Posts tagged OPM
State of the Unions: A New Normal
January 23, 2023 // Agencies and unions alike are likely to encounter more resistance to expanded telework and other workplace flexibilities from the newly divided Congress. House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., announced last week that he has introduced legislation that would require agencies to revert to pre-pandemic telework policies as well as a study about how telework impacted government services and productivity. In addition to rolling back Trump-era policies targeting union activity in the federal government, the White House has recommended a number of measures to make it easier for federal employee unions to communicate with workers they represent, as well as expand into agencies whose workforces have historically remained unorganized.
FLRA Control Returns to Democrats After Senate Confirms Biden Nominee
May 16, 2022 // With the addition of another Democrat at the FLRA with a background of working for unions, federal agencies can anticipate a change in the direction from that which emerged under the Trump administration. The approach will be to expand bargaining and the role of unions in agencies rather than focusing on the prior approach of seeking to limit the role of unions and emphasizing “efficient government”.
Sanders hearing: Federal contractors are guilty until proven innocent, keep workers in the dark on rights
May 4, 2022 // U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, wants to stop workers from knowing about their rights and also go back to the days of employers being guilty until proven innocent. The Senate Budget Committee Chairman will hold a hearing Thursday asking “Should Taxpayer Dollars Go to Companies that Violate Labor Laws?”
Federal employees’ union calls on White House agency to address return-to-office concerns
April 27, 2022 // The intervention comes after OPM Director Kiran Ahuja sent an email to staff saying they would return to an in-person work posture April 25. In response, AFGE’s Local 32 has filed 13 unfair labor practice complaints against the agency.
Expand Union Opportunities to Reach Employees, OPM Tells Agencies
April 16, 2022 // OPM has told agencies to expand the opportunities unions have to communicate with employees, building on earlier instructions to inform job candidates and newly hired employees information about union rights that come with a position, including having union representatives present at new employee orientation.
Can the trend of decreasing employee unions be reversed?
March 14, 2022 // A task force established by the Biden administration has issued dozens of recommendations for unionizing federal agencies and contractors. Will it have any effect? After all, the percentage of the workforce that is organized has been falling steadily for years. For analysis, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin turned to the managing partner of the D.C. office of the law firm Tully Rinckey, Dan Meyer.
A Zipper Clause: Why Agencies and Unions Fight Over It
January 31, 2022 // A Court of Appeals has overturned a policy statement from the FLRA on the role of a zipper clause in federal labor relations.