AGREEMENT . . . PREAMBLE

Department of the Navy, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, Indian Head, Maryland and Local 1923, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Case No. 00 FSIP 68, July 27, 2000 (Release No. 433).

During negotiations over the impact and implementation of the Agency's decision to conduct a reduction in force, the UNION proposed to bargain over "'the numbers, types and grades of employees or positions assigned to any organizational subdivision, work project, or tour of duty and the technology, methods and means of performing work.'"

The AGENCY elected not to bargain over these subjects.

ARBITRATOR Mary E. Jacksteit declined to consider the UNION's proposal.

AGREEMENT . . . DEFINITIONS

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland and Local 2419, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Case No. 00 FSIP 123, December 22, 2000 (Release No. 437).

Essentially, the UNION proposed 18 pages of labor relations terms and definitions for inclusion in the collective bargaining agreement, to help avoid future disagreements.

The AGENCY asked the Panel to order the Union to withdraw its proposal because the terms were "...arbitrarily chosen..." and "...do not provide a clearer understanding of the CBA."

The PANEL ordered the Union to withdraw its proposal.