Court Opinion

ID: 9476979
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 06:10:29.524979+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:45:37.059727
License: Public Domain

D.H. GINSBURG, Circuit Judge,
concurring:
I concur in the court’s opinion except as noted in the final paragraph below. I write separately in order to address the two concerns raised in Judge Starr’s concurring opinion.
First, like Judge Starr, I am troubled by the difference between the proposal the Union originally submitted to the FLRA and the somewhat narrower proposal that the Union has brought before this court. One aspect of the original proposal appeared to give unions the option of requiring the General Counsel to issue unfair labor practice complaints in cases involving negotiability disputes. The proposal before this court differs substantively insofar as it leaves the General Counsel that option.
The FLRA rejected the original proposal not because of the obligation it put upon the General Counsel, however, but for a different reason — one of statutory construction — that necessarily extends to the proposal before this court. It is abundantly clear from the opinion below and from the briefs in this court that the FLRA’s interpretation of the Act would require the rejection of the Union’s revised, narrower proposal.
Therefore, albeit only after some hesitation, I join the court in reaching the merits of this case. My hesitation reflects my concern that union counsel in other cases will misinterpret our decision. Notwithstanding our indulgence of this appeal, counsel should not in any way entertain the notion of bringing new improved proposals on appeal in future cases.
Second, I note my shared concern with the reservation Judge Starr has about the interpretation of Chevron and Cardoza-Fonseca. Because any doubts about the proper understanding of those decisions do not affect the outcome of this case, however, I find it unnecessary to resolve them.