Source: https://www.flra.gov/decisions/v53/53-035.html
Timestamp: 2016-08-29 05:32:22
Document Index: 691252797

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 7101', '§ 2423', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 2423', '§ 2423', '§ 18', '§ 7118', '§ 2423', '§ 2423', '§ 16']

53:0256(35)CO - - AFGE Local 2437 and VA Medical Center, Dallas TX - - 1997 FLRAdec CO - - v53 p256 | FLRA
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[ v53 p256 ] 53:0256(35)CO
The decision of the Authority follows: 53 FLRA No. 35 FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY WASHINGTON, D.C. _____ AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES LOCAL 2437 (Respondent/Union) and U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER DALLAS, TEXAS (Charging Party) DA-CO-60423 _____ DECISION AND ORDER August 8, 1997 _____ Before the Authority: Phyllis N. Segal, Chair; and Donald S.
Respondent. The Judge found that the Respondent violated section 7116(b)(1) of
the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute) by making
certain statements at an orientation session for new employees. The statements
created the impression that employees who were not members of the Respondent
would not receive the same quality of representation in grievances and unfair
labor practices as would the Respondent's members. Upon consideration of the Judge's decision, the Respondent's
and issue the following Order. II. Order Pursuant to section 2423.29 of the Authority's Regulations and section
7118 of the Statute, American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2437
shall: 1. Cease and desist from: (a) Creating the impression that nonmembers of the Union will not
receive the same quality of representation as provided Union members in
grievances and unfair labor practices. (b) In any like or related manner, interfering with, restraining, or
purposes and policies of the Statute: (a) At all new employee orientation sessions at which it makes a
presentation, notify the employees that it will fairly represent all bargaining
unit employees in grievances and unfair labor practices without regard to Union
membership. (b) Post at its local business office, at its normal meeting places,
and at all other places where notices to members and to employees of the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, are customarily
posted, copies of the attached Notice on forms to be furnished by the Federal
the President of the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2437,
notices to employees are customarily posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken by
the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2437, to insure that
such Notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material. (c) Submit appropriate signed copies of the Notice to the Director,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, for posting
in conspicuous places where unit employees represented by the American
Federation of Government Employees, Local 2437, are located. Copies of the
Notice should be maintained for a period of 60 consecutive days from the date
of posting. (d) Pursuant to section 2423.30 of the Authority's Regulations, notify
the Regional Director of the Dallas Region, Federal Labor Relations Authority,
525 Griffin Street, Suite 926, LB-107, Dallas, TX 75202-1906, in writing,
comply. NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES POSTED BY ORDER OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY The Federal Labor Relations Authority has found that American Federation
of Government Employees, Local 2437 (the Union), violated the Federal Service
notice. We hereby notify bargaining unit employees that: WE WILL NOT create the impression that nonmember unit employees seeking
our representation of their interests will not receive the same quality of
representation in grievances and unfair labor practices as is provided unit
employees who are members of the Union. WE WILL NOT, in any like or related manner, interfere with, restrain, or
Service Labor-Management Relations Statute. WE WILL fairly represent all employees within the certified bargaining
unit and will represent all bargaining unit employees in grievances and unfair
labor practices before management without regard to Union membership. WE WILL, at all new employee orientation sessions at which we make a
presentation, notify the employees that WE WILL fairly represent all employees
within the certified bargaining unit and that WE WILL represent all bargaining
unit employees in grievances and unfair labor practices before management
without regard to Union membership. _______________________________ (Labor Organization) Dated:_______________ By: ________________________________ (Signature) (Title) This Notice must remain posted for 60 consecutive days from the date of
Federal Labor Relations Authority, whose address is 525 Griffin Street, Suite
926, LB-107, Dallas, Texas 75202-1906, and whose telephone number is (617)
424-5730. UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY Office of Administrative Law
Judges WASHINGTON, D.C. 20424-0001 AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, LOCAL 2437, DALLAS,
TEXAS Respondent and VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL
CENTER DALLAS, TEXAS Charging Party Case No. DA-CO-60423
Donald W. Hill,
EsquireFor the Respondent Catherine A. Rich, EsquireFor the Charging
Party Susan E. Jelen, Esquire William D. Kirsner,
EsquireFor 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. § 2423.1, et seq., concerns
a very simple question: Did a union representative at a new employee
orientation meeting, make statements which created the impression that
non-members seeking the Union's assistance would not receive the same quality
of representa-tion in dispute with the agency as Union members. For reasons
fully set forth hereinafter, I have found that he did. This case was initiated by a charge, filed on
April 30, 1996 (G.C. Exh. 1(a)), which did not assert that any
subsection of § 16(b) or (c) was alleged to have been violated, and a
First Amended Charge, filed on September 27, 1996 (G.C. Exh. 1(c)),
which alleged violations of §§ 16(a)(1) and (8). The Complaint
and Notice of Hearing (G.C. Exh. 1(e)) issued September 30, 1996,
alleged violation of § 16(b)(1) only, and set the hearing for
November 6, 1996, pursuant to which, a hearing was duly held on
November 6, 1996, in Dallas, Texas, 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, December 6, 1996, was fixed as the date for
mailed an excellent brief, received on December 9, 1996, which have been
carefully considered. Upon the basis of the entire record, including my
observation of the witnesses and their demeanor, I make the following findings
and conclusions: FINDINGS 1. The American Federation of Government
Employees (AFGE) is the exclusive representative of a consolidated unit of
employees of Department of Veterans Affairs, including employees at the
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dallas, Texas (VAMC). 2. American Federation of Government
Employees, Local 2437 (hereinafter, "Union"), is an agent of AFGE for the
representation of employees at VAMC. 3. VAMC conducts an orientation session for
new employees on the first Friday of each month. Speakers from various
components and organizations, including the Union, appear to make presentations
to the employees. Mr. Walter McCullough, a therapy aide in the mental
health department of VAMC, is Executive Assistant to the President of the
Union, Mr. Andrew Brumsey, and one of his responsibilities is to make the
presentation for the Union at the new employee orientations (Tr. 96).
Mr. McCullough has made the Union presentation for three or four years
(Tr. 97); but uses no script, although he has a mental outline of things
he wants to cover in the allotted time of 15 to 20 minutes
(Tr. 97). 4. A new employee orientation session was held
on April 5, 1996, and Mr. McCullough made the presentation for the
Union. Three employees who were present, Mr. Sammy D'Amico(2), an accounting technician
(Tr. 9); Ms. Linda Sue Terrell, a nurse manager newly arrived
[April 1, 1996] from the VA Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma
(Tr. 49, 50); and Ms. Mary Katherine Garrett, Chaplin (Tr. 69, 70),
each credibly testified that Mr. McCullough made statements which created
the impression that non-members of the Union seeking Union assistance would not
receive the same quality of representation in disputes with VAMC as Union
members. Thus, Mr. D'Amico stated that Mr. McCullough said,
inter alia, ". . . if you've been watching the news
lately, you would see we had two people from the Bio-Med area that were having
trouble . . . and you see where if they had been dues-paying members,
that they would -- the union would be able to help them." (Tr. 13);
He said . . . that if you were not a dues-paying member and you had
trouble, if you needed help, that the union might be able to get to you,
but it would be after they took care of all the dues-paying members, you know,
first." (Tr. 13); ". . . that sometime in the future, if they
hadn't had occasion up to that point in their VA careers, that before it was
over with, that they were going to need representation from the union against
corrupt management. He also said that you get what you pay for, that if you
were not a dues-paying member of the union, then you might get representation,
but you'd be down the ladder; they would take care of the other problems first,
dues-paying members first." (Tr. 24) Mr. D'Amico stated that
Mr. McCullough's comments were not in reference to matters such as:
insurance benefits, scholarship program, or credit cards; but related to
representation employees would need against VAMC (Tr. 15). Ms. Terrell stated, inter
alia, that, ". . . I had worked with the union many times in
the past at different VA and also Indian Health Service . . . This
particular union rep that spoke at the meeting inferred that you needed to
belong to the union in order to get proper representation." (Tr. 52);
". . . He went on to say that specifically you get what you pay for."
(Tr. 53); and his statement referred to, "Any type of representation that
required a management-employee relation." (Tr. 53). Ms. Terrell
stated that she was struck by the Union representatives' statements on
April 5, 1996, because in her prior experience with the VA in Oklahoma,
she knew that the union had represented non-union members
(Tr. 52). Ms. Garrett testified, inter
alia, ". . . I remember the words, You get what you pay for,
and that if representation was going to be there, it would be -- the
people paying the dues would be considered over people who didn't pay dues."
(Tr. 73). 5. I also found Mr. McCullough a credible
and forthright witness; but he couldn't remember what he said on April 5,
1996. He conceded that he did, indeed, say, "You get what you pay for"
(Tr. 104); but contended he used it in the sense that, "If you're not a
member, you can't enjoy the benefits." (Tr. 104). When asked if he discussed the quality of
representation provided to union versus non-union members (Tr. 104), this
was his response: "A If I did, I can't recall in detail what I
might have said, other than if we don't have the money to pay attorneys, then
we can't represent employees very well."
(Tr. 104). Mr. McCullough further stated: "A The only thing I remember communicating to
people at the orientation session is that we want every bargaining unit member,
every -- really every employee if we can get them to join the union, to
become dues-paying members, if it ain't nothing for more than just the
benefits, you know, these sideline benefits. "But this makes us stronger financially;
therefore, we're able to, you know, take care of cases. And if we don't have
the money, then what can we do? You know, you're not going to get
representation, good representation, for the simple reason you can't afford it
. . . ." (Tr. 106). Mr. McCullough further stated: "Q Did you tell employees that if we don't
have dues-paying members, that employees -- there won't be any money to
hire attorneys? "A That sounds more like what I might have
been referring to. "Q What you might have said? "A If we don't have the money to pay
attorneys, then we don't get -- you know, we don't get good
representation. That's true." (Tr. 112). CONCLUSIONS As set forth above, I find that
Mr. McCullough, speaking on behalf of the Union, at the new employee
orientation on April 5, 1996, did make statements which created the
impression that non-members of the Union seeking Union assistance would not
receive the same quality of representa-tion in disputes with VAMC as Union
members and thereby violated § 16(b)(1) of the Statute. American
Federation of Government Employees, Local 1778, AFL-CIO, (1982). Here,
Mr. McCullough first asserted that he used the term "You get what you pay
for", in reference to non-representational services such as insurance and
credit cards (Tr. 104); but later acknowledged that he may have referred
to representation of employees (Tr. 104-105). While Mr. McCullough
said the Union provided representation for non-union members in grievances
(Tr. 105-106), he conceded he did not say in what areas the Union
represented them regardless of their Union status (Tr. 104-105). Indeed,
he said he never talks about specific things such as Merit Systems Protection
Board, EEO Appeals, or some of the terms of the collective bargaining agreement
because, "I never have time . . . ." (Tr. 100); that he
doesn't encourage questions about their rights under the collective bargaining
agreement, because, "I don't have that kind of time . . . ."
(Tr. 100). As the Authority has made clear, "The standard for determining whether a
union's statement violates section 7116(b)(1) of the Statute is an objective
one. The question is whether, under the circumstances, employees could
reasonably have drawn a coercive inference from the
statement. . . . the standard for a section 7116(b)(1) violation
is not based on the subjective perceptions of the employees or on the intent of
the speaker. . . ." American Federation of Government
Employees, Local 987, Warner Robins, Georgia, 35 FLRA 720, 724
(1990). Having found that the Union violated
§§ 16(b)(1) of the Statute, it is recommended that the Authority
adopt the following: ORDER Pursuant to § 2423.29, of the
Authority's 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 American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2437,
Dallas, Texas, shall: 1. Cease and desist from: (a) Creating the impression that non-members
of the Union will not receive the same quality of representation as provided
Union members in grievances and unfair labor practices. (b) In any like or related manner, interfering
with, restraining, or coercing its employees in the exercise of their rights
assured by the Statute. 2. Take the following affirmative action in
order to effectuate the purposes and policies of the Statute: (a) At all new employee orientation sessions
at which the Union makes a presentation, notify the employees that the Union
will fairly represent all bargaining unit employees in grievances and unfair
labor practices without regard to Union membership. (b) Post at its local business office, at its
normal meeting places, and all other places where notices to members and to
employees of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, are
customarily posted, copies of the attached Notice on forms to be furnished by
be signed by the President of the American Federation of Government Employees,
Local 2437, and shall be posted and maintained for 60 consecutive days
shall be taken by the American Federation of Government Employees,
Local 2437, to insure that such Notices are not altered, defaced, or
covered by any other material. (c) Submit appropriate signed copies of the
Notice to the Director, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, for
posting in conspicuous places where unit employees represented by the American
of posting. (d) Pursuant to § 2423.30, 5 C.F.R.,
§ 2423.30, of the Authority's Rules and Regulations, notify the
Regional Director of the Dallas Region, Federal Labor Relations Authority, 525
Griffin Street, Suite 926, LB-107, Dallas, TX 75202-1906, 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: February 25, 1997 Washington,
DC NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES POSTED BY ORDER OF THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS
AUTHORITY The Federal Labor Relations Authority has found
that the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2437, Dallas,
Texas, violated the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute and has
ordered us to post and abide by this notice. We hereby notify all bargaining unit employees
that: WE WILL fairly represent all employees within
the certified bargaining unit and will represent all bargaining unit employees
in grievances and unfair labor practices before management without regard to
Union membership. WE WILL, at all new employee orientation
sessions at which we make a presentation, notify the employees that WE WILL
fairly represent all employees within the certified bargaining unit and that WE
WILL represent all bargaining unit employees in grievances and unfair labor
practices before management without regard to Union membership. WE WILL NOT create the impression that
non-member unit employees seeking our representation of their interests will
not receive the same quality of representation as is provided unit employees
who are members of the Union. WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner,
interfere with, restrain, or coerce unit employees in the exercise of their
Statute. ____________________________ (President, AFGE, Local 2437) 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, Dallas
Region, whose address is: 525 Griffin Street, Suite 926, LB-107, Dallas,
Texas 75202-1906, and whose telephone number is: (617)
424-5730. FOOTNOTES: ALJ's Footnotes Follow: 1. For convenience of reference,
the initial "71" of the statutory reference, i.e., Section 7116
(b)(1) will be referred to, simply, as, "§ 16(b)(1)." 2. Mr. D'Amico, also, is President
of the VA Employee Association, which is a social activities group to which
every employee of VAMC automatically is a member and for which there are no
dues. He was present to make a presentation for VA Employee Association.