B-156287, MAR 22, 1976

B-156287, MAR 22, 1976

PRECIS-UNAVAILABLE

SUSPENSION OF DECISION OF FEBRUARY 23, 1976, RELATING TO EXTENDED OFFICIAL TIME AND LEAVE WITHOUT PAY FOR UNION REPRESENTATIVE:

WE REFER TO OUR DECISION ENTITLED, MATTER OF DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY AND OVERSEAS FEDERATION OF TEACHERS - EXTENDED OFFICIAL TIME AND LEAVE WITHOUT PAY FOR UNION REPRESENTATIVE, B-156287, FEBRUARY 23, 1976, WHEREIN WE LIMITED THE AMOUNT OF OFFICIAL TIME THAT AN EMPLOYEE UNION REPRESENTATIVE MAY DEVOTE TO REPRESENTATIONAL DUTIES AWAY FROM THE DUTIES OF HIS OFFICIAL POSITION. OUR DECISION PROVIDED A 90-DAY TRANSITION PERIOD FOR AGENCIES AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS TO RENEGOTIATE OFFICIAL TIME PROVISIONS IN EXISTING AGREEMENTS SO AS TO COMPLY WITH THE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN OUR DECISION.

OFFICIALS OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, THE FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS COUNCIL AND THE MAJOR NATIONAL UNIONS THAT REPRESENT EMPLOYEES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE CONFERRED WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS OFFICE. THEY HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR DECISION WILL DISRUPT FEDERAL SECTOR LABOR RELATIONS AND REDUCE THE EFFICIENCY OF AGENCY OPERATIONS.

AS A RESULT OF THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THESE LABOR AND MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS, WE HAVE DECIDED TO SUSPEND THE EFFECT OF THE ABOVE-CITED DECISION UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 1976, IN ORDER THAT WE MAY FURTHER EVALUATE THE ISSUE COVERED BY OUR DECISION. IN THE INTERIM, AGENCIES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO AMEND OFFICIAL TIME CLAUSES IN EXISTING AGREEMENTS. HOWEVER, WHERE AGENCIES MUST NEGOTIATE NEW OFFICIAL TIME CLAUSES OR RENEGOTIATE EXISTING CLAUSES DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD, THE LANGUAGE OF SUCH CLAUSES SHOULD PROVIDE FOR CONFORMANCE ON A PROSPECTIVE BASIS WITH THE FINAL DECISION OF THIS OFFICE REGARDING LIMITATIONS ON THE USE OF OFFICIAL TIME.