Source: https://www.flra.gov/decisions/v64/64-28.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 00:17:29+00:00

Document:
This case is before the Authority on an application for review (the application) filed by the Labor Organization/Petitioner (the Union) under § 2422.31 of the Authority’s Regulations. The Agency filed an opposition to the Union’s application.
The Union seeks review of two related decisions of the Regional Director (RD): (1) Decision and Order Clarifying Eligibility to Vote in Representation Election (Challenges Decision); and (2) Decision and Order Dismissing Objections to Election (Objections Decision). In the Challenges Decision, the RD found that employee Schwinn is not properly included in the petitioned-for unit because he is engaged in security work that directly affects national security under § 7112(b)(6) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute). Id. at 8. In the Objections Decision, the RD declined to address the status of employee Owens. Application at 2, 10.
For the reasons set forth below, we deny the Union’s application with regard to Owens, grant the application with regard to Schwinn, and remand the issue of Schwinn’s status to the RD for appropriate action.
The Union filed a petition seeking a representation election. The Agency challenged the inclusion of six employees in the proposed unit, and a hearing was held to determine the status of those six employees. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Hearing Officer stated that the Authority would clarify positions after the election, if such clarification were necessary. Hearing Transcript (Tr.) at 100. Subsequently, the Union withdrew its objections to the Agency’s proposed exclusion of two of the six employees, leaving in dispute the status of four employees: William McCormick (McCormick), Sydney Tutein (Tutein), Owens, and Schwinn. The parties stipulated that if any of these four employees voted in the election, their votes would be challenged.
Later, a representation election was held pursuant to a consent election agreement approved by the RD. On the day of the election, the Agency conceded that McCormick was eligible to be in the unit and to vote; the Agency did not challenge McCormick’s ballot. A total of eight ballots were cast: four unchallenged ballots in favor of representation, two unchallenged ballots against representation, and two challenged ballots -- one cast by Schwinn and one cast by Tutein. It is undisputed that Owens did not vote in the election.
Denial at 2. The Union filed a Motion to Postpone Post-Hearing Briefs Due Date indefinitely, which the RD denied because the Union “failed to demonstrate how the [order for post-hearing briefs limited to Schwinn and Tutein] constitutes an inefficient use of time and resources when it was undertaken to directly resolve the underlying [Union] petition for election.” Id.
Subsequently, the RD issued both the Objections Decision and Challenges Decision, which are discussed below.
The RD found that Schwinn, an Aeronautical Information Specialist, “has not read, seen or heard classified information” while performing his regular duties, although Schwinn “possessed a secret security clearance at the time of the hearing.” Challenges Decision 3. The RD further found that Schwinn participated in three Department of Defense working groups -- the Digital Working Group, the Digital Aeronautical Transformation Working Group, and the Vertical Obstruction Working Group -- and that each group meets separately every six months. Id. at 4. In this regard, the RD noted that Schwinn attended a Digital Working Group meeting that “included a briefing on classified information with regard to National Geospatial Intelligence[,]” and that this classified information concerned “intelligence capabilities.” Id. The RD also found that on “two other occasions, Schwinn attended working group meetings during which the meeting rooms were cleared of group members who lacked security clearances so that classified matters could be discussed.” Id.
Based on the foregoing, the RD determined that “Schwinn accessed classified information on numerous occasions while attending the semi-annual working group meetings[,]” and that, consequently, Schwinn’s work “involves regular access to classified information that addresses intelligence capabilities within the context of supporting the various branches of the military.” Id. at 7. The RD concluded that Schwinn is engaged in security work that directly affects national security and, therefore, that his position is excluded from the unit under § 7112(b)(6) of the Statute.
The RD stated that “[s]ince the petition in this case was for an election, limiting the eligibility determination to [the] two [determinative, challenged] voters is all that is necessary to satisfy the purpose of the petition.” Id. at 4. Accordingly, he declined to consider Owens’ eligibility.
The Union contends that the RD failed to apply established law and committed a clear and prejudicial error concerning substantial factual matters regarding Schwinn and Owens. See Application at 1-2, 10.
With regard to Schwinn, the Union disputes the RD’s determination that Schwinn is engaged in “security work” under § 7112(b)(6) of the Statute because, according to the Union, Schwinn’s work does not involve regular access to classified information, as required under United States Dep’t of Justice, 52 FLRA 1093, 1103 (1997) (DOJ). In this connection, the Union contends that the RD erroneously determined that Schwinn has regular access to classified information and “accessed classified information on numerous occasions while attending the semi-annual working group meetings.” Application at 9 (quoting Challenges Decision at 7). The Union asserts that, although the record indicates that Schwinn attended working group meetings in which some of the attendees had access to classified information in “sidebar” meetings, the record does not indicate that Schwinn was one of the attendees who had such access. Specifically, according to the Union, “Schwinn did not state that he was one of the individuals, and, in fact, he was not one of those individuals” who had such access. Id. at 7. The Union claims that there is no evidence that Schwinn “ever has access to classified material on a regular basis[,]” and, therefore, he should be included in the unit. Id. at 9.
Additionally, the Union contends that the RD should have considered whether Owens is properly included in the unit, that “the inclusion of Owens must be remanded to the RD for further determination, and that the ballots in the election must be set aside and a new election held.” Id. at 10.
The Agency contends that the RD did not fail to apply established law, and did not commit a clear and prejudicial error concerning a substantial factual matter, with regard to Schwinn and Owens. See Opp’n at 4-5.
the . . . working groups that deal with . . . classified information ‘as to intelligence capabilities[.]’” Id. (quoting Tr. at 76). Further, the Agency asserts that “[a]t times, the working groups receive classified briefings, and at other times, ‘sidebar type’ discussions touching on classified matters occur at the working group meetings.” Id. (quoting Tr. at 78). The Agency also asserts that Schwinn indicated that “one of the locations where the working groups sometimes visit or meet is a location where ‘you cannot enter [the] facility . . . without a secret clearance to begin with.’” Id. at 4-5 (quoting Tr. at 79).
With regard to Owens, the Agency argues that the Union “cites no Authority case law . . . supporting” its position that the RD should have considered Owens’ status, and that the Union “has not shown how the RD’s procedural decision not to determine a matter that was not necessary to satisfy the purpose of the petition had the potential to interfere with the free choice of the voters at the election.” Id. at 5.
A. A remand is necessary to determine whether the RD failed to apply established law, or committed a clear and prejudicial error concerning a substantial factual matter, by finding that Schwinn is excluded from the unit under § 7112(b)(6) of the Statute.
Section 7112(b)(6) of the Statute excludes from bargaining units “any employee engaged in intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or security work which directly affects national security[.]” In order to determine whether an employee is excluded under § 7112(b)(6), the Authority considers whether the employee is: “(1) engaged in security work that (2) directly affects (3) national security.” United States Dep’t of Defense, Pentagon Force Prot. Agency, Wash., D.C., 62 FLRA 164, 171 (2007). As relevant here, an employee will be found to be “engaged in security work” within the meaning of § 7112(b)(6) if the employee’s duties include “the regular use of, or access to, classified information.” DOJ, 52 FLRA at 1103.
There is no dispute that, in determining whether Schwinn engaged in security work, the RD applied the proper test by considering whether Schwinn’s duties include “the regular use of, or access to, classified information.” Challenges Decision at 6 (citing Soc. Sec. Admin., Balt., Md., 59 FLRA 137, 144 (2003) (Chairman Cabaniss concurring and then-Member Pope dissenting in part) & DOJ, 52 FLRA at 1103). However, for the reasons that follow, the record is unclear as to the extent of Schwinn’s access to classified information, and as a result, we are unable to determine whether the RD failed to apply established law or committed a clear and prejudicial error concerning a substantial factual matter with respect to Schwinn.
Q. -- on classified matters?
A. That is correct. And -- yes, there was one or two, sidebar type meetings amongst individuals that attended it.
A. Along with that one particular case that was a classified briefing.
A. It’s been a couple of times that it -- that you discuss certain information within that realm, but no, it’s not on a -- it’s not all the time and that’s all that I can recall.
HEARING OFFICER . . . : To your knowledge, does everyone who attends the meetings of these workgroups have at least a secret security clearance?
THE WITNESS: Not everyone that attends, but whenever the time comes that they will discuss information that is classified, they will clear out the room for all those people that do not have the appropriate clearance that I’m -- that is -- that I’m aware of.
HEARING OFFICER . . . : All right. Now, how many of these meetings have you attended, total?
HEARING OFFICER . . . : Let’s stick with the ones -- those three groups, how often do they clear out people who don’t have classified security clearances?
THE WITNESS: There’s only been twice that I recall.
Id. at 80-81. When asked, “and your workgroups, have you been told that you will be performing work that would include the use or access to classified information?”, Schwinn answered, “Other than those instances, no.” Id. at 83.
[A]ny of the workgroups, I suppose, could potentially have that [classified] information, but the workgroups that I attend, they’re every six months. And there are several different workgroups that I attend on about an -- about every six month basis. That’s not to say there’s going to be information that’s going to be classified at that time. I just know that when I accepted the position, part of the requirement was I had to have the secret clearance to be able to attend these meetings.
Although the record indicates that Schwinn attended one classified briefing, and suggests that he may have attended two sidebar meetings of working groups in which classified information was presented, the record does not indicate that he attended those sidebar meetings. Given the ambiguity of the record, we are unable to assess the RD’s conclusion that “Schwinn accessed classified information on numerous occasions while attending the semi-annual working group meetings.” Challenges Decision at 7 (emphasis added). That is, the record does not enable us to determine whether Schwinn’s duties include “the regular use of, or access to, classified information,” under DOJ, 52 FLRA 1103. Therefore, with regard to Schwinn, we are unable to determine whether the RD failed to apply established law or committed a clear and prejudicial error concerning a substantial factual matter.
Consistent with these regulations, the Authority has emphasized the need for development of a full and complete record in order to decide disputed factual issues in representation cases. See United States Dep’t of Energy, Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm’n, 22 FLRA 3, 5 (1986) (remand required where regional director failed to rule on supervisory status of six individuals). Where an RD’s decision does not contain sufficient evidence to allow the Authority to make findings necessary to determine the outcome of a case, the Authority has remanded such cases to the RD to reopen the record and obtain the necessary evidence. See, e.g., United States Dep’t of Hous. and Urban Dev., 34 FLRA 207, 212 (1990). Here, as the record does not permit a determination regarding Schwinn’s status, we grant the application as to Schwinn and remand this aspect of the case to the RD to take whatever actions are necessary to make the necessary findings and determination.
B. The application fails to demonstrate that the RD erred by not considering whether Owens is properly included in the petitioned-for unit.
The Union alleges that the “evidence gathered through the hearing supports a finding that . . . Owens [is] included in the bargaining unit[,]” and contends that “the inclusion of Owens must be remanded to the RD for further determination[.]” Application at 2, 10.
As noted above, the record indicates that Owens did not vote in the election. See note 6, supra. As such, the RD’s decision with respect to Owens did not affect the outcome of the election. The Union cites no Authority precedent, rule, or regulation that the RD allegedly failed to apply. In addition, the Union does not explain how the RD committed a clear and prejudicial error concerning a substantial factual matter. Further, the Union’s request that the “ballots in the election . . . be set aside and a new election held” is unsupported. Application at 10. As the Union makes only bare assertions, we find that the Union has neither demonstrated that the RD erred by declining to consider Owens’ unit status nor provided any basis for setting aside the election and directing a new one. Cf. United States Dep’t of the Navy, Fleet Readiness Ctr. Sw., San Diego, Cal., 63 FLRA 245, 252 (2009) (rejecting as bare assertion union’s unsubstantiated argument in accretion case that separate unit would result in increased productivity and economic savings). Accordingly, we deny the application with respect to Owens.
We deny the Union’s application with regard to Owens, grant the application with regard to Schwinn, and remand the issue of Schwinn’s status to the RD, for appropriate action consistent with this Order.
(c) Review. The Authority may grant an application for review only when the application demonstrates that review is warranted on one or more of the following grounds: . . .
(i) Failed to apply established law [or] . . .
(iii) Committed a clear and prejudicial error concerning a substantial factual matter.
 In the application, the Union states that it seeks review of “the Decision and Order,” without specifying which decision and order. Application at 1. However, the Union’s contention that the RD erroneously failed to consider the bargaining unit eligibility of employee Barney C. Owens (Owens) contests a determination that the RD made in the Objections Decision, and the Union’s contention that employee William Charles Schwinn (Schwinn) is properly included in the unit contests a determination that the RD made in the Challenges Decision. Accordingly, we construe the Union’s statement as seeking review of both Decisions and Orders.
 The pertinent wording of § 7112(b)(6) is set forth below.
 Although the RD does not mention Owens by name, the record makes clear that the RD declined to consider Owens’ status when the RD ruled in the Objections Decision that the scope of post-hearing briefs was properly limited to the two ballots determinative of the election. See Objections Decision at 2, 4.
 In the objections, the Union claimed, among other things, that the election observer improperly permitted the Agency to concede the eligibility of McCormick. See Order Denying Motion to Postpone Post-Hearing Briefs Due Date (Motion Denial) at 1-2. The RD denied the Union’s objection in this regard. Objections Decision at 4. As the Union does not contend that the RD erred in this regard, we do not consider the matter further.
 In this regard, the Agency asserts that Owens did not vote in the election, Opp’n at 3, and the Union does not state anything to the contrary.
 The Agency does not challenge the RD’s determination that Tutein is properly included in the unit. Opp’n at 3 n.3. As such, we do not consider Tutein further.
 The record indicates that, in the consent election agreement, the parties stipulated that a ballot cast by Schwinn, Tutein, McCormick, or Owens would be challenged. See Objections Decision at 3; Application at 3.
 In this connection, we note that the Union does not address § 2422.27 of the Authority’s Regulations, which states, in pertinent part, that the “Regional Director will investigate objections and/or determinative challenged ballots that are sufficient in number to affect the results of the election.” (Emphasis added).
 We note that nothing in this Order would preclude the Union from filing a petition for unit clarification with regard to Owens, should it wish to do so.

References: § 2422
 § 7112
 § 7112
 § 7112
 § 7112
 § 7112
 § 7112
 § 7112
 § 2422