to the attached decision of the Administrative Law Judge filed by the Respondent. The General Counsel filed an opposition to the Respondent's exceptions.

The complaint alleges that the Respondent violated section 7116(a)(1) and (5) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute) by unilaterally implementing a sign-out board for bargaining unit employees without notifying the Charging Party and affording it an opportunity to bargain over the change in conditions of employment.(1)

Upon consideration of the Judge's decision and the entire record, we adopt the Judge's findings, conclusions, and recommended Order.

II. Judge's Decision

The facts, which are fully set forth in the Judge's decision, are briefly summarized here. Senior Master Sergeant William Stickler instituted a sign-out board for Mary Triplett, a bargaining unit employee under his supervision. Triplett's duties included assisting "customers," i.e., military and civilian personnel, who came to her office seeking, among other things, travel orders. According to Stickler's testimony, the sole purpose of the sign-out board was to provide information to those "customers" concerning Triplett's availability. Neither Triplett nor the Union was informed of the sign-out board prior to its implementation.

The Judge concluded that the Respondent's duty to bargain extended to the decision to institute the sign-out board and that the Respondent's action in unilaterally imposing the sign-out board violated section 7116(a)(1) and (5) of the Statute. The Judge recommended a cease and desist order, a return to the status quo ante, and the posting of a notice.

III. Positions of the Parties

A. Respondent's Exceptions

The Respondent excepts to the Judge's conclusions that the implementation of the sign-out board is substantively negotiable and constitutes a change in conditions of employment, and his recommendation that the change be rescinded.

Relying on the Authority's decision in Department of Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland, 34 FLRA 765 (1990) (DHHS), the Respondent argues that the sign-out board is an exercise of management's rights to direct employees and assign work because its purpose is to hold an employee accountable for use of duty time. The Respondent asserts that implementing the sign-out board did not change conditions of employment because prior to its implementation Triplett had notified her supervisor when departing from her office. According to the Respondent, the sign-out board entailed the same substantive requirement and changed only the manner of notification. The Respondent contends that rescinding the requirement to use the sign-out board would not be appropriate because its institution ceased to affect Triplett when she retired and her successor accepted the sign-out board as part of her initial conditions of employment.(2)

B. General Counsel's Opposition

The General Counsel argues that DHHS is distinguishable because the sign-out board at issue in this case was not for the purpose of informing Triplett's supervisor of her whereabouts. The General Counsel contends that the sign-out board represented a change in working conditions about which the Respondent had a bargaining obligation and that ordering a return to the status quo ante is appropriate in the circumstances of this case.

IV. Analysis and Conclusions

A. Management Rights

We conclude that the circumstances involved in DHHS are distinguishable from those present here. In DHHS, the Authority found that a notification requirement constituted an exercise of management's rights to direct employees and assign work because those rights encompass management holding employees accountable for the performance of their work and use of duty time. In that case, the record established that the purpose of the requirement was to inform supervisors of employees' use of duty time. In this case, the sole stated purpose for the sign-out board was to advise "customers" of the employee's availability for their convenience. Neither Stickler, in his testimony, nor the Respondent, in its filings, claims that the sign-out board functioned to notify Triplett's supervisor of her departures from her office.

Based on the foregoing, we find unpersuasive the Respondent's argument that the sign-out board constitutes an exercise of management's rights to direct employees and assign work.

B. Change in Conditions of Employment

There is no assertion, or other basis on which to conclude, that the sign-out board does not come within the definition of conditions of employment under section 7103(a)(14) of the Statute. Rather, the Respondent disputes only whether a change in conditions of employment occurred that triggered a bargaining obligation.

The determination of whether a change in conditions of employment occurred involves an inquiry into the facts and circumstances regarding the Respondent's conduct and employees' conditions of employment. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, D.C. and Michigan Airway Facilities Sector, Belleville, Michigan, 44 FLRA 482, 493 n.3 (1992). Here, the Respondent acknowledges that the sign-out board was "a change in a procedure with regard to providing information about the whereabouts of employees." Exceptions at 10. Regardless of whether the institution of the sign-out board supplanted or augmented Triplett's previous practice of notifying her supervisor of her departures from her office,(3) we find that the institution of the sign-out board imposed a practice that was different from what previously existed and, consequently, constituted a change in conditions of employment. Cf. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Veterans Canteen Service, Lexington, Kentucky, 44 FLRA 179, 190 (1992) (in rejecting the judge's finding that the replacement of newer vending machines with older ones did not constitute a change in conditions of employment because the older machines provided substantially the same services and products as the newer ones, the Authority found that the degree to which Respondent's actions changed the vending room did not determine whether there had been a change).

Where an agency institutes a change in a condition of employment and the change is itself negotiable, the extent of the impact of the change on unit employees is not relevant to whether an agency is obligated to bargain. E.g., Department of Health and Human Services and Social Security Administration, 30 FLRA 922, 926 (1988). In contrast, where an agency in exercising a management right under section 7106 of the Statute changes a condition of employment of bargaining unit employees, a statutory obligation to bargain concerning the impact of such change exists only if the change either results in more than a de minimis impact on unit employees or such impact is reasonably foreseeable. E.g., Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, 19 FLRA 472, 476 (1985). In agreement with the Judge, we find that the decision to institute the sign-out board was itself negotiable. Consequently, there is no need to analyze the extent of the impact of the change in conditions of employment on bargaining unit employees. We conclude that the Respondent was obligated to notify and negotiate with the exclusive representative concerning that change.

C. Status Quo Ante Remedy

Where management makes a unilateral change regarding a negotiable condition of employment, the effectuation of the purposes and policies of the Statute requires the imposition of a status quo ante remedy, absent special circumstances, in order not to render meaningless the mutual obligation to negotiate concerning changes in conditions of employment. E.g., Veterans Administration, West Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, 23 FLRA 278, 281 (1986). As the decision to institute the sign-out board was itself negotiable, a status quo ante remedy is warranted in this case, absent special circumstances.

We find no basis in the circumstances of this case on which to conclude that a status quo ante remedy is unwarranted because of Triplett's retirement. See id. As acknowledged in the Respondent's exceptions, the sign-out board continues to exist as a condition of employment within the bargaining unit. Cf. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, 24 FLRA 758 (1986), Order Denying Motion for Reconsideration, 25 FLRA 659 (1987) (status quo ante not ordered where practice that agency unilaterally discontinued was the product of an agreement made as to one specific employee who was no longer employed by the agency).

Moreover, the alleged acceptance of the sign-out board by Triplett's successor does not make a status quo ante remedy inappropriate. The exclusive representative, not the individual employee, is responsible for representing all unit employees in agreeing to conditions of employment in the bargaining unit where exclusive recognition exists. Cf. NLRB v. Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, 388 U.S. 175, 180, (1967) (national labor policy "extinguishes the individual employee's power to order his own relations with his employer and creates a power vested in the chosen representative to act in the interests of all employees. . . . Thus only the union may contract the employee's terms and conditions of employment[.]").

V. 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 92 Bomb Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Washington, shall:

1. Cease and desist from:

(a) Failing and refusing to provide the National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 11 (Local 11), the exclusive representative of certain of its employees, with prior notice of intended changes in the conditions of employment of employees in the bargaining unit represented by Local 11 and, specifically, any intention to implement a sign-out board in the Information Management Section of the Survival School.

(b) Refusing to bargain with Local 11 concerning the implementation of a sign-out board in the Information Management Section of the Survival School.

(c) In any like or related manner, interfering with, restraining or coercing its employees in the exercise of their rights assured by the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute.

2. Take the following affirmative action in order to effectuate the purposes and policies of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute:

(a) Rescind the implementation of the sign-out board in the Information Management Section of the Survival School and reinstate the practice that was in place prior to the unilateral implementation on, or about, July 15, 1993.

(b) Give Local 11 notice of any intention to implement a sign-out board in the Information Management Section of the Survival School and, upon request, bargain in good faith with Local 11.

(c) Post at its facilities at the Survival School 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 Commanding Officer of the 92 Bomb Wing, and shall be posted and maintained for 60 consecutive days thereafter, in conspicuous places, including all bulletin boards and other places where notices to employees are customarily posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken to insure that such Notices are not altered, defaced or covered by any other material.

(d) Pursuant to section 2423.30 of the Authority's Rules and Regulations, notify the Regional Director, Denver Region, Federal Labor Relations Authority, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 100, Denver, Colorado 80204, in writing, within 30 days from the date of this Order as to what steps have been taken to comply.

NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES

AS ORDERED BY THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY

AND TO EFFECTUATE THE POLICIES OF THE

FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS STATUTE

WE NOTIFY OUR EMPLOYEES THAT:

WE WILL NOT fail or refuse to give the National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 11 (Local 11), the exclusive representative of our employees, prior notice of intended changes in the conditions of employment of employees in the bargaining unit represented by Local 11, including, specifically, any intent to implement a sign-out board in the Information Management Section of the Survival School.

WE WILL rescind the implementation of the sign-out board in the Information Management Section of the Survival School and WE WILL reinstate the practice that was in place prior to our unilateral implementation of a sign-out board on, or about, July 15, 1993.

WE WILL give Local 11 notice of any intention to implement a sign-out board in the Information Management Section of the Survival School and, upon request, WE WILL bargain in good faith with Local 11 before implementing any sign-out board.

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

____________________________

(Activity)

Date: ____________________ 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 any of its provisions, they may communicate directly with the Regional Director, Denver Regional Office, Federal Labor Relations Authority, whose address is: 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 100, Denver, Colorado 80204, and whose telephone number is: (303) 844-5224.




UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY

OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20424-0001

92 BOMB WING

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON

Respondent

and

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 11

Charging Party

Case No. SF-CA-31724

Major Joginder S. Dhillon
For the Respondent

Julia H. Burger, Esquire
For the General Counsel

Before: WILLIAM B. DEVANEY
Administrative Law Judge

DECISION

Statement of the Case

This proceeding, under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, Chapter 71 of Title 5 of the United States Code, 5 U.S.C. § 7101, et seq.(1), and the Rules and Regulations issued thereunder, 5 C.F.R. § et seq., concerns whether Respondent unilaterally implemented a sign-in-/sign-out procedure in the Information Management section of the Survival School in violation of §§ 16(a)(5) and (1). Respondent asserts that, because use of the sign-out procedure concerned a single civilian employee and changed no condition of her employment, the change was de minimis and, accordingly, it did not violate § 16(a)(1) or (5).

This case was initiated by a charge filed on September 30, 1993 (G.C. Exh. 1(a)), which alleged violations of §§ 16(a)(1), (5) and (8) of the Statute. The Complaint and Notice of Hearing issued on December 29, 1993; alleged violations of §§ 16(a)(1) and (5) only; and set the hearing for a date, time and location to be announced (G.C. Exh. 1(b)). By Order dated March 24, 1994 (G.C. Exh. 1(d)), this case was, pursuant to § 2429.2 of the Rules and Regulations, transferred to the Denver Region and, by Order dated June 28, 1994 (G.C. Exh. 1(e)) the hearing was scheduled for July 21, 1994, in Spokane, Washington, pursuant to which a hearing was duly held on July 21, 1994, in Spokane, Washington before the undersigned. All parties were represented at the hearing, were afforded full opportunity to be heard, to introduce evidence bearing on the issues involved, and were afforded the opportunity to present oral argument which Respondent exercised. At the conclusion of the hearing, August 22, 1994, was fixed as the date for mailing post-hearing briefs, which time was subsequently extended, on timely motion of Respondent, to which the other parties did not object, for good cause shown, to September 22, 1994. Respondent and General each timely mailed an excellent brief received on September 27, 1994, which have been carefully considered. Upon the basis of the entire record(2), I make the following findings and conclusions:

Findings

1. The National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 11 (hereinafter, "Union") is the certified exclusive representative of employees at the 92 Bomb Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, including the United States Air Force Survival School which teaches air crew members survival and evasion tactics (G.C. Exh. 1(b); Tr. 17). The Survival School has a staff of about 375 (Tr. 38).

2. Ms. Mary Triplett, now retired, worked in the Survival School for approximately 2 1/2 years as the Assistant in Information Management and as Historian (Tr. 23-24). Because she had two distinct positions, she had two offices: the Historian's office was located on the, "first floor in the basement" (Tr. 24); and the Assistant in Information Management office, the administrative office, was located on the second floor (Tr. 24).

3. The Information Management section serves as the administrative nerve center for the School and is responsible for the acquisition and distribution of official documents; for the publication and distribution of regulations and technical orders and documents written by the School staff; processing of all TDY orders for military and civilian personnel; maintaining a close liaison with Headquarters at Randolph Air Force Base; etc. (Tr. 24, 38). For the 2 1/2 years that she was employed at the School, Ms. Triplett was supervised by: Senior Master Sergeant Hennafen, from July, 1991, to May, 1993, when he retired; Senior Master Sergeant Stickler, from May, 1993, until August, 1993; and Senior Master Sergeant Kemper, from August 1993 until her (Triplett's) retirement in January, 1994 (Tr. 24, 25). There were five other civilian employees in the Headquarters building with Ms. Triplett (Tr. 24); but the record does not show whether they were in Information Management.

4. Throughout her employment at the School; i.e., from July 1991, until the summer of 1993, Ms. Triplett had always told her supervisor, the Superintendent of the Mission Support Flight, which includes: (1) Information Management; (2) Survival Fitness Center; (3) Personnel; (4) Orderly Room; and (5) Group Training i.e., Sgt. Hennafen until May 1993, and then Sgt. Stickler, or in the absence of the supervisor, Staff Sergeant Gicker (Tr. 25, 31, 40), when she was leaving her office (the administrative office on the second floor) for any reason and the approximate time she expected to return (Tr. 25, 31, 40). Ms. Triplett emphasized that,

"I always went to my supervisor and told him and the approximate time I expected to return. If he was not at his desk, I told Sergeant Geiker (sic)." (Tr. 25).

5. Sgt. Hennafen's office had been next door to Ms. Triplett's office on the second floor (Tr. 32), and, presumably, Sgt. Gicker was located in the same office as she stated, ". . . If he was not at his desk, I told Sergeant Geiker (sic)" (Tr. 25); but Sgt. Stickler's office (Sgt. Gicker remained on the second floor) is located in the basement (Tr. 27, 32) and to reach his office, as she stated she did on numerous occasions to tell him when she was leaving her office and the approximate time of her return, she then had to walk downstairs, walk through the Historian's office and then in to Sgt. Stickler's office (Tr. 32, 40). Never- the less, Sgt. Stickler stated, ". . . Mrs. Triplett was always extremely conscientious about letting me know . . .", that she told him, "In person." (Tr. 40).(3)

6. Although Ms. Triplett kept Sgt. Stickler informed of her whereabouts, Sgt. Stickler stated that the people they served, i.e., people who needed travel orders, etc. (Tr. 39), had no idea when she would be back and several had come to him to find out (Tr. 27, 38-39). For this reason, he decided, as a courtesy to the customers, to put up a sign-out board so they would know whether to wait a few minutes or come back at a later time (Tr. 39, 49). The sign-out board consisted of a single sheet (about 8 1/2 x 11 (Tr. 44)), with three names (Ms. Triplett's (Tr. 26, 35); and, presumably, Sgts. Stickler's and Gicker), with three blocks for: "Depart", "Return" and "Destination" (Tr. 44) (cf. Res. Exh. 1 [this is the same "Board" after the departure of Ms. Triplett and Sgt. Stickler; i.e., the three names were then: Senior Master Sergeant Kemper; Staff Sergeant Gicker; and Ms. Tolliver]). This typed sheet was then placed in a picture frame, with glass, or plexi-glass, over the sheet and entries were written on the glass, or plexi-glass, with a grease pencil attached to the frame by a string (Tr. 45). When Ms. Triplett, for example, returned, the entries were erased (Tr. 27, 34). There was no permanent record (Tr. 34, 44).

7. Sgt. Stickler instituted his "Sign-Out Board" about July 15, 1993 (Tr. 41) and the Information Management board was placed in Sgt. Gicker's office (Tr. 42, 48), about fifteen feet from Ms. Triplett's desk (Tr. 43). The Union was given no notice either of the intention to use or of the implementation of the Sign-Out board. Indeed, Ms. Triplett was not even told in advance (Tr. 26) and Sergeant Stickler stated that she was not in her office when the board was put up (Tr. 42); and she learned that there was such a thing only when people came into her office and asked, ". . . Marge, when are you going to start signing out?"; and then another person came in and said, "Marge, he's watching you. When are you going to start signing out"; that she said, "What are you talking about?"; her visitor had said, "Follow me; I will show you"; and, sure enough, in Sgt. Gicker's office was a board with her (Triplett's) name on it (Tr. 26).

8. Ms. Triplett was incensed, because she viewed it as discriminatory towards her because she was the only civilian employee in the School who was required to sign out on a board (Tr. 27), and immediately went to see Chief Master Sergeant House, Superintendent of the School (Tr. 26), who told her that, ". . . Eventually everyone in survival school would have to sign out on a board." (Tr. 26). She then went to see Sgt. Stickler who, she said, told her he was, ". . . sick and tired of people asking were I was. . . ." (Tr. 27); that when she asked him if he had, "negotiated this board" he had replied, ". . . no, that he didn't have to"; and as to her assertion of discrimination, because she was the only civilian employee in the School who had to sign out, he had responded, ". . . I do not have to negotiate; you will sign in and out; the issue is closed." (Tr. 27).

9. The Sign-Out board was not implemented for discip- linary purposes (Tr. 48); did not affect Ms. Triplett's pay, hours, benefits and was not used as a time keeping device (Tr. 33, 42, 43) or as means of monitoring her performance (Tr. 43). Indeed, the sole purpose of the Sign-Out board was to inform "customers" of Ms. Triplett's whereabouts (Tr. 44, 48). Nevertheless, Ms. Triplett professed to be fearful that the Sign-Out board had been implemented to support some possible disciplinary action against her. Ms. Triplett said that after her discussion with Sgt. Stickler in which he said the issue was closed, as noted above, she immediately began signing in and out on the board (Tr. 27). She further testified,

"A. When I would forget to sign out, he [Sgt. Stickler] would make it a point to leave his office downstairs and walk up to my office to sign me out. Then when I returned, I would see that he had signed me out.

"So I asked him, on a few occasions, why he did that.

"He said, in a very demeaning manner and sometimes in front of other people, Well, you failed to sign out; someone has to do it for you." (Tr. 27-28)

She said she was never disciplined for not signing out (Tr. 28), but said she feared she would be because he [Sgt. Stickler] had made,

". . . it a point to post a board in another office . . . and he made it a point to come up and sign me out after I departed the building when I forgot, I felt that there was reason for concern." (Tr. 28).

Sergeant Stickler was not asked whether he had ever signed Ms. Triplett out but his testimony was significantly different. When asked what Ms. Triplett's reaction was when the Sign-Out board was put up, he stated,

"A. Well, I went upstairs and --I don't remember whether I put it up or had Sergeant Geiker (sic), who was the assistant -- he was the other person, the other military person who worked in Information Management -- he probably put it up.

"Mrs. Triplett was not there at the time; and, according to Sergeant Geiker (sic), she became extremely agitated when she saw it. She said there was no way that she was going to use it, and she indicated that she felt that she was being singled out because there were no other sign-out boards up at that time.

"So when I found that out, I told her, Okay, you do not have to use the sign-out board, since you feel singled out, until I have them up in all other duty sections.

"And, in fact, that was what happened then.

"Q. Do you recall approximately how much later it was . . . that you finally got the frames for the --

"A. It could have been as much as two weeks. I don't remember for sure." (Tr. 42).

Nevertheless, Ms. Triplett testified that after she had filed the charge in this case, on September 30, 1993, about a month after she stated he had been succeeded by Senior Master Sergeant Kemper(4) (Tr. 25), that the Squadron Commander and Sergeant Stickler came into the Historian's office to see her as to why she had filed a complaint over the board. She testified, in part, as follows,

"I said, Yes, I object to the board; I feel it is very discriminatory to me, being signed out as the only civilian in survival school, having to sign out on this board.

"They -- I asked them -- they wanted to know what they should do.

"I said, Remove the board.

"Master Sergeant Stickler said, That will not happen; as your supervisor, I can require whatever I wish out of my people; I will not negotiate with the union; the issue is closed." (Tr. 30).

10. Mr. Michael Sveska, at the time of the hearing a shop steward but for 1993 was President of Local 11 (Tr. 16), testified that he had met with Colonel Brown, Deputy Commander of the Survival School, and that the following occurred,

". . . we proposed a hypothetical situation in reference to a disciplinary action: If an employee was signed out to go somewhere and they were actually someplace else, would disciplinary action be applicable.

"Colonel Brown said, Yes, it would be."

(Tr. 19).

Mr. Sveska stated that the Union did not request bargaining over the board because Colonel Brown's, ". . . attitude towards it was that it was it wasn't negotiable. . . ." (Tr. 20).

Conclusions

General Counsel and Respondent each left many loose ends. For example, the record shows that there were five civilian employees other than Ms. Triplett in the Headquarters building of the Survival School, but does not show whether the Information Management section had any civilian employee other than Ms. Triplett. (There are five sections under the supervision of the Superintendent of the Mission Support Flight: Information Management; Survival Fitness Center; Personnel; Orderly Room; and Group Training). Indeed, the clear interference is that Ms. Triplett was the only civilian employee in Information Management, as Respondent asserts, "The gravamen of the complaint is the . . . implementation of a sign-out board affecting one bargaining unit employee . . . ." (Respondent's Brief, p.1). If bargaining unit employees were in other sections, General Counsel and Respondent nevertheless have, despite apparent implementation of sign out boards elsewhere, treated this case as concerning only the Information Management section (e.g., General Counsel's Brief, p.7; Proposed Notice, id, Attachment; Respondent's Brief, pp. 1, 6 (pages un-numbered)). But the loose ends do not matter as it is clear that Respondent, on, or about, July 15, 1993, unilaterally implemented a "Sign-Out" board in its Information Management section. The record shows (Tr. 41), and Respondent concedes (Respondent's Brief, p.4 (unnumbered)), that the Union was not notified or involved in the decision to implement a "Sign-Out" board. The record further shows that Respondent intended to extend this procedure to all employees in the School, as it apparently did. Before the July 15, 1993, implementation there had been no sign-out procedure. The Authority has consistently held that whether to have a sign in\sign out procedure is negotiable. For example, in American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Local 1760, 8 FLRA 202 (1982)(hereinafter, AFGE, Local 1760"), the union's proposal to have a sign-in/sign-out register was held to be negotiable; in Overseas Education Association, Inc., 29 FLRA 734, 757-760 (Proposal 15) (1987) (hereinafter, "OEA, Inc.,"), the Union's proposal that employees not be required to sign-in and/or sign-out was held to be negotiable; and in United States Department of Health and Human Services, Region II, New York, New York, 26 FLRA 814 (1987) (hereinafter, "HHS, Region II"), the Authority adopted the Judge's decision that the agency violated §§ 16(a)(1) and (5) of the Statute by its failure and refusal to negotiate the reinstitution of a central sign-in/sign-out register (see, also, Planners, Estimators and Progessmen Association, Local 8, 13 FLRA 455 (1983) (hereinafter "PEPA, Local 8") and American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Local 1603, 16 FLRA 96 (1984) (hereinafter, "AFGE, Local 1603" cited by Judge Arrigo in HSS, Regional II, supra). It is true, of course, that each of these cases involved a written record; that in OEA, Inc., supra, the agency asserted it needed the procedure to insure that classroom teachers are present so that school children are not left unsupervised; nevertheless, a written record for pay purposes; and that in AFGE, Local 1760, supra, and HHS, Region II, supra, the records plainly were for pay purposes. Here, of course, there was no permanent, written record and the "Sign-Out" board was not intended or used for pay or as an attendance record. Nevertheless, transitory though it was, the "Sign Out" board constituted a written record of an employee's whereabouts, falsification or misrepresentation of which could result in discipline. Indeed, the differences are without distinction as the controlling and like element, here and in each case noted above, is a change, or proposed change, in a method of reporting employee activity: here, Ms. Triplett previously had told her supervisor when she was leaving her office and Respondent changed this to requiring her to write it on a "Sign-Out" board; in AFGE, Local 1760, supra, the union wanted a sign-in/sign-out register; in OEA, Inc., supra, the union proposed not to have a sign-in/sign-out register; in HHS, Region II, supra, Respondent reinstituted a central sign out register rather than each employee keeping a personal attendance record; and in PEPA, Local 8, supra and AFGE, Local 1603, supra, the unions proposed alternatives to time clocks. Accordingly, Respondent's intended change of policy regarding Ms. Triplett's reporting absence from her office was a change of condition of employment, the substance of which was negotiable and Respondent violated §§ 16(a)(5) and (1) of the Statute by failing to give the Union notice of its intention to institute a "Sign Out" board in its Information Management section.

Where, as here, the decision to make a change was negotiable, the question is whether the statutory obligation to notify and negotiate was fulfilled, not the extent of impact. Department of Defense Dependents Schools, Mediterranean Region (Madrid, Spain); and Zaragoza High School (Zarogoza, Spain), 19 FLRA 395, 396-397 (1985); HHS, Region II, supra, 26 FLRA at 826-827; Department of Health Human Services and Social Security Administration, 30 FLRA 922, 926, (1988). If Respondent had been required to negotiate only procedures and appropriate arrangements pursuant to § 6(b)(2) and (3), I would agree with Respondent that the change as to Ms. Triplett was de minimis as she already was required to report her absence from her office to her supervisor; but this is not a case where negotiations were required only under § 6(b)(2) and (3).

Having found that Respondent violated §§ 16(a)(5) and (1) of the Statute, it is recommended that the Authority adopt the following:

ORDER

Pursuant to § 2423.29 of the Rules and Regulations, 5 C.F.R. § 2423.29, and § 18 of the Statute, 5 U.S.C. § 7118, it is hereby ordered that the 92 Bomb Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Washington, shall:

1. Cease and desist from:

(a) Failing and refusing to provide the National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 11 (hereinafter, "Local 11"), the exclusive representative of certain of its employees, with prior notice of intended changes in the conditions of employment of employees in the bargaining unit represented by Local 11 and, specifically, any intention to change policy regarding the recordation of employee absence from their office.

(b) Refusing to bargain with Local 11 concerning implementation of a "Sign Out" board in the Information Management section of the Survival School.

(c) In any like or related manner, interfering with, restraining or coercing its employees in the exercise of their rights assured by the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute.

2. Take the following affirmative action in order to effectuate the purposes and policies of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute:

(a) Rescind the implementation of the "Sign Out" board in the Information Management Section of the Survival School and reinstate the practice that was in place prior to its unlawful unilateral implementation of a "Sign Out" board on, or about, July 15, 1993.

(b) Give Local 11 notice of any intention to implement a "Sign Out" procedure in the Information Management section of the Survival School and, upon request, bargain in good faith with Local 11.

(c) Post at its facilities at its Survival School, 92 Bomb Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Washington, 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 Commanding Officer of the 92 Bomb Wing, and shall be posted and maintained for 60 consecutive days thereafter, in conspicuous places, including all bulletin boards and other places where notices to employees are customarily posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken to insure that such Notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.

(d) Pursuant to § 2423.30 of the Regulations, 5 C.F.R. § 2423.30. notify the Regional Director, Denver Region, Federal Labor Relations Authority, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 100, Denver, Colorado 80204, in writing,

within 30 days from the date of this Order, as to what steps have been taken to comply herewith.

_____________________________
WILLIAM B. DEVANEY
Administrative Law Judge

Dated: November 25, 1994
Washington, DC

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 HEREBY NOTIFY OUR EMPLOYEES THAT:

WE WILL NOT fail or refuse to give the National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 11 (hereinafter, "Local 11"), the exclusive representative of our employees, prior notice of intended changes in the conditions of employment of employees in the bargaining unit represented by Local 11, including, specifically, any intent to change policy regarding the recordation of employee absence from their office.

WILL RESCIND the implementation of the "Sign Out" board in the Information Management section of the Survival School and WE WILL REINSTATE the practice that was in place prior to our unlawful unilateral implementation of a "Sign Out" board on, or about, July 15, 1993.

WE WILL GIVE Local 11 notice of any intention to implement a "Sign Out" procedure in the Information Management section of the Survival School and, upon request, WE WILL bargain in good faith with Local 11 before implementing any "Sign Out" procedure.

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

____________________________
(Activity)

Date:______________ 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 any of its provisions, they may communicate directly with the Regional Director of the Federal Labor Relations Authority, Denver Region, whose address is: 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 100, Denver, Colorado 80204, and whose telephone number is: (303) 844-5224.




FOOTNOTES:
(If blank, the decision does not have footnotes.)


Authority's Footnotes Follow:

1. Although the complaint refers to bargaining unit employees, in litigating the complaint the parties limited their evidence and arguments to one particular bargaining unit employee.

2. Triplett retired prior to the hearing in this case.

3. Whether the sign-out board replaced Triplett's practice of notifying her supervisor of departures from her office is not established in the record as a fact by either testimony or documentary evidence. Rather, the Respondent makes arguments that assume that fact and the General Counsel does not dispute the assumption.


ALJ's Footnotes Follow:

1. For convenience of reference, sections of the Statute hereinafter are, also, referred to without inclusion of the initial "71" of the statutory reference, i.e., Section 7116(a)(5) will be referred to, simply as, "§ 16(a)(5)".

2. General Counsel's motion to correct the transcript on page 11, line 9 by substituting the word, "substantive" for the word, "such" is granted; and General Counsel's request to substitute a corrected page 14 to its Brief to delete footnote 2 is hereby granted.

3. It seems improbable that if Ms. Triplett went to Sgt. Stickler's office in the basement and he wasn't at his desk that she then would have walked back upstairs to Sgt. Gicker's office to tell him, as she testified (Tr. 25). For the short period involved (about two months) Sgt. Stickler may always have been at his desk or she may have met him walking by her office (Tr. 40) or she may have told someone else in Sgt. Stickler's office.

4. Sergeant Stickler stated that he retired effective May 1, 1994 (Tr. 37), but, ". . . for the last few months I was in charge of doing special projects . . . I was an overage in the squadron, so I didn't have a real job." (Tr. 37).