D.U.P. NO. 80-11

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

BEFORE THE DIRECTOR OF REPRESENTATION

In the Matter of

CITY OF NORTHFIELD,

Respondent,

-and-	Docket No. CO-79-199

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

FIRE FIGHTERS, NORTHFIELD

LOCAL 2364,

Charging Party.

Appearances:

For the Respondent

McGahn & Friss, Esqs.

(Patrick T. McGahn, Jr., of Counsel)

For the Charging Party

James L. Marsh, President

REFUSAL TO ISSUE COMPLAINT

An Unfair Practice Charge was filed with the Public Employment Relations Commission (the "Commission") on February 5, 1979, and amended by letters dated June 6 and August 14, 1979, by the International Association of Fire Fighters, Northfield Local 2364 ("Local 2364") alleging that the Respondent City of Northfield (the "City") was engaging in unfair practices within the meaning of the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act, N.J.S.A. 34:13A-1 et seq. (the "Act"), specifically N.J.S.A. 34:13A-5.4(a)(5).1/

Local 2364 states that the City changed its table of organization by appointing an Administrative Captain and, as a result thereof, the authority and responsibility of the Fire Line Captain has been changed. It is claimed that the City has not negotiated this organizational change. It is further claimed that the administrative position was not advertised or posted.

N.J.S.A. 34:13A-5.4(c) sets forth in pertinent part that the Commission shall have the power to prevent anyone from engaging in any unfair practice, and that it has the authority to issue a complaint stating the unfair practice charge.2/ The Commission has delegated its authority to issue complaints to the undersigned and has established a standard upon which an unfair practice complaint may be issued. This standard provides that a complaint shall issue if it appears that the allegations of the charging party, if true, may constitute an unfair practice within the meaning of the Act.3/ The Commission's rules provide that the undersigned may decline to issue a complaint.4/

For the reasons stated below, the undersigned has determined that the Commission's complaint issuance standards have not been met.

The Commission has consistently held, in a line of cases commencing with In re Borough of Roselle, P.E.R.C. No. 76-29, 2 NJPER 142 (1976), that a change in the employer's table of organization is a managerial prerogative and that the employer is not required to negotiate its decision changing the table of organization.

Additionally, the Commission has held that the criteria for appointing an employee to a particular position is also a managerial decision and not mandatorily negotiable. The Commission has determined that procedures for promotional opportunities are terms and conditions of employment (see, most recently, In re Fairview Board of Education, P.E.R.C. No. 80-14, 5 NJPER 347 (¶10182 1979)) which would require that an employer adhere to any negotiated procedures or existing rules governing the procedures for promotions, such as posting of positions. Although the Charging Party herein has claimed that the new position was not posted, Charging Party has not alleged that the employer changed any existing rule or past practice concerning posting, nor has the Charging Party specified any provision in the parties' contractual agreement governing promotional procedures which may have been violated.

Accordingly, the facts alleged in the Charge, if true, may not constitute unfair practices within the meaning of the Act and the Charge is hereby dismissed.

BY ORDER OF THE DIRECTOR

OF UNFAIR PRACTICES

/s/Carl Kurtzman, Director

DATED:	November 19, 1979

Trenton, New Jersey