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U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority

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ULP Resources

The following Office of the General Counsel resources will provide you with easy to understand information about the Statute that we enforce and the rights that we protect.  You can also learn about the procedures that we follow in unfair labor practice (ULP) cases.

You can find the answers to frequently asked questions here or check out our ULP Factsheet – Filing through Appeals for an overview of the ULP process.  

ULP Reference Guides and Manuals

ULP Case Law Outline – A comprehensive, up-to-date overview of ULP issues, designed to help employees, labor organizations, and agency managers understand their respective rights and responsibilities in collective bargaining.  This is a great place to start if you are trying to figure out whether certain conduct constitutes a ULP.

Guidance on Meetings – Guidance on the types of meetings that can lead to ULPs, including formal discussions, investigatory (Weingarten) interviews, and bypasses. 

Guidance on Information Requests – Guidance on union and agency rights, responsibilities, and obligations regarding information requests.  It covers common issues, such as particularized need and the Privacy Act.

  • Model Union Request for Information – A model form that unions can use when drafting information requests.  It's a good reminder of all of the elements that you should include in your data requests to obtain information from the agency.
  • Model Agency Response to Request for Information – A model form that agencies can use when responding to a union's information request.  It's a good reminder of all of the elements that your response should include to satisfy your obligations under the Statute.

Guidance on Electronic Notice Dissemination – A historical memo describing the General Counsel's position on electronic notice postings (i.e., e-mails) as a remedy for a ULP.  The Authority has since adopted electronic notice postings as a traditional remedy.  DOJ, BOP, Fed. Transfer Ctr., Okla. City, Okla., 64 FLRA 221 (2014).

ULP Case Handling Manual – The manual that our agents follow when processing ULP cases.  It describes the procedures for handling and investigating ULP charges.

Litigation Manual – The manual that our agents follow when prosecuting ULP complaints. 

Training

We provide training in person and online to help parties understand their statutory rights and responsibilities so that they can improve labor relations, prevent and settle workplace disputes, and continue to provide quality services to the American public.   

Check out the training page to find interactive online training, request onsite training, and find the schedule of upcoming trainings in various cities.   

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

We provide alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services to develop collaborative labor-management relationships, avoid unfair labor practice disputes, and informally resolve unfair labor practice disputes. 

Tell the agent investigating your ULP charge if you are interested in ADR.  Or check out the ADR page to learn more about the FLRA’s various ADR programs.

Forms

Charge Against Agency – If you want to file a ULP charge against an agency by fax or mail, use this form or eFile here.

Charge Against Union – If you want to file a ULP charge against a union by fax or mail, use this form or eFile here

Designation of Representative – Both charging and charged parties may submit this form to designate their representative for the charge.

Withdrawal Form – You may submit this form when you want to withdraw a ULP charge.