The Federal Labor Relations Authority: Its First Year in Operation

The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), an independent, bipartisan, and neutral third party for resolving labor-management relations disputes in the Federal Government, became a statutory agency on January 11, 1979, under the Civil Service Reform Act. The Act guarantees Federal employees the right to bargain collectively through their chosen representatives and established procedures for adjudicating complaints and enforcing rights established by its provisions. Throughout its first year, startup and operational problems impaired the ability of FLRA and its general counsel to perform effectively all duties assigned to them under the Act.