Decision 1025S – State of California (Department of Personnel Administration) (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Guild for Professional Pharmacists)

Bargaining history and the relationship between the group seeking severance and the majority are relevant and key factors to be considered when considering the question of whether one unit is more or less appropriate than another; p. 28, proposed dec. In determining this severance petition, the overriding consideration has been the practice, in terms of organizational structure and otherwise, of AFSCME to accommodate the interests of the pharmacy- related classifications; p. 33, proposed dec.

Although there was no reason to conclude that granting the severance petition would result in a flood of severance actions and the proliferation of an untenable number of units, it is recognized that the additional burden on the State is a factor to be considered; p. 33, proposed dec.

For severance to be appropriate, the proposed unit must be, after consideration of all factors, more appropriate than the existing unit; p. 27, proposed dec. Guild has not rebutted the presumption that the existing unit is more appropriate than the proposed unit; p. 33, proposed dec.