FLRA NEWS


FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY · WASHINGTON, DC · 20424

February 3, 1997 · PR 102-97
Contact: Kim Weaver
202-482-6500

FLRA GENERAL COUNSEL ISSUES REPRESENTATION PETITION
QUALITY POLICY AND TIME GOALS

FLRA General Counsel Joseph Swerdzewski today issued a policy to ensure the fair, timely and complete processing of representation cases. The policy outlines the standards of quality for the processing of each representation petition and complements the General Counsel’s Quality in Unfair Labor Practice Investigations Policy.

"This policy is a continuation of the FLRA Office of the General Counsel’s efforts to provide quality customer service. This policy establishes uniform standards for processing representation petitions under the new streamlined representation regulations issued last year," said General Counsel Swerdzewski. "By issuing this policy, all parties involved in representation proceedings will be aware of the standards which the Regional Offices will follow in processing their petitions."

The General Counsel also announced today time goals, which will serve as targets for the Regions to strive for in processing representation cases. General Counsel Swerdzewski noted that "representation cases present issues which are fundamental to the collective bargaining relationship," and emphasized that "it is imperative that representation petitions are processed as expeditiously as possible so that collective bargaining relationships are productive and stable." General Counsel Swerdzewski added, "In order to allow us to process petitions in a timely manner, parties filing petitions and participating in representation proceedings should be prepared to present at the time the petition is filed all the information that is required for the Region to process the petition."

The Federal Labor Relations Authority is an independent agency that administers the labor-management relations program for over 1.9 million federal employees world-wide. Only the FLRA may certify a labor organization to act as the exclusive representative of an appropriate unit of employees for collective bargaining or, thereafter, amend a certification or clarify matters relating to employee representation. The Office of General Counsel, through its Regional Offices, conducts union elections and processes representation petitions. The 3-member Authority resolves representation cases concerning union elections and bargaining unit determinations.

A copy of the time goals is attached. For a copy of the guidance, fax a request to the Office of the General Counsel at (202) 482-6608 or write to the office at 607 14th St., NW, Ste. 210, Washington, D.C. 20424 attention: REP Quality Policy.

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