The Florida National Guard employs full- time civilian technicians to assist in training the guard and to help repair and maintain the guard’s equipment and supplies. As a condition of their employment, these technicians are required to maintain membership in the guard. The technicians are represented by the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE).
During negotiations between NAGE and the Florida National Guard, the technicians sub-mitted through their unions a proposal whereby the technicians could opt to wear either their military uniform or agreed- on civilian attire while performing their technician duties. The parties were unable to reach an agreement on this issue. Consequently, NAGE asked the Federal Services Impasses Panel (FSIP) to resolve the matter. FSIP directed the parties to adopt the proposal as part of their collective bargaining agreement. The guard refused. NAGE then filed an unfair labor practice charge with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). The FLRA concluded that wearing the uniform was not within the guard’s duty to bargain and dismissed the charge.
Question
1. Do you feel that the National Guard should bargain over this issue?
2. If you had been advising the National Guard, would you have recommended that it bargain over this issue? Why or why not?