Source: https://www.flra.gov/node/66667
Timestamp: 2019-08-18 12:54:03
Document Index: 102029019

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2423', '§2423', '§ 2423', '§ 2423', '§ 7103', '§ 7103', '§ 7103', '§ 7116', '§ 7116']

Case No. AT-CA-03-0385
and Case No. AT-CA-03-0385
OALJ 03-47
On June 30, 2003, pursuant to 5 C.F.R. § 2423.20(a)1005780890, the Regional Director of the Atlanta Region, Federal Labor Relations Authority issued a Complaint and Notice of Hearing which was duly served by certified mail on the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi (the Respondent). The Regional Director simultaneously served a copy of the Complaint by certified mail on the Office of Administrative Law Judges. The complaint included notice to the Respondent that its Answer to the complaint had to be filed no later than July 28, 2003. It further stated that, absent a showing of good cause to the contrary, a failure to file an answer or respond to any allegation would constitute an admission of the allegations of the complaint.
On August 22, 2003, pursuant to §2423.27 of the Authority's Rules and Regulations, the General Counsel filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on the grounds that the Respondent failed to answer the complaint. The Respondent has neither replied to the motion nor requested an extension of time within which to do so.
The Authority has stated clearly that parties appearing before it are charged with knowledge of all pertinent statutory and regulatory filing requirements. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Narragansett, Rhode Island, 49 FLRA 33, 37 (1994). § 2423.20(b) of the Rules and Regulations provides that the Respondent shall file and serve its answer to the complaint within 20 days of the date of service of the complaint, but, in any event, prior to the start of the hearing. § 2423.27(b) of the Rules and Regulations requires responses to motions for summary judgment to be filed within five (5) days after the date of service of the motion.
1. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi (the Respondent) is an agency under 5 U.S.C. § 7103(a)(3).
2. The American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE) is a labor organization under 5 U.S.C. § 7103(a)(4) and is the exclusive representative of a unit of employees appropriate for collective bargaining at the Respondent.
3. The American Federation of Government Employees, Local 589, AFL-CIO (Local 589 or Charging Party), is an agent of AFGE for the purpose of representing employees at the Respondent within the unit described in paragraph 2.
4. The charge in Case No. AT-CA-03-0385 was filed by Local 589 with the Atlanta Regional Director on March 7, 2003.
5. A copy of the charge described in paragraph 4 was served on the Respondent.
6. During the time period covered by this complaint, the following persons occupied the positions opposite their names:
Johnny L. Smith Director, Respiratory Department
Mike Humphries Supervisor, Respiratory Department
Linda Bridges Supervisor, Respiratory Department
7. During the time period covered by this complaint, the persons named in paragraph 6 were either supervisors or management officials under 5 U.S.C. § 7103(a)(10) and (11).
8. During the time period covered by this complaint, the persons named in paragraph 6 were acting on behalf of Respondent.
9. In January, 2003, the Respondent, through Smith, Humphries, and Bridges, discontinued the practice of requiring Respiratory Department supervisors to carry pager 656 and respond to calls to that pager number and instead began requiring employees in the bargaining unit described in paragraph 2 to carry pager 656 and respond to calls to that pager number on a daily basis.
10. The Respondent, through Smith, Humphries, and Bridges, implemented the changes described in paragraph 9 without providing the Union notice and the opportunity to negotiate to the extent required by the Statute.
11. By the conduct described in paragraphs 9 and 10, the Respondent committed an unfair labor practice in violation of 5 U.S.C. § 7116(a)(1) and (5).
I further find that, by requiring certain bargaining unit employees to carry pager 656 and respond to calls to the pager on a daily basis, all without notice to the Charging Party and an opportunity to bargain, the Respondent has committed an unfair labor practice in violation of § 7116(a)(1) and (5) of the Statute.
(a) Unilaterally changing working conditions of employees exclusively represented by the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 589 (the Union), by requiring bargaining unit employees to carry pager 656 without first completing bargaining with the Union over the decision to change such conditions of employment.
(b) Refusing to bargain with the Union over the changes in working conditions of unit employees.
(a) Bargain on request with the Union regarding any proposed requirement that bargaining unit employees carry pager 656.
(b) Post at its facilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, where bargaining unit members represented by the Union 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 Center Director and shall be posted and maintained for 60 consecutive days thereafter, in conspicuous places, including all bulletin boards and other places where notices to employees are customarily posted. Reasonable steps shall be taken to ensure that such Notices are not altered, defaced, or covered by any other material.
WE WILL NOT unilaterally change working conditions of employees exclusively represented by the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 589 (the Union), by requiring bargaining unit employees to carry pager 656 without first completing bargaining with the Union over the decision to change such conditions of employment.
WE WILL bargain on request with the Union regarding any proposed requirement that bargaining unit employees carry pager 656.
AT-CA-03-0385, were sent to the following parties:
Richard S. Jones, Esquire 7000 1670 0000 1175 2584
Alan M. Hathorne, Esquire 7000 1670 0000 1175 2591
1500 E. Woodrow Wilson Blvd.
Charles Jenkins, Chief Steward 7000 1670 0000 1175 2607
1005780890