Naval Air Station Oceana and NAGE Local R4-123 (Authority decision, March 26, 1991)

Final FLRA decision. This is a final order of the Federal Labor Relations Authority. An aggrieved person may seek judicial review by filing a petition in an appropriate United States court of appeals within 60 days after issuance under 5 U.S.C. § 7123(a). Filing a petition does not stay the Authority's order unless the court orders a stay under 5 U.S.C. § 7123(c).

Plain-English summary

NAGE Local R4-123 asked Naval Air Station Oceana for the names and home addresses of the employees it represented. The station refused, arguing that privacy law barred disclosure and that the union had other ways to contact employees. On stipulated facts, the Authority applied its existing precedent and found that the information met the statutory disclosure requirements. It held that the refusal was an unfair labor practice. The order requires the station to furnish the information, post a notice for 60 days, and report its compliance.

Decision snapshot

• Authority: 5 U.S.C. §§ 7114(b)(4), 7116(a)(1), (5), (8).
• Outcome: Unfair labor practice found; information disclosure and notice ordered.
• Key point: Under the Authority's cited precedent, alternative contact methods did not excuse refusing the union's request for unit employee information.

Full text (FLRA public release)

[ v39 p1451 ]
39:1451(126)CA

The decision of the Authority follows:

39 FLRA No. 126

FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA

(Respondent)

and

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES

LOCAL R4-123, SEIU, AFL-CIO

(Charging Party/Union)

3-CA-90756

DECISION AND ORDER

March 26, 1991

Before Chairman McKee and Members Talkin and
Armendariz.

I. Statement of the Case

This unfair labor practice case is before the Authority in accordance with section 2429.1(a) of the Authority's Rules and Regulations, based on a stipulation of facts by the parties, who have agreed that no material issue of fact exists. The General Counsel and the Respondent filed briefs with the Authority.

The complaint alleges that the Respondent violated section 7116(a)(1), (5), and (8) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute) by failing and refusing to provide the Union with the names and homes addresses of bargaining unit employees employed by the Respondent. For the reasons stated below, we find that the Respondent committed the unfair labor practice as alleged.

II. Facts

The Union is the exclusive representative of a unit of Respondent's employees. By letter dated June 22, 1989, the Union requested the Respondent to provide "the Union . . . [with] the names and home addresses of the bargaining unit employees employed by Respondent." Stipulation at 2, paragraph 7. On or about June 30, 1989, the Respondent refused to provide the Union with the names and home addresses of unit employees.

The parties stipulated that the names and home addresses of bargaining unit employees are normally maintained by the Respondent in the regular course of business, are reasonably available, and do not constitute guidance, advice, counsel or training provided for management officials or supervisors relating to collective bargaining. Stipulation, paragraph 8. The parties agree that "alternative means of communication are available" to the Union for contacting bargaining unit employees. Stipulation at 3, paragraph 10.

III. Positions of the Parties

The General Counsel argues that the Authority's decisions in Farmers Home Administration Finance Office, St. Louis, Missouri, 23 FLRA 788 (1986) (Farmers Home) and U.S. Department of the Navy, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 37 FLRA 515 (1990) (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard), application for enforcement filed sub nom. FLRA v. U.S. Department of the Navy, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, No. 90-1949 (1st Cir. Oct. 1, 1990), are dispositive of the issues in the case. The General Counsel contends that the Respondent's admitted failure to furnish the employees' names and home addresses constitutes a clear violation of section 7116(a)(1), (5), and (8) of the Statute.

The Respondent disagrees with the Authority's rationale in its decision in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The Respondent contends that disclosure of employees' home addresses is prohibited by the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. º 552a, because such disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy under exemption b(6) of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. º 552(b)(6). The Respondent argues that Portsmouth Naval Shipyard conflicts with Department of Justice v. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 489 U.S. 749 (1989) and FLRA v. Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service, 884 F.2d 1446 (D.C. Cir. 1989), cert. denied, 110 S. Ct. 863 (1990). The Respondent argues also that the disclosure of employees' home addresses does not constitute a "routine use" under existing regulations.

IV. Analysis and Conclusions

In Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we reaffirmed Farmers Home and concluded that the release of the 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 alternative means of communication are available. We find that resolution of this case does not require consideration of whether alternative means of communication are available. Further, it is evident from the parties' stipulation that the other requirements of section 7114(b)(4)(A), (B), and (C) have been met in this case.

Accordingly, consistent with the parties' stipulation and based on the Authority's decision in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we find that the Respondent was required to furnish the Union with the names and home addresses of employees in the bargaining unit represented by the Union. Its refusal to do so violated section 7116(a)(1), (5), and (8) of the Statute.

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 Naval Air Station Oceana shall:

1. Cease and desist from:

(a) Refusing to furnish, upon request of the National Association of Government Employees, Local R4-123, SEIU, AFL-CIO, the exclusive representative of certain of its employees, the names and homes addresses of all employees in the bargaining unit it represents.

(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 action in order to effectuate the
   purposes and policies of the Statute:

(a) Furnish the National Association of Government Employees, Local R4-123, SEIU, AFL-CIO, the exclusive representative of certain of its employees, the names and home addresses of all employees in the bargaining unit it represents.

(b) Post at its facilities where bargaining unit employees represented by the National Association of Government Employees, Local R4-123, SEIU, AFL-CIO, are located, 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, Naval Air Station Oceana, 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, Washington, D.C. Regional Office, Federal Labor Relations Authority, 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 SERVICE LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS STATUTE

WE NOTIFY OUR EMPLOYEES THAT:

WE WILL NOT refuse to furnish, upon request of the National Association of Government Employees, Local R4-123, SEIU, 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 the rights assured them by the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute.

WE WILL furnish the National Association of Government Employees, Local R4-123, SEIU, AFL-CIO, the exclusive representative of certain of its employees, the names and home addresses of all employees in the bargaining unit it represents.

____
(Activity)

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, Washington, D.C. Regional Office, Federal Labor Relations Authority, whose address is: 1111 18th Street, N.W., 7th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20033-0758 and whose telephone number is (202) 653-8500.

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