FLRA NEWS

June 18, 1997 · PR 112-97
Contact: Kim Weaver
202-482-6500

FLRA General Counsel Joseph Swerdzewski today issued a policy to the Regional Directors governing facilitation, intervention, training and education (FITE) services provided by the Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The FITE policy is the OGC implementation of the Federal Labor Relations Authority's agency-wide Collaboration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR) initiative to assist labor and management parties develop collaborative relationships, and to provide dispute resolution services in unfair labor practice, representation, negotiability, impasses and arbitration cases pending before the OGC, the three Authority Members, and the Federal Service Impasses Panel.

The FITE policy furthers the OGC mission of providing leadership in promoting stable and productive labor-management relationships in the Federal sector by:

• Ensuring understanding of, and compliance with, the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute;
• Assisting the parties in developing consensual problem-solving skills to reduce their reliance on adversarial methods;
• Enabling Federal agencies in partnership with Federal unions to deliver the highest quality services; and
• Enhancing the quality of work life and the well-being of employees and managers.

"Our FITE services provide Federal employees, unions and agencies with a problem-solving alternative to adversarial litigation and the opportunity to obtain assistance to enhance labor-management relationships which deliver the highest quality services and enhance the quality of work life and well-being of employees and managers," said General Counsel Swerdzewski. "FITE activities allow OGC employees to use their labor law and problem solving expertise to assist Federal employees, unions and agency management in resolving disputes and enhancing labor-management relationships."

The policy describes the services offered by the OGC. Objective criteria, which are used to determine if FITE services are appropriate, are outlined to ensure that the Regional Directors and the parties have a common understanding of how the Office of the General Counsel concentrates its limited resources where they have the potential to achieve the greatest results. In addition, the role of the senior dispute resolution specialist in each regional office and the importance of the involvement of all OGC employees in assisting parties in resolving their disputes in an informal and non-adversarial manner and practicing collaborate labor-management relations are discussed.

A FITE program can be initiated by the OGC or by a request of the parties. Requests to participate in the FITE program may be submitted to the OGC National Office or to one of the OGC Regional Offices at the following addresses:

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Requests for alternative dispute resolution services in unfair labor practice, representation, negotiability, and arbitration cases pending before the Authority should be directed to the CADR office at:

Collaboration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (CADR)
Federal Labor Relations Authority
607 14th Street, N.W., 4th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20424-0001
(202) 482-6503
FAX: (202) 482-6659

The Office of the General Counsel is the independent investigative and prosecutorial component of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) which processes unfair labor practice charges and representation petitions through the Regional Offices. The General Counsel periodically issues guidance to the Regional Directors to provide leadership in promoting productive labor-management relationships in the Federal sector. The Authority is the three-member adjudicatory entity within the FLRA.

For a copy of the Office of the General Counsel FITE Policy Click Here or 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: "FITE Policy." Requests should include name, title, organization, address, telephone and fax numbers and which policy you are requesting. Questions or comments concerning the FITE policy should be directed to FLRA Deputy General Counsel David Feder at (202) 482-6680, extension 203.