FLRA Has a Quorum but Still No General Counsel
FLRA Chairman and member confirmed by the Senate providing a quorum that permits decisions to be issued. The nomination for General Counsel at the FLRA is still pending.
Chilling the Rancor: Suggestions for Federal Union Officials Likely to Produce Positive Results in Labor Relations
The author offers some suggestions to Federal union officials in developing productive relationships with Agency officials. Having served as a representative of both employees and management in his career, the author discusses barriers he has seen created by attitudes that appear widespread in the Federal union community.
Senate Holds Hearings on FLRA Nominees: Acting Committee Chair Thumps Bush Administration
Thomas Beck and Carol Pope’s hearings for appointment to the FLRA were held on September 11. Amid some Bush bashing, hints on the Democrats future plans for Federal labor relations were provided by the only Senator present for the hearing.
OPM Encourages Use of Referral Bonuses: Get a Friend to Apply for a Job with Uncle Sam and Make a Few Bucks
OPM is encouraging agencies to utilize their flexibilities to pay bonuses to current employees who get people to apply for government jobs. The author asks a few questions about the impact of this on labor relations and agency budgets.
Obama and NATCA: Friendly Skies or Fire from the Heavens
Senator Obama may want to think twice about accepting an Air Traffic Controllers’ union endorsement. When a controllers’ union endorses a presidential candidate, watch out! In 1980, they endorsed Ronald Reagan and look what happened. Is another job action possible?
Employee Free Choice Act: Candidate Obama’s Achilles Heel?
A drastic decline in union members in the private sector and a dramatically pro-union, anti-business House bill endorsed by Senator Obama may mean that labor relations takes a front seat along with the Iraq War and the economy in the upcoming election. On this issue, the candidates are diametrically opposed. Will backing a strong pro-union law affect a candidate whose slogan is “organize for change” positively or negatively when so many consider unions a vestige of antiquated thinking? You decide.
Organizing Bargaining: Practical and Useful Tools to Help Make the Process More Manageable
Bargaining a contract is a lot to get your arms around. The Author offers these tools to make preparation, tracking and figuring out the status of a negotiation simpler. Warning! This article is written for folks who have bargained without structure and wished they had some tools to work with. If you’re a seat of the pants bargainer, shame on you, and this is not for you.
Reviewing a Labor Agreement: Ten Tips on What to Throw Out, Fix or Include (Part Two)
As Agencies prepare to bargain a new labor agreement, careful attention should be paid to the expired or expiring contract.
Reviewing a Labor Agreement: Ten Tips on What to Throw Out, Fix or Include if It’s Missing
As a management advisor, the author reviews expiring labor agreements to help an agency prepare for a renegotiation. This article is the first of two providing tips on what to look for in an expired or expiring agreement. You should also find it useful if you are bargaining an initial contract.
FLRA Nominations: Who is Responsible for the Lack of a Quorum?
Several readers have commented on the lack of a quorum at the Federal Labor Relations Authority with questions regarding whether nominations have been made for the vacant positions. Here is a listing of actions (or lack thereof) for the FLRA during the 110th Congress.
