Federal Manager's Toolbox

National Council's Report to President on Labor Relations: Nuthin' Much Happened, Let's Do It Some More and Maybe Sumpthin' Will
After nearly 2 ½ years of meetings, Agency arm twisting to establish pilots, pressure to identify metrics, and 177 pages of print, the long awaited report on labor relations was sent to the president. If you think GSA spent too much on a conference, the report proves that you can spend a ton and not even get an entertaining speaker or a dip in the hot tub in return.

Posted: May 15, 2012 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

Bargaining Ground Rules Can be Complicated
Whenever a new term agreement or contract is negotiated, the parties generally exchange ground rules. The author offers a set of ground rules for Agencies to consider offering when getting ready to negotiate a new contract.

Posted: May 9, 2012 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

Discipline and Firing in the Federal Service: What Can and Can't be Done!
When Federal employees publicly act out, there's generally a call for immediate action. As with most things Federal, it's more complex than it should be. Over the last 100 years (almost exactly), Congress has passed numerous laws that complicate and make the accountability process difficult and time consuming.

Posted: May 3, 2012 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

Is MSPB Encouraging Firing Squads?
The author says that the MSPB is systematically making the process for taking disciplinary and adverse action more complicated and legalistic. He offers some suggestions for improving the disciplinary process.

Posted: April 16, 2012 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

D.C. Circuit Reverses FLRA Again
In a case involving FLRA's appropriate arrangement theory, abrogation theory and its new regulations on arbitration appeals, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals dealt the agency a sharp rebuke saying that it had issued a contrary ruling to its own prior decision on the same facts in the same Agency involving the same issue.

Posted: April 2, 2012 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

FAA and Air Traffic Controllers Sign 2016 Agreement: A FedSmith Prediction Comes True
According to the CNN and others, FAA and NATCA signed an agreement to continue the current agreement until 2016 with a side agreement on pay.

Posted: March 15, 2012 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

FLRA Finds Air Traffic Controller Union Breached Labor Law But Allows Future Violations
The FLRA writes that changing its constitution to "punish" controllers who leave its bargaining unit and return, was an unfair labor practice retroactively but not "prospectively." The unions' action was to "punish unit members who escaped the unconscionable terms and conditions unilaterally imposed by the FAA . . . by going to work for FAA management."

Posted: February 27, 2012 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

Did FLRA Dodge Court Bullet Based on Agency's Mistake?
Citing a procedural error on the part of the Treasury Department, the D.C. Circuit Court denied the Agency appeal of FLRA's new Abrogation Standard when it addresses Agency Head Review of agreements.

Posted: February 9, 2012 | Full Story | Discuss this Article

About Bob Gilson

Need federal labor and employee relations training or tech assistance? Contact Bob Gilson using this online form or call 757-437-7840 (available through multiple GSA schedules) for more information.

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