Defense Mapping Agency, Providence Field Office and American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1884 (Authority decision, November 17, 1983)

Final FLRA representation decision. The Authority clarified the bargaining unit in this decision. This appropriate-unit determination is excluded from the 60-day judicial-review provision by 5 U.S.C. § 7123(a)(2).

Plain-English summary

The Defense Mapping Agency sought to exclude personnel assistant Jennie Balme from an AFGE bargaining unit. Balme coordinated incentive awards, maintained personnel data, advised employees and supervisors, and trained supervisors on performance appraisals. The Authority found that her personnel work went beyond purely clerical duties under 5 U.S.C. § 7112(b)(3). It ordered her excluded from the unit. The outcome is classified as other because this original clarification petition did not review a Regional Director decision.

Decision snapshot

• Authority: 5 U.S.C. § 7112(b)(3).
• Outcome: Bargaining unit clarified to exclude Jennie Balme.
• Key point: Substantive personnel duties can place an employee outside the bargaining unit.

Full text (FLRA public release)

[ v13 p407 ]

13:0407(68)CU

The decision of the Authority follows:

13 FLRA No. 68

DEFENSE MAPPING AGENCY
HYDROGRAPHIC/TOPOGRAPHIC CENTER
PROVIDENCE FIELD OFFICE
Activity/Petitioner

and

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 1884, AFL-CIO
Labor Organization/Intervenor

Case No. 1-CU-20014

DECISION AND ORDER CLARIFYING UNIT

Upon a petition duly filed with the Federal Labor Relations Authority under section 7111(b)(2) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute), 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 careful consideration of the entire record, including the parties' contentions, the Authority finds: The American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1884, AFL-CIO (AFGE), was recognized as the exclusive bargaining representative for a unit of all nonsupervisory employees of the Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center, Providence Field Office. Essentially, the petition seeks to exclude from that unit Jennie Balme, Personnel Assistant (Typing), GS-203-06, P.N. 37164, based on the Activity/Petitioner's allegation that she is an employee engaged in Federal personnel work in other than a purely clerical capacity within the meaning of section 7112(b)(3) of the Statute. The Authority agrees.

Ms. Balme's major functions include monitoring the Incentive Awards Program and keeping the Automatic Personnel Data System (APDS) current. She also processes personnel actions, answers employees' and supervisors' questions about personnel matters, handles college recruitment, runs training sessions, and functions as the resident expert on certain personnel matters. As Incentive Awards Program Coordinator, she screens all incoming awards recommendations for compliance with Activity regulations and determines when to convene the Incentive Awards Committee. She attends meetings of that Committee, records the minutes of the meetings, and maintains the files. Due to her involvement in this program, Ms. Balme sat in on the bargaining sessions dealing with performance appraisals and shortly after ratification of the collective bargaining agreement conducted a training session for supervisors on the new performance appraisal system. Further, as a result of her responsibilities with regard to the APDS system, she is privy to all personnel information concerning each of the Activity's employees.

Based on the above, the Authority finds that Jennie Balme is engaged in personnel work in other than a purely clerical capacity within the meaning of section 7112(b)(3) of the Statute and shall order that she be excluded from the unit. See Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C. and Veterans Administration Medical Center, Salisbury, North Carolina, 11 FLRA No. 39 (1983).

ORDER

IT IS ORDERED that the unit sought to be clarified be, and it hereby is, clarified by excluding from said unit Jennie Balme, Personnel Assistant (Typing), GS-203-06, P.N. 37164. Issued, Washington, D.C., November 17, 1983 Barbara J. Mahone, Chairman Ronald W. Haughton, Member Henry B. Frazier III, Member FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY