FLRA Seeking to Emasculate Agency Head Review
The author discusses the potential harm a recent FLRA decision will do to collective bargaining.
FLRA
Stay current with the latest Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) news, case decisions, and policy shifts. This section tracks the impact of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute on the civil service, including critical rulings on Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs), negotiability appeals, and arbitration exceptions. Whether you are following the confirmation of new FLRA Board members, updates from the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP), or changes to union representation rights under recent Executive Orders, find the expert analysis and reporting that federal employees and labor relations specialists need to navigate the modern federal workplace.
FLRA’s Christmas Present to a Union?
Groucho Marx said “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.” In a recent arbitration appeal, the FLRA reversed itself over an issue involving an agreement made by political direction with the union in the waning days of the Clinton Administration. The current Chairman, a member when the original case was decided did not dissent then but now gives the union not only a second bite of the apple but, arguably, the whole bushel. Is it a holiday gift? You decide.
FLRA Says Airport Screeners Can Have A Union But No Collective Bargaining
In what the author calls perhaps the wackiest decision in the history of Federal labor relations, the FLRA decides to allow the election of a union to represent TSA officers with no collective bargaining permitted.
FLRA’s B(1) Pilot Training Course Materials: Is Permissive Bargaining Now Mandatory?
The author requested and received FLRA’s training materials used to train participants in pilot programs in which parties will bargain agency permissive topics. These pilots dramatically expand union bargaining rights. It’s unclear what authorizes union representatives’ official time for this training or authorizes FLRA to train the representatives of a non-governmental entity for free. You decide.
FLRA Changing Rules on the Legality of Arbitration Awards in Recent Decisions
The author suggests agency advocates pay attention to a recent line of FLRA cases involving appeals of arbitration awards. The Authority has clearly decided to widely expand an arbitrator’s authority while severely limiting an agency’s ability to appeal an award. The FLRA has apparently decided to bypass the Congress and update the 1978 labor relations law against the agencies’ interests.
Common Decency is Not So Common in Federal Labor Relations
In a dismissal of the union’s unfair labor practice allegation, the FLRA Regional Director found no violation of the union’s rights when a local president was investigated by NCIS for making threatening statements.
D.C. Circuit Kicks FLRA to the Curb in the Battle of the Counsels General
In a case Fedsmith has been covering since 2007, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the Federal Labor Relations Authority’s efforts to impose its will on the National Labor Relations Board. In what some might call a slam dunk, the court decided the FLRA once again misinterpreted another Agency’s enabling legislation.
Chairman Pope’s Dissents: A Crystal Ball for Future Decisions?
Over the course of her term as minority member of the FLRA, now Chairman Pope dissented many times in FLRA decisions. The author identifies those that specifically addressed negotiability issues and asks, can we expect a reversal if the issues come up again?
New FLRA Policy Announced: Everything’s Negotiable!
In what must have been a big surprise to the Department of Defense, the Federal Labor Relations Authority finds civilian access to commissaries and exchanges to be a negotiable working condition. The Author suggests a political payback may be involved in the decision. You be the judge.
FLRA Trend: Will Every Union Proposal be an Appropriate Arrangement, if Tested?
A new decision appears to set up FLRA as arbiter of Agency efficiency and effectiveness.
