U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Social Security Administration v. Federal Labor Relations Authority

OPINION

WILLIAMS, Circuit Judge:

The American Federation of Government Employees, Council 220 (Union), brought a grievance against the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration (SSA), alleging unfair labor practices. The Union contended that the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (Title VII of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978), 5 U.S.C.A. §§ 7101-35 (West 1980 & Supp. 1992), obligated the SSA to negotiate over a proposed incentive program. An arbitrator determined that the incentive program was not negotiable because of the SSA’s…