Court Opinion

ID: 9671094
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:30:51.698072+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:08.139521
License: Public Domain

White, J.
The charging party, Organization of School Administrators and Supervisors, AFSA, AFL-CIO (OSAS), appeals from an order of the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (merc)1 dismissing the unfair labor practice charges it brought against respondent, Detroit Board of Education. The OSAS argues that the MERC erred in concluding that respondent did not violate its statutory duty to bar*57gain by unilaterally reducing rates of pay and hours of w ork for certain school administrators and that the merc erred in failing to exercise its statutory jurisdiction and deferring to arbitration the osas’s charge relating to respondent’s unilateral reduction of rates of pay. Respondent cross appeals from the same order, arguing that the MERC erred in finding that the hours at issue were not overtime.
We conclude that the MERC did not err in finding no unfair labor practice with regard to respondent’s limiting the work hours of the adult education department heads and allegedly changing their compensation. However, we vacate the merc’s finding that the adult education department heads’ evening work was not overtime, because the osas’s counsel conceded the contrary during oral argument before this Court.2 We affirm the merc’s conclusion that respondent had no duty to bargain regarding the reduction of hours of the vocational-technical administrators’ evening work. Regarding the merc’s disposition of the osas’s charge based on a unilateral change in the method of compensating the vocational-technical administrators’ evening work, from a per diem to hourly rate, we remand with instructions that the MERC address this issue anew and provide a clear explanation for its decision that there was no unfair labor practice. Regarding respondent’s cross appeal, we conclude *58that the merc’s finding that the vocational-technical administrators’ evening hours were not overtime was supported by competent, material, and substantial evidence on the whole record.
i
Respondent operates an adult education program consisting of a vocational-technical training component, which teaches job skills, and an adult basic education component, which teaches basic skills such as reading and math, leading to a high school equivalency diploma. The adult basic education courses are taught principally at night, at numerous sites throughout the city of Detroit. The vocational-technical courses are taught at respondent’s three vocational centers.
The OSAS is the bargaining agent for supervisors and administrators employed by respondent, including those responsible for supervision of the teachers in the vocational-technical and adult basic education programs. At pertinent times, there were three principals responsible for the vocational-technical program; seven department heads responsible for the adult basic education program; and two central office administrators responsible for the overall operation of both programs.
The collective bargaining agreement in effect at the time of this dispute covered the period between July 1, 1992, and June 30, 1994. In December 1993, the state Legislature reorganized school funding, cutting adult education funding in Detroit by about fifty-three percent and making student eligibility more stringent.
On January 7, 1994, Dr. Arthur Carter, respondent’s deputy superintendent of government relations and *59community services, who was responsible for the adult education program, sent a memo to the directors of adult education stating that the budget had been reduced, projections indicated a deficit may exist in the current year in adult education, and there would be further reductions the next year. The memo stated that effective January 20, 1994, there would be a fifty percent reduction in hours for all administrative staff working for adult education in an additional assignment capacity and that all such staff would be paid at the hourly department-head rate. After the OSAS requested bargaining, the parties met on February 15, 1994. After the meeting, Dr. Carter rescinded his January memo. He issued a new memo on February 17, 1994, stating that it superseded “all previous communications regarding administrative schedules and working hours.” The February memo stated that effective February 28, 1994:
1. All vocational/technical administrators will be paid for no more than 24 hours biweekly at the department head rate. Schedules should be adjusted to allow for sufficient administrative coverage. . . .
* * *
3. No administrator or teacher in adult education will be paid for overtime unless approved, in writing, by me. I strongly discourage all overtime.
The parties met again on March 2, 1994, and discussed the issue of “overtime” for the vocational-technical administrators. No resolution was reached, and the parties agreed to meet again.
The OSAS filed an unfair labor practice charge against respondent on March 4, 1994, alleging violations of the public employment relations act (pera), *60MCL 423.201 et seq.; MSA 17.455(1) et seq. The charge stated that the vocational-technical administrators worked on a full-time basis as building officials, while working part-time as administrators of the evening vocational-technical program, and that “[sjchedules have typically required these administrators to supervise programs on a daily basis, usually approaching 24 hours per week.” The charge further stated that the osas and the board had been bargaining to replace an agreement scheduled to expire June 30, 1994, and that issues discussed had included hours to be worked and rates of pay for vocational-technical administrators. The charge stated that the parties were involved in preliminary bargaining and that neither party had suggested that an impasse existed. Finally, the charge stated, in part:
7. Notwithstanding the pendency of bargaining, and the absence of any impasse, on February 17, 1994 the Board unilaterally capped the number of hours a vocational/technical administrator might work. The change was made without prior consultation with or agreement of the Union.
8. The unilateral change violates the Act for the reason that:
A. The change was unilateral. The Union neither approved nor consented to the modification.
B. The change was commenced absent impasse or any warning that the change might be imposed.
C. The change was imposed without initiating or exhausting dispute resolution procedures available under the Act.
D. The change was initiated although the Union had demanded bargaining on the issue, the parties had not reached a conclusion to that process.
The OSAS’s unfair labor charge did not mention the adult education department heads.
*61The parties met again on April 27, 1994. Subsequently, the parties met for the purpose of negotiating the successor collective bargaining agreement on May 10, 19, 24, and June 22, 1994. The OSAS did not raise the issue of overtime or supplemental pay at any of the May and June meetings. The parties reached a settlement on the successor agreement on June 22, 1994, and a new contract was ratified, which did not contain any modifications regarding the issues presented here.
Respondent filed its answer on October 7, 1994.3 Respondent denied that bargaining was in a preliminary state, stating that “a new agreement has been reached covering all issues between the parties; that any claim here has been waived by the Charging Party, having had the opportunity to bargain concerning same.”4 Respondent denied that it had unilaterally capped the vocational-technical administrators’ evening hours, stating that it had bargained “even prior to bargaining over negotiations of the new contract [and] that all issues between the parties have been settled.” Respondent denied that the change in hours violated § 10 of the pera, MCL 423.210; MSA 17.455(10), stating that it was “exercising its right to determine when, how, and where delivery of services should be made and to determine and control overtime.”
*62A three-day hearing was held, after which the hearing referee recommended that the charges be dismissed in their entirety:
The question presented here is whether an Employer may change or eliminate supplemental employment without first bargaining to impasse or agreement with a Union representing these employees in their regular assigned employment.
It is concluded that the Detroit Board of Education had the right to assign, reassign or eliminate additional overtime, supplemental (or by whatever terminology) assignments in the Adult Education Program without bargaining with the Charging Party to impasse or agreement. These assignments are not the bargaining unit work that is contemplated in the collective bargaining agreement. There was no impact on bargaining unit work.
íH $ ^
The Employer met and bargained the impact of its decision. The Charging Party had ample opportunity to discuss these events during the period of negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement, but chose not to do so because, as the Union states, it would have been futile. Whether or not the Employer met individually with the employees affected by the additional work cuts is immaterial, as the subject matter is not a mandatory subject of bargaining.
The MERC affirmed the hearing referee’s conclusion that respondent did not violate its duty to bargain, but for different reasons:
First, we disagree with the Administrative Law Judge that these assignments fell into the category of “overtime.” Both the adult basic education administrators and the vocational education administrators had two separate jobs. First, they administered Respondent’s daytime adult education or vocational education programs, for which they were paid a salary. Secondly, they administered Respondent’s evening *63adult education programs. The adult basic education administrators were paid an hourly rate for their second job. The vocational education administrators were paid on a per diem basis.
We also disagree with the Administrative Law Judge that the administrators’ evening jobs did not constitute bargaining unit work. This work clearly fell within the scope of the work performed by the bargaining unit and covered by the contract. Moreover, it was treated as such by the parties, as exemplified by the fact that Respondent gave Charging Party notice of its proposed actions. The fact that the evening programs were administered by the same administrators who supervised the daytime programs is not relevant to the question of whether the work constituted bargaining unit work. . . .
However, we agree with the Administrative Law Judge’s ultimate conclusion that Respondent had no duty to bargain. We find that Section 9.0 of the parties’ 1992-1994 contract waived Charging Party’s right to demand bargaining over changes in the hours of jobs within the unit. In this case, the hours of the vocational education administrators’ evening jobs were reduced. The evening jobs of the adult basic education administrators were merged into their daytime jobs, so that time worked in the evening reduced the number of hours worked during the day. In both cases, these actions were explicitly authorized by the language of Section 9.0 which states, “It is understood that this provision does not preclude the setting of hours by the Board or the General Superintendent when necessary . . . . ”
In addition to reducing the hours of both groups, the. Respondent also changed the method of compensating vocational education administrators for their evening work. Prior to March 2, 1994, the vocational education administrators were paid on a per diem basis, whereas after this date they were paid on an hourly basis. However, according to Charging Party, the per diem rate paid to vocational education administrators for their evening work is set out in the parties’ contract. Therefore, the dispute constitutes a bona fide dispute over whether this provision of the contract was breached by the change in the method of compensation. *64Under these circumstances, the dispute should be resolved through the parties’ grievance arbitration mechanism. . . .
The OSAS filed a motion for reconsideration, which the MERC denied by stating in pertinent part:
[W]e disagree with Charging Party that in concluding that the dispute over the change in the method of paying vocational education administrators constituted a bona fide dispute over contract interpretation we “deferred the matter to arbitration” contrary to Detroit Fire Fighters v Detroit, 408 Mich 663 [293 NW2d 278] (1980). Rather, we simply found that no unfair labor practice was committed under these circumstances.
This appeal ensued.
n
The osas first argues that the merc erred in concluding that respondent did not violate its statutory duty to bargain by unilaterally reducing hours of work and rates of pay for certain school administrators.
Appellate review of a MERC decision is limited. Detroit Police Officers Ass’n v Detroit, 212 Mich App 383, 388; 538 NW2d 37 (1995), aff’d 452 Mich 339 (1996). Legal rulings of an administrative agency are set aside if they are affected by a substantial and material error of law; factual findings of the MERC are conclusive if supported by competent, material, and substantial evidence on the whole record. MCL 423.216(e); MSA 17.455(16)(e); Const 1963, art 6, § 28; Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1564, AFL-CIO v Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority, 437 Mich 441, 450; 473 NW2d 249 (1991).
The party asserting a claim under the pera has the burden of establishing an unfair labor practice. MCL *65423.210; MSA 17.455(10). Public employers have a duty to bargain over wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. MCL 423.215(1); MSA 17.455(15)(1). Under the pera, an employer commits an unfair labor practice if, before bargaining, it unilaterally alters or modifies a term or condition of employment, unless the employer has fulfilled its statutory obligation or has been freed from it. Port Huron Ed Ass’n v Port Huron Area School Dist, 452 Mich 309, 317; 550 NW2d 228 (1996).
The procedure for determining whether an employer must bargain before altering a mandatory subject of bargaining involves a two-step analysis: Is the issue the union seeks to negotiate covered by or contained in the collective bargaining agreement? If not, did the union somehow relinquish its right to bargain? Id. at 322, n 16, citing Dep’t of Navy v Federal Labor Relations Authority, 295 US App DC 239, 252; 962 F2d 48 (1992). “ ‘A waiver occurs when a union knowingly and voluntarily relinquishes its right to bargain about a matter; but where the matter is covered by the collective bargaining agreement, the union has exercised its bargaining right and the question of waiver is irrelevant.’ ” Port Huron Ed Ass’n, supra at 319, quoting Dep’t of Navy, supra at 248.
“Indeed, the difference between the two concepts goes to the structural heart of labor law. When parties bargain about a subject and memorialize the results of their negotiation in a collective bargaining agreement, they create a set of enforceable rules — a new code of conduct for themselves — on that subject. Because of the fundamental policy of freedom of contract, the parties are generally free to agree to whatever specific rules they like, and in most circumstances it is beyond the competence of the Authority, the National Labor Relations Board or the courts to inter*66fere with the parties’ choice. ... On the other hand, when a union waives its right to bargain about a particular matter, it surrenders the opportunity to create a set of contractual rules that bind the employer, and instead cedes full discretion to the employer on that matter. For that reason, the courts require ‘clear and unmistakable’ evidence of waiver and have tended to construe waivers narrowly.” [Port Huron Ed Ass’n, supra at 319, quoting Dep’t of Navy, supra at 248.]
A
Section 9.0 of the collective bargaining agreement states:
9.0 HOURS OF WORK
In order to attain ultimate efficiency in the operation of the Detroit Public Schools and to provide the best possible educational program to the pupils served thereby, it is essential for administrative and supervisory personnel to work a schedule which reasonably permits the flexibility necessary for the achievement of such goals. Such a schedule may, at times, involve work in and out of the school building and, at times, frequently outside the regular school day. The professional discretion of good administrators and supervisors in scheduling their hours of work shall be respected insofar as such discretion is reasonable and is consistent with the school program and its aforestated aims. Professional discretion may be denied for good and sufficient reason. It is understood that this provision does not preclude the setting of hours by the Board or the General Superintendent when necessary, and is not intended to supersede the requirements of any leave policy. In instances where the General Superintendent or Administrative Heads have established regular work hours, prior approval for any deviation by administrators and supervisors is required.
We again observe that the hours issue we consider concerns only the vocational-technical administrators, because the OSAS’s counsel conceded during oral argu*67ment that the adult-education department heads’ evening work was overtime and that respondent could properly limit these hours.
B
We conclude that the MERC did not err as a matter of law in interpreting § 9.0. Section 9.0 states a general principle of professional discretion regarding hours, but recognizes that the board or general superintendent may set work hours when necessary, and that there might be instances where the general superintendent or administrative heads set hours. There was no testimony that, before this dispute, the vocational-technical administrators’ evening hours were ever the subject of bargaining. Thus, the MERC did not err in concluding that the subject was covered by § 9.0 and that § 9.0 granted the board or general superintendent the authority to set hours when necessary and therefore no additional bargaining was required.
That § 9.0 covered the issue and stated a general principle of professional discretion subject to respondent’s overriding right to set hours is also supported by (1) the language of § 9.0, including its title, “Hours of Work”; (2) the statement of the OSAS’s counsel during oral argument, in response to a question regarding how hours had been set before this dispute, that the hours were “set by management” and the union did not object to the number of hours originally assigned; (3) the testimony of Dr. Kimberly Peoples, director of the adult education program at the Golightly Career and Technical Center from 1985 to 1994, that from 1985 to 1992 she worked two evenings a week, i.e., about twelve hours weekly, on the recommendation *68of the administration, and in 1992 increased her hours to four evenings a week, when the adult education program was going through a restructuring; and (4) the testimony of Dr. Arthur Carter that he was unaware of, and never approved, Dr. Peoples’ increasing her evening work from two to four evenings a week in 1992. Under these circumstances, although our analysis differs slightly with regard to the concept of waiver, we conclude that the MERC did not err in concluding that under § 9.0 respondent had no duty to bargain on the issue of capping the vocational-technical administrators’ evening work at twenty-four hours biweekly.
We therefore affirm the merc’s determination that respondent did not violate its statutory duty to bargain on the issue of capping the vocational-technical administrators’ work hours.
m
The osas’s remaining argument with respect to the adult education department heads is that respondent unilaterally implemented a compensatory time-off scheme in lieu of paying overtime. The testimony at the hearing does not support the claim that the rate of compensation for overtime, if authorized, was unilaterally modified; nor did the OSAS present any documentary evidence to support the claim that respondent had implemented a change in rate of pay. Thus, we conclude that the MERC did not err in finding no unfair labor practice with regard to the adult education department heads’ pay.
*69IV
The osas next argues that the merc erred in refusing to exercise its statutory jurisdiction and instead deferring to arbitration the issue regarding respondent’s change in the method of compensation of the vocational-technical administrators from per diem to hourly.
Although the osas asserts that the merc erred in deferring the unfair labor practice charge to arbitration, it appears that the merc simply found that there w as no unfair labor practice. Nevertheless, neither the merc’s original opinion nor its opinion regarding the osas’s motion for reconsideration clearly explains why it concluded that there was no unfair labor practice. We therefore remand to the merc with instructions to address this issue anew and to provide a clear explanation of the reasons for its decision.
v
On cross appeal,5 respondent argues that the merc erred in refusing to find that the hours at issue were overtime or supplemental hours and that respondent *70could thus modify them without bargaining, even though the MERC ultimately found for other reasons that respondent had no obligation to bargain over its actions. As we have already observed, the osas’s counsel conceded during oral argument that the adult education department heads’ evening work was an extension of their normal work and thus overtime. Therefore, the merc’s contrary finding is vacated.
Regarding the vocational-technical administrators, we conclude that the merc’s factual finding that their evening assignments were within the scope of work performed by the bargaining unit and were covered by the contract is supported by competent, material, and substantial evidence on the whole record.
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded in part. We do not retain jurisdiction.
Markey, P.J., concurred.

 The order is dated February 2, 1996.

 During oral argument before this Court, the osas’s counsel stated that, in contrast to the vocational-technical administrators, the adult education department heads’ evening hours were an extension of the work they performed during the day. The osas’s counsel further stated that the union did not contest respondent’s right to determine that the adult education department heads could not work in the evening without permission. We thus disagree with the dissenting opinion on this issue, although we agree that the osas asserts that there was a unilateral change in the compensation for overtime. This claim is addressed in part in.

 We note that respondent’s answer responded to paragraphs ten through thirteen of the osas’s charge. However the copy of the osas’s charge in the record is only nine paragraphs long, and the docket printout does not indicate it ever amended its charge. Respondent’s answer also refers to a “first” and “second” violation, while the osas’s charge refers to only one.

 This particular waiver argument was not addressed by the merc, but w;is by the hearing referee. See infra, pp 62-63.

 The osas argues that respondent has no standing to raise this issue because it is not an aggrieved party. Pursuant to MCL 423.216(e); MSA 17.455(16)(e), any party aggrieved by a final order may seek review of a merc order in this Court with respect to an unfair labor practice charge. The merc ruled that the work assignments at issue were bargaining unit work and not overtime. Such a ruling directly affects respondent’s bargaining rights because overtime is not part of regular wages and may be unilaterally reduced by an employer. Roseville v Police Officers Ass’n of Michigan, 1987 MERC Lab Op 182; St Clair Co Rd Comm v Local 516M, Service Employees Int’l Union, AFL-CIO, 1992 MERC Lab Op 316. Respondent is therefore an aggrieved party because the merc’s order affects respondent’s rights and bears directly on its interests. Grace Petroleum Corp v Public Service Comm, 178 Mich App 309, 312-313; 443 NW2d 790 (1989); Midland Cogeneration Venture Ltd Partnership v Public Service Comm, 199 Mich App 286, 304; 501 NW2d 573 (1993).