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Federal Labor Relations: A Program in Need of Reform

GGD-91-101 Published: Jul 30, 1991. Publicly Released: Jul 30, 1991.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program to determine if changes were needed to make it operate more effectively and efficiently.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
A panel of national recognized experts in labor-management relations matters and program participants should be established to develop a proposal for comprehensive program reform. As a first step, the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service should hold hearings on the state of the program.
Closed – Implemented
The committee held hearings on November 19, 1991. The committee has not taken any further action. Making extensive use of the GAO federal labor relations report, the National Performance Review recommended that a National Partnership Council be formed. The Council was created in October 1993 by Executive Order 12871. Its members include representatives of the three largest federal employee unions, the Public Employee Department of the AFL-CIO, and seven federal agencies. Among its responsibilities are supporting the creation of labor-management partnerships and proposing legislative changes related to federal labor relations. In its January 1994 report to the President, the Council proposed recommendations for statutory reform of the federal labor relations program. Many local labor-management partnerships are in place, with more anticipated. GAO's goal of labor-management reform has not occurred, but many actions toward this goal have been taken and GAO is closing this recommendation.
A panel of national recognized experts in labor-management relations matters and program participants should be established to develop a proposal for comprehensive program reform. As a first step, the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service should hold hearings on the state of the program.
Closed – Implemented
The Committee never initiated action. Making extensive use of the GAO federal labor relations report, the National Performance Review recommended that a National Partnership Council be formed. The Council was created in October 1993 by Executive Order 12871. Its members include representatives of the three largest federal employee unions, the Public Employee Department of the AFL-CIO, and seven federal agencies. Among its responsibilities are supporting the creation of labor-management partnerships and proposing legislative changes related to federal labor relations. In its January 1994 report to the President, the Council proposed recommendations for statutory reform of the federal labor relations program. Many local labor-management partnerships are in place and more are anticipated. While GAO's goal of labor-management reform has not occurred, many actions toward this goal have been taken and GAO is closing the recommendation.

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Topics

Collective bargainingDispute settlementsFederal employeesGovernment employee unionsLabor relationsLitigationUnfair labor practicesCollective bargaining rightsAlternative dispute resolutionCivil service