Federal agencies and federal employee unions have their own agendas with the result being disputes going on for years that seem to defy logic. The appeals court calls this case the “sort of dispute that could only arise between public employees and a governmental agency.”
On remand from a court decision, FLRA was instructed to revisit a record. In a decision blaming the Agency for not rebutting the Union’s lousy evidence, FLRA relies on unsupported emails to decide the case. The author suggests that this case offers the parties an opportunity to dramatically affect future negotiability proceedings.
The exact origins of the current “Covered By” Doctrine are somewhat shrouded in the fog of early 1990s case law. Now that this doctrine has been fleshed out by subsequent FLRA and Court decisions, the author asks if it’s time for agency management to look at and, perhaps, take advantage of the opportunities the case law offers.
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.
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.
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.
A recent news article on the FLRA site refers to the absence of an FLRA General Counsel. The site does not indicate where she may be though.
The vast majority of unfair labor practice allegations are filed by unions against agencies. Determining the winner or loser in these cases often depends on getting information and who has the power to get the information. Proposed changes to the regulations have generated a response from the largest federal employee union. Here is a summary and observations from an experienced labor relations professional who worked for several agencies.
A dispute between the National Labor Relations Board Union and the agency is heating up as the union begins picketing and calling for the resignation of the agency’s General Counsel. The NLRB responds with its own press release.
The FLRA is specifically excluded from coverage of the federal labor relations law. What is the legal authority for this agency to recognize a union?
