FLRA Announces Web-Based Interactive Training on Bargaining Over 5 U.S.C. § 7106(b)(1) Matters

(Federal Labor Relations Authority)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Whittle Spooner
Phone: 202-218-7791

The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is pleased to announce that its web-based interactive training on bargaining over 5 U.S.C. § 7106(b)(1) matters is now available on-line. The FLRA developed the training as understanding the legal concepts and principles involving 5 U.S.C. § 7106 and section 7106(b)(1) bargaining under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (Statute) and Executive Order 13522, Creating Labor-Management Forums to Improve Delivery of Government Services, is critical to the success of Labor-Management Forums throughout the Federal government. FLRA Chairman Carol Waller Pope -- who also sits on the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations -- notes that the training is a compliment to the earlier released FLRA Office of the General Counsel’s (OGC’s) Executive Order training, and is yet another example of the FLRA’s ongoing efforts to better serve the labor-management community and provide them current, useful tools to support them in addressing workplace matters. The training is intended to educate Federal employees, managers and union representatives on identifying the employment conditions that fall under section 7106(b)(1) of the Statute, familiarize them with how section 7106(b)(1) or “permissive bargaining” works, and explain how section 7106(b)(1) matters are addressed under the Executive Order.

Developing and distributing the training was a collaborative interagency effort among the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) -- which provided technical and production support -- the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) -- which facilitated web hosting -- and the FLRA -- which provided the training content -- demonstrating the three agencies’ commitment to enhancing effective and cooperative labor-management relations in the Federal government. Over the next year, the interagency effort will produce a number of additional web-based programs designed by FLRA components, to include: OGC Basic Statutory and Representation Trainings; Authority Arbitration Training; and Federal Service Impasses Panel Training.

Federal employees can access the Executive Order training on HR University -- a government-wide electronic training resource -- at www.hru.gov after setting up an account and clicking on “Course Catalogue” to find the link to the “FLRA -- Bargaining over 5 U.S.C. Section 7106(b)(1) Matters.” Agencies may also add the training directly to their Learning Management Systems. Non-Federal employees can access the training through a public link on the VA’s HR Academy at www.vahracademy.com/flra.html.

The FLRA administers the labor-management relations program for 1.6 million non-Postal Federal employees worldwide, approximately 1.1 million of whom are represented in 2,200 bargaining units. It is charged with providing leadership in establishing policies and guidance related to Federal sector labor-management relations and with resolving disputes under, and ensuring compliance with, the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute.