Opinion ID: 2342788
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Employee Subject to Restrictions of the Act

Text: Contrary to the conclusion of the Majority, I do not believe that Pinto is on leave of absence to take a non-civil service position. Pinto continues to serve the Commonwealth as a union employee, to the mutual benefit of both the Commonwealth and the union. The Majority errs in regard to both the statutory text and its underlying policy. Pinto challenges the determinations made by the Commonwealth Court and the Commission that he is a civil service employee for purposes of Sections 905.2(b)(7) and (b)(10) of the Act. 71 P.S. §§ 741.905(b)(7), (10). Like the Majority, Pinto asserts that the Commonwealth Court incorrectly focused its scrutiny on whether he was on a paid or unpaid leave of absence. Pinto believes that the essential element is whether he remained in the classified service once he began his leave of absence and that, if he has shown that he is not in the classified service, his actions as Vice President of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association (PSCOA) cannot violate the Act. In support of this contention, he notes that Section 3(d)(4) of the Act, 71 P.S. § 741.3(d)(4), defines classified service to include [a]ll positions now existing or hereafter created under the State Civil Service Commission. He observes that subsection 3(f) defines position as a group of current duties and responsibilities assigned or delegated by competent authority requiring the full-time or part-time employment of one person. 71 P.S. § 741.3(f). Pinto maintains that, without current duties, he does not hold a position in the classified service. He also argues that he is accountable solely to the union for his conduct and receives absolutely no compensation from the Commonwealth. Finally, Pinto contends that, because every penny that he receives from the Commonwealth in remuneration is refunded to the Commonwealth by PSCOA, he is on an unpaid leave of absence and not subject to the restrictions. I cannot agree. The first flaw in Pinto's argument is that he has no current duties. It is clear that the Department of Corrections (DOC) assigned Pinto to work as an employee of the union, just as the DOC could assign Pinto to other duties. It is the DOC, as the employer, that controls the duties of its employees. Consistent with the authority of DOC to regulate job specifications, discipline, and job performance, it is clear that the union could not remove employees from their normal duties without the consent of the DOC. Rather, the union was required to request that DOC approve the assignment of Pinto from his normal duties for union leave because the DOC had the ability and authority to approve such an assignment. Further, while Pinto is on union leave, he is presumably still subject to discipline by DOC and the Commission. [1] Therefore, Pinto's current duties are those assigned by DOC, which are to function as a union officer. Union activities often provide mutual benefit to both the union and the employer. When utilized properly, union leave contributes to a peaceful and productive relationship between the state and its employees, in turn, providing a benefit to the state by improving state services. Mich. State AFL-CIO v. Mich. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 455 Mich. 720, 566 N.W.2d 258, 268 (1997) (Brickley, J., dissenting). Thus, the willingness of the DOC to assign its employees to union leave is consistent with the fact that the DOC reaps a benefit from union leave thereby making it a part of an employee's duties as a public employee. An employee of the civil service who is on a paid leave of absence is still a civil service employee subject to the political restrictions of the Act. See Section 103.11(b) of the Pennsylvania Code, 4 Pa. Code § 103.11(b). [2] Pinto is on a paid leave of absence even though he argues that the union reimburses the Commonwealth for his salary and benefits. Pursuant to the definition of reimbursement, the Commonwealth pays Pinto's salary. Reimbursement comes later, often weeks after the Commonwealth has paid Pinto. The arrangement for PSCOA to reimburse the DOC for Pinto's salary and benefits does not negate the fact that Pinto's status with the DOC is as an employee. Cf. Nat'l Labor Relations Bd. v. BASF Wyandotte Corp., 798 F.2d 849 (5th Cir.1986); Commc'ns Workers of Am. v. Bell Atl. Network Servs., Inc., 670 F.Supp. 416 (D.D.C.1987). If this were not the case, Pinto would be ineligible for the pension benefit that he seeks. This benefit is unavailable to those on unpaid leaves of absence and could not be purchased by Pinto after his return to the DOC. Further, Section 5302(b)(2) [3] explicitly indicates that Pinto is an active member on paid leave for purposes of holding union office, while still recognizing that the union is to reimburse the Commonwealth for all salary and benefit expenses. 71 Pa.C.S. § 5302(b)(2). Accordingly, I would affirm that portion of the decision of the Commonwealth Court that held that Pinto is a DOC employee and subject to the political restrictions of the Act.