Source: https://www.flra.gov/decisions/v70/70-165.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 22:25:06+00:00

Document:
Let this case serve as a reminder that late is late, and if a party believes it has good cause, it should say so. Here, the Agency missed both of these points.
The Regional Director of the Denver Region of the Federal Labor Relations Authority issued three unfair‑labor‑practice (ULP) complaints alleging that the Respondent violated §§ 7102 and 7116(a)(1) and (2) of the Federal Service Labor‑Management Relations Statute (Statute) by investigating a Union steward’s use of official time, conducting an investigation into the steward’s meeting with an employee, and suspending the steward for two days.
The Respondent filed its answers to the respective complaints after the filing deadline. The Federal Labor Relations Authority Chief Administrative Law Judge David L. Welch (the Judge) found that the Respondent filed untimely answers and failed to show good cause for its untimeliness. Because the answers were filed late, the Judge determined that, under § 2423.20(b) of the Authority’s Regulations, the Respondent admitted to all of the allegations enumerated in the complaints. Accordingly, the Judge granted the General Counsel’s motion for summary judgment.
After summary judgment was entered, the Respondent filed exceptions with the Authority. We deny all of the exceptions because the Judge’s finding that the answers were late was not challenged.
The Respondent excepts to the Judge’s decision and argues that the allegations are untrue and that the order violates its management’s rights to discipline and assign work. Oddly, however, the Respondent does not challenge the Judge’s conclusion that its answers were late. Thus, the Respondent does not demonstrate that the Judge’s application of § 2423.20(b), is incorrect. Therefore, there is nothing left for us to review.
Accordingly, we deny the Respondent’s exceptions.
(a) Requiring any employee who is a representative of the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1557, AFL-CIO (Union) to disclose, under threat of discipline, the names of bargaining‑unit employees they meet with while engaging in protected activity.
(b) Requiring any bargaining‑unit employee of the Respondent to disclose, under threat of discipline, whether or not they met with Union representatives while engaging in protected activity.
(c) Disciplining any representative of the Union for engaging in protected conduct while performing their representational duties.
(d) In any like or related manner, interfering with, restraining, or coercing bargaining‑unit employees in the exercise of their rights assured by the Statute.
(a) Rescind the two‑day suspension given to Konstanse Shuey, expunge from Respondent’s files all records of and references to this suspension, and make Konstanse Shuey whole by reimbursing her for the losses she incurred as a result of the two‑day suspension, including back‑pay with interest and any other benefits lost due to the suspension, including overtime.
(b) Post at its facilities where bargaining‑unit employees are located copies of the attached Notice on forms to be furnished by the Authority. Upon receipt of such forms, they shall be signed by the Agency Director, Renaye Murphy, and shall be posted and maintained for sixty (60) consecutive days thereafter, in conspicuous places, including all bulletin boards and other places where notices to bargaining‑unit employees are customarily posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken to ensure that such Notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.
(d) Pursuant to § 2423.41(e) of the Authority’s Regulations, provide the Regional Director, Denver Regional Office, in writing, within thirty (30) days from the date of this Order, a report regarding what compliance actions have been taken.
The Federal Labor Relations Authority has found that the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office, Denver, Colorado, violated the Federal Service Labor‑Management Relations Statute and has ordered us to post and abide by this notice.
WE WILL NOT require American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1557, AFL‑CIO (Union) representatives to disclose, under threat of discipline, the names of bargaining‑unit employees they meet with while engaging in protected activity.
WE WILL NOT require bargaining‑unit employees to disclose, under threat of discipline, whether or not they met with Union representatives while engaging in protected activity.
Konstanse Shuey or any other representative of the Union, for engaging in protected conduct while performing representational duties.
WE WILL rescind the two‑day suspension given to Konstanse Shuey, expunge from our files all records of and references to this suspension, and make Konstanse Shuey whole by reimbursing her for the losses she incurred as a result of the two‑day suspension, including back-pay with interest, and any other benefits lost due to the suspension, including overtime.
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 446, Denver, CO 80204, and whose telephone number is: (303) 844-5224.
I agree with the determination to deny the Respondent’s exceptions.
On November 14, 2017, the Regional Director of the Denver Region of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA/Authority) issued a Complaint and Notice of Hearing in Case No. DE-CA-17-0311. On November 15, 2017, the Regional Director of the Authority issued Complaints and Notices of Hearing in Case Nos. DE-CA-17-0309 and DE-CA-17-0310. The Complaint in Case No. DE-CA-17-0309 alleges in substance that the Department of Veterans Affairs, Denver Regional Office, (Respondent) failed and refused to comply with §§ 7102 and 7116(a)(1) and (2) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (Statute) by conducting an investigation into Union Steward Konstanse Shuey’s meeting with a bargaining unit employee. The Complaint in Case No. DE‑CA‑17‑0310 alleges in substance that Respondent failed and refused to comply with §§ 7102 and 7116(a)(1) by requiring bargaining unit employees at the Veterans Service Center (VSC) to disclose, under threat of discipline, whether they met with Shuey. The Complaint in Case No. DE-CA-17-0311 alleges in substance that the Respondent subsequently failed and refused to comply with § 7116(a)(1) and (2) of the Statute by issuing a two‑day suspension to Shuey.
DE-CA-17-0311 is appropriate, the hearing is hereby cancelled.
In this case, the Respondent did not file a timely Answer to the GC’s Complaint, nor did it demonstrate any “good cause” for its failure to do so. In Broad. Bd. of Governors, Office of Cuba Broad., Miami, Fla., No. AT‑CA-15-0097, 2015 WL 454985, at *2, *3 (June 29, 2015), the Authority held that the agency’s conflicting work assignments and shortage of attorneys may have demonstrated “good cause” if the agency had requested an extension of time to file its answer, but did not demonstrate “extraordinary circumstances” that might constitute “good cause” for the late filing. Given the Respondent’s failure to file a timely answer to the complaints and the absence of good cause for such a failure, application of the admission provision of 5 C.F.R. § 2423.20(b) is appropriate. Thus, Respondent has admitted all of the allegations set forth in each Complaint. Accordingly, there are no disputed factual issues and summary judgment in favor of the GC is granted.
At all material times Support Services Supervisor Jason Rasmussen has been a supervisor or management official of Respondent within the meaning of § 7103(a)(10) and (11) of the Statute.
At all material times Acting Assistant Director Andrew Post has been a supervisor or management of official of Respondent within the meaning of § 7103(a)(10) and (11) of the Statute.
By the conduct set forth in Case No. DE‑CA‑17‑0309, which contains allegations to which the Respondent has failed to file an Answer or otherwise demonstrate good cause for such failure, the Respondent admits that it investigated Shuey’s meeting with a bargaining unit employee. Therefore, the Respondent failed to comply with § 7102 of the Statute and thereby violated § 7116(a)(1) of the Statute.
By the conduct set forth in Case No. DE‑CA‑17‑0310, which contains allegations to which the Respondent has failed to file an Answer or otherwise demonstrate good cause for such failure, the Respondent admits that it investigated Shuey’s use of official time. Therefore, the Respondent failed to comply with § 7102 of the Statute and thereby violated § 7116(a)(1).
By the conduct set forth in Case No. DE‑CA‑17‑0311, which contains allegations to which the Respondent has failed to file an Answer or otherwise demonstrate good cause for such failure, the Respondent admits that it suspended Shuey because of her service as a Union steward and because of her meeting with a bargaining unit employee. Therefore, the Respondent thereby violated § 7116(a)(1) and (2) of the Statute.
As a remedy to the conduct alleged in Case No. DE-CA-17-0311, the Respondent is ordered to cease and desist from interfering with, restraining, or coercing employees by disciplining Konstanse Shuey, or any representative of the Union, from engaging in protected conduct while performing their Union representational duties and to cease and desist from interfering with, restraining or coercing bargaining unit employees in the exercise of rights assured to them by the Statute in any like or related manner. The Respondent is also ordered to rescind the two-day suspension given to Konstanse Shuey, expunge from its files all records and references to this suspension, and make Shuey whole by reimbursing her for the losses she incurred as a result of the two-day suspension, including back pay with interest, and any other benefits lost due to the suspension, including overtime.
Pursuant to § 2423.41(e) of the Rules and Regulations of the Authority, provide the Regional Director, Denver Region, in writing, within thirty (30) days from the date of this Order, a report regarding what compliance actions have been taken.
The Federal Labor Relations Authority has found that the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office, Denver, Colorado, violated the Federal Service Labor‑Management Relations Statute (Statute), and has ordered us to post and abide by this Notice.
This Notice must remain posted for sixty (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 communication directly with the Regional Director, Denver Region, Federal Labor Relations Authority, whose address is: 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 446, Denver, CO 80204, and whose telephone number is: (303) 844-5224.
 5 U.S.C. §§ 7102, 7116(a)(1), (2).
 The Judge found that the Agency’s excuse, as expressed in its answers, that it failed to file timely answers to the complaints because of a “scarcity” of attorneys and an abundance of work, did not demonstrate extraordinary circumstances that may constitute good cause for its untimeliness. Judge’s Decision at 2-3; cf. AFGE, Local 1102, 63 FLRA 343, 344 (2009) (citing IRS, Indianapolis Dist., 32 FLRA 1235, 1236 (1988)); see also U.S. DHS, ICE, L.A., Cal., 68 FLRA 302, 303-04 (2015).
 On April 13, 2018, the General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority filed an opposition which we have considered. See 5 C.F.R. § 2429.26.
 Judge’s Decision at 3; see also Exceptions Br. at 5.
 See U.S. Dep’t of VA, VA Med. Ctr., Martinsburg, W. Va., 66 FLRA 776, 779 (2012) (respondent cannot challenge administrative law judge’s factual findings after admitting complaint’s factual allegations by failing to file a timely answer or showing good cause).

References: § 2423
 § 2423
 § 2423
 § 7116
 § 2423
 § 7103
 § 7103
 § 7102
 § 7116
 § 7102
 § 7116
 § 7116
 § 2423
 § 2429