Tanner & Associates, P.C.

Title VII of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA), established into law a system for federal employees to form, join, or assist any labor organization, or to refrain from any such activity, freely and without fear of penalty or reprisal. Once formed, these labor organizations exclusively represent the bargaining unit employees in all matters affecting their working conditions. This portion of the CSRA is referred to as the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the “Statute”). The Statute gives federal employees the right to engage in collective bargaining through labor organizations. The Statute represents Congressional acknowledgement that statutory protection of the right of employees to organize, bargain collectively, and participate through labor organizations safeguards the public trust, contributes to the effective conduct of public business, and facilitates and encourages amicable settlements of disputes between employees and their employers involving conditions of employment.

The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) was created as part of the CSRA. The FLRA resolves complaints of unfair labor practices, determines the appropriateness of bargaining units, adjudicates exceptions to arbitrators’ awards, adjudicates legal issues related to duty to bargain, and resolves impasses that occur during negotiations.