FLRA NEWS


FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY · WASHINGTON, DC · 20424
December 2, 1999 · PR 116-99
Contact: Patty Reilly
202-482-6500

JOINT FLRA-OSC TOWN HALL MEETING
TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Joseph Swerdzewski, General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority, Donald S. Wasserman, a Member of the Authority, and Timothy Hannapel, Deputy Special Counsel for the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), will conduct a joint town hall meeting in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, December 16, 1999. The town hall meeting will be held at the Department of Labor Auditorium, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Since 1993, FLRA General Counsel Swerdzewski has held numerous town hall meetings to provide information regarding the policies and guidance issued by the General Counsel. The upcoming Washington meeting is the third in a series of recent joint meetings involving the FLRA and the OSC.

General Counsel Swerdzewski noted, "The joint town hall meeting with OSC permits the Federal community to learn more about the different forums available to them to resolve disputes and improve relationships. In this meeting, my most recent guidance, Developing a Labor Relations Strategic Plan, will be discussed, along with current issues affecting labor relations in the Federal sector. In addition, participants will have a chance to speak with members of my staff and me and suggest ways to improve the quality of OGC services."

Elaine Kaplan, Special Counsel for the OSC, said, "Since taking this office, I've tried to increase OSC outreach efforts in the Federal community. Talking directly to our customers helps us ensure that we are effectively meeting their needs and it provides them with good information as well. We look forward to the meeting and exchanging ideas with the people that we service every day."

The FLRA is an independent agency that administers the labor-management relations program for 1.9 million federal employees worldwide, 1.1 million of whom are exclusively represented in more than 2,200 bargaining units. The Office of General Counsel is the independent investigative and prosecutorial component of the FLRA which, among other responsibilities, facilitates dispute resolution and processes ULP charges through the Regional Offices. The General Counsel periodically issues guidance to the FLRA's Regional Directors on investigating, resolving, and prosecuting ULP allegations as well as on promoting productive labor-management relationships in the Federal sector. The General Counsel directs the FLRA's seven Regional Offices located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

The OSC is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency. Under the Civil Service Reform Act and the Whistleblower Protection Act, the OSC's primary mission is to safeguard the merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially reprisal for whistleblowing.

Any questions about the meeting should be directed to Verneal Blackiston at 202-482-6702 ext. 11.

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