FLRA NEWS

FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY · WASHINGTON, DC · 20424

April 29, 1996 · PR 109-96
Contact: Helenann Hirsch
202-482-6500

The Federal Labor Relations Authority today announced that over 80% of the unfair labor practice cases submitted by agencies and unions to a pilot settlement project in the Office of Administrative Law Judges were voluntarily settled before trial.

The project gives parties a chance to resolve unfair labor practice complaints by jointly agreeing to participate in settlement conference negotiations before the trial. Over 115 cases have been part of the program since it was announced last April.

"The FLRA is committed to reducing the costs of conflict in the federal workplace," said FLRA Chair Phyllis Segal. "We believe one of the best ways to do this is to help parties craft their own solutions to their problems whenever possible, instead of adjudicating the solution for them. The high settlement rate of cases in the ULP Pilot Settlement Project is an indication that this approach is working. With the FLRA's assistance, unions and agencies are beginning to resolve more of their problems themselves, without costly, time-consuming litigation." Segal also referred to the 28% drop in unfair labor practice charges recently reported by FLRA General Counsel Joseph Swerdzewski as another indication that the FLRA's efforts to reduce workplace conflict are beginning to show results. [FLRA News, PR 105-96]

The FLRA is an independent agency that administers the labor-management relations program for over 1.9 million employees world-wide. The FLRA's Office of Administrative Law Judges presides over trials and renders decisions in unfair labor practice cases prosecuted by the FLRA's Office of the General Counsel.