FLRA NEWS

April 20, 1998 · PR 104-98
Contact: Kim Weaver
202-482-6500

The Federal Labor Relations Authority is reviewing its regulations governing negotiability appeals to determine how the process can be improved. The Authority has identified a number of issues that will be scrutinzed during the review. To gather additional information and receive customers' views, the Authority is inviting interested persons to participate in a meeting on May 12 in Washington, D.C., or provide written comments on these issues.

Negotiability appeals arise in two situations: (1) when a labor organization files a petition with the Authority regarding a proposal that the agency has declared non-negotiable during discussions over a collective bargaining agreement, or (2) when an agency head disapproves a proposal after it has been included in a collective bargaining agreement, during the period for agency head review.

The Authority has developed a list of questions to serve as the starting point for discussion, which include: the role of alternative dispute resolution, the consequences when either party fails to comply with procedural requirements, the relationship between issues arising under the negotiability appeal process and the unfair labor practice process, and compliance with Authority orders in negotiability decisions.

Anyone interested in participating in the meeting or responding in writing is asked to address the questions that are set out in a "Request for Comment" appearing in today's Federal Register. (Adobe Acrobat