CASE NO. 96-474-UC (96-475-UC Consol.)
ALASKA LABOR RELATIONS AGENCY
3301 EAGLE STREET, SUITE 208
P.O. BOX 107026
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 99510-7026
(907) 269-4895
Fax (907) 269-4898
ALASKA STATE EMPLOYEES ASS’N/ )
AFSCME LOCAL 52, AFL-CIO, )
(Colleen Susan Rose, PCN 11-2053), )
)
Petitioner, )
)
vs. )
)
STATE OF ALASKA, DEPARTMENT )
OF FISH & GAME, )
Respondent, )
and )
)
ALASKA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ASS’N/ )
AFT, AFL-CIO, )
Intervenor. )
_____________________________________)CASE NO. 96-474-UC (96-475-UC Consol.)
DECISION AND ORDER NO. 229
Digest: The bargaining unit placement of an administrative clerk III position, PCN 11-2053, is appropriately in the supervisory bargaining unit represented by the Alaska Public Employees Association/AFT, AFL-CIO.
DECISION
Statement of the Case
On November 30, 1995, the Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 52, AFL-CIO (ASEA) filed this petition to clarify the bargaining unit status of an administrative clerk III in the Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, after the State of Alaska notified that it intended to move the position to the supervisory bargaining unit. On December 7, 1995, Alfred L. Tamagni, Chair of the Alaska Labor Relations Agency, delegated the authority to hear the case to the hearing officer. On December 7, 1995, Alfred L. Tamagni, Sr., chair, and board members James W. Elliott and Raymond P. Smith were assigned to decide the case. On December 18, 1995, ASEA moved for a stay of the proceedings. The State and Alaska Public Employees Association/AFT, AFL-CIO (APEA) both opposed the motion. The hearing officer on January 4, 1996, ordered the hearings postponed. The State on February 15, 1996, filed a motion to dismiss these petitions or in the alternative to obtain a hearing. ASEA opposed the motion on February 27, 1996. On March 7, 1996, the hearing officer denied the motion to dismiss and granted the request for hearings.
The case was consolidated for hearing with 95-426-UC, 96-453-UC, 96-458-UC, 96-469-UC, 96-470-UC, 96-473-UC, and 96-475-UC and heard on May 1, 1996, before Hearing Officer Jean Ward. The record closed on May 1, 1996.
On June 18, 1997, the Agency amended the panel assignment to substitute board member Robert A. Doyle for member James W. Elliott.
Panel: Alfred L. Tamagni, Sr., chair, and board members Robert A. Doyle and Raymond Smith, participating after review of the record.
Appearances: Stan Hafferman, business agent, for petitioner Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 52, AFL-CIO; Art Chance, labor relations specialist, for respondent State of Alaska; and Dennis Geary, business agent, for intervenor Alaska Public Employees Association/AFT, AFL-CIO.
Issue
1. Is the appropriate unit for the administrative clerk III position PCN 11-2053 the supervisory unit or the general government unit?
Summary of the Evidence
A. Exhibits.
The parties presented the following joint exhibits, which were admitted into the record:
J1. Extract, State and ASEA collective bargaining agreement (1990-1992/93) (recognition clause);
J2. Letter of agreement extending the ASEA collective bargaining agreement (July 1, 1995--June 30, 1996);
J3. Extract, State and APEA collective bargaining agreement (Dec. 1, 1995-June 30, 1996) (recognition clause);
J4. Letter of agreement extending the APEA collective bargaining agreement (until June 30, 1995); and
J5. Class specification for administrative clerk III (May 9, 1994).
Respondent State of Alaska offered the following exhibit, which was admitted into the record:
A. In re Alaska State Employees Ass’n, AFSCME Local 52, AFL-CIO and State of Alaska, Opinion and Award (Mar. 26, 1996) (Arb. Dorsey).
B. Testimony.
The parties did not present any testimony.
C. Agency case file. 8 AAC 97.410.
Preliminary Matter
On March 4, 1997, ASEA filed a statement of issues that included a list of 14 legal issues. Some of these issues were not developed in any meaningful way. Those issues that ASEA did not pursue seriously or support with any authorities or policy are considered abandoned. ASEA expanded on several of the legal issues in its brief filed on April 15, 1996. These issues were addressed in State v. Alaska State Employees Ass’n/AFSCME Local 52, AFL-CIO, Decision & Order No. 219 (May 27, 1997), appeal pending No. 3AN-95-9083 CI (Super. Ct., filed June 15, 1997), and Alaska State Employees Ass’n/AFSCME Local 52, AFL-CIO (Fantazzi) v. State, Decision & Order No. 223 (Aug. 7, 1997). We rely on those cases and do not repeat their discussion here.
Findings of Fact
The panel, by a preponderance of the evidence, finds the facts as follows:
1. The Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 52, AFL-CIO (ASEA) is the recognized bargaining representative of the general government unit of State of Alaska employees. Exhs. J1 & J2.
2. The Alaska Public Employees Association/AFT, AFL-CIO (APEA) is the recognized bargaining representative of the supervisory unit of State of Alaska employees. Exh. J3.
3. The position of administrative clerk III PCN 11-2053 is in the Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, and has been in the general government bargaining unit.
4. The administrative clerk III is the lead level clerical class. It may lead lower level clerks, assigning clerical work. Exh. J5.
5. The incumbent of administrative clerk III PCN 11-2053 is Colleen Susan Rose. Position description questionnaire PCN 11-2053 (Oct. 21, 1995).
6. On October 21, 1995, the department’s personnel specialist sought a bargaining unit review of the administrative clerk III PCN 11-2053. E. Williams, memorandum to P. Judson (Oct. 21, 1995).
7. On November 21, 1995, the State notified ASEA that the administrative clerk III PCN 11-2053 was more appropriately in the supervisory unit. P. Judson, memorandum to C. O’Connell (Nov. 21, 1995).
8. The position description questionnaire for PCN 11-2053 shows that Rose takes personnel action for three employees. Position description questionnaire PCN 11-2053, at 6.
9. The three employees Rose directly supervises are administrative clerks II, PCN’s 11-2063, 11-2106, and 11-2224. She also supervises a student intern, PCN 11-B866. Id.
10. She has authority to decide what action is necessary for all three positions in all of the categories listed: appoint, promote, transfer, suspend, discharge, grievances, approve leave, complete performance evaluation, assign and check work, instruct/train, and set priorities and work schedules. Id.; supervisory responsibilities questionnaire for PCN 11-2053, at 1 (Aug. 29, 1995).
11. More specifically, Rose has full authority to appoint, promote, or transfer, without being required to inform her supervisor. Id.
12. Rose has exercised appointing authority by appointing on 11 occasions, promoting on two occasions, and transferring an employee once. Supervisory responsibilities questionnaire for PCN 11-2053, at 1.
13. Rose may decide to suspend an employee but her supervisor may change or overturn the decision. She has authority to discharge without being required to inform her supervisor in advance. Id.
14. Rose has exercised her authority to discharge by discharging a high school intern for poor performance. Id.
15. Rose has authority to act in the area of grievances without being required to inform her supervisor in advance. Id.
16. Rose has had the opportunity to handle two grievances. Id.
17. The position description questionnaire describes the essential functions of this administrative clerk III position as
Hire, train, evaluate and supervise staff who provide clerical & general accounting support to approx. 40 biologists and 8 statewide programs;
Schedule training courses for clerical staff and review educational materials for upgrading clerical skills;
Prioritize work requests and assign to clerical staff;
Review work for quality, accuracy and timeliness & provide instruction when necessary;
Review the accounting clerk’s daily work for correct financial codes and coordinate with the Administrative Assistant when special audit trails/budget preparation data are needed;
Position description questionnaire, at 3.
Conclusions of Law
1. The State of Alaska is a public employer under AS 23.40.250(7), and the Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 52, AFL-CIO, and the Alaska Public Employees Association/AFT, AFL-CIO are organizations under AS 23.40.250(5). This Agency has jurisdiction under AS 23.40.090.
2. The ASEA, as the petitioner, has the burden to prove each element of its case by a preponderance of the evidence. 8 AAC 97.350(f).
3. Under 8 AAC 97.090 a bargaining unit of State employees may not properly combine supervisory personnel with nonsupervisory personnel.
4. We have found a separate supervisory unit to be the appropriate unit for State employees who meet the definition of "supervisory employee" in 8 AAC 97.990(a)(5). State v. Alaska State Employees Ass’n/AFSCME Local 52, AFL-CIO, Decision & Order No. 219, at 15-17.
5. Colleen Susan Rose, incumbent in administrative clerk III PCN 11-2053, has the authority to act in the interest of the State in the areas of employing and grievance adjudication.
6. Rose has the authority to effectively recommend personnel action in the interest of the State in the area of discipline.
7. Under the definition of "supervisory employee" in 8 AAC 97.990(a)(5), PCN 11-2053 is a "supervisory employee."
8. This supervisory responsibility provides a greater community of interest with the supervisory unit than the general government unit.
9. These supervisory duties are significant working conditions that PCN 11-1236 shares with other members of the supervisory unit.
10. Because PCN 11-2053 is a "supervisory employee" it shares a community of interest and working conditions with the supervisory unit despite its previous shared history and contract terms with the general government unit, and under As 23.40.090, we conclude the appropriate bargaining unit is the supervisory unit.
ORDER
1. The petition of the Alaska State Employees Association/AFSCME Local 52, AFL-CIO to declare the administrative clerk III PCN 11- 2053 appropriately in the general government unit is DENIED;
2. The administrative clerk III PCN 11-2053 is appropriately in the supervisory unit; and
3. The State of Alaska is ordered to post a notice of this decision and order at all work sites where members of the bargaining unit affected by the decision and order are employed or, alternatively, serve each employee affected personally. 8 AAC 97.460.
ALASKA LABOR RELATIONS AGENCY
Alfred L. Tamagni Sr., Chair
Robert A. Doyle, Board Member
Raymond P. Smith, Board Member
APPEAL PROCEDURES
This order is the final decision of this Agency. Judicial review may be obtained by filing an appeal under Appellate Rule 602(a)(2). Any appeal must be taken within 30 days from the date of filing or distribution of this decision.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of the order in the matter of ALASKA STATE EMPLOYEES ASS’N/AFSCME LOCAL 52, AFL-CIO, (Colleen Susan Rose, PCN 11-2053) v. STATE OF ALASKA, DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME and ALASKA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ASS’N/AFT, AFL-CIO, Case No. 96-474-UC (96-475-UC Consol.), dated and filed in the office of the Alaska Labor Relations Agency in Anchorage, Alaska, this 8th day of August, 1997.
Cindy Teter
Administrative Clerk III
This is to certify that on the 8th day of August, 1997, a true and correct copy of the foregoing was mailed, postage prepaid to
Stan Hafferman, ASEA
Kent Durand, State
Dennis Geary, APEA
Signature
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