Monthly Archives: January 2012

FREE HEARING TRANSCRIPTS FOR UNIONS In 1991 FLRA announced that management must provide unions free copies of an official transcript of an arbitration hearing. 

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FORMAL DISCUSSION COMPROMISE The law provides that union representatives attending formal meetings can comment on what management says, offer opposing perspectives, and generally do what is necessary to safeguard employee & union interests.  But they can’t take charge, usurp or disrupt. … Continue reading

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LIMITATIONS ON MANAGEMENT DISCRETION The very term “management discretion” suggests that management can do what it wants, but FLRA ruled that is not true—or at least there are limits.  The Authority faced a case where management had the discretion to … Continue reading

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REPRESENTING A TRANSGENDER EMPLOYEE Some of us at Fedsmill.com have already been involved with representing transgender employees and it would be wise for all union leaders to keep an eye on how these cases are spinning out. The law firm … Continue reading

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HONEY, THEY SHRUNK THE IRS . . . And that made my raise totally disappear. Just a few days ago FEDSMILL.com posted an article about how Congress will not fund the IRS to collect over $300 billion our government is … Continue reading

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FLRA FUBAR: THE FORMAL DISCUSSION MESS “Formal discussions” are the most common labor-management interactions in the federal sector.  With tens of thousands of managers, there are likely over 100,000 a year.  But, thanks to FLRA, the concept is probably the … Continue reading

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IMPASSE CRACKERS What’s an impasse cracker?  It is one of those tactics seasoned negotiators pull out when bargaining seems hopelessly deadlocked to create an agreement.  FEDSMILL.com has listed ten of our favorites for you to consider and use.

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WE DON’T BITE, HONEST We set up FEDSMILL.com as a blog rather than pure web site because we wanted to encourage an exchange of our ideas.  That is why there is room after every article to post your reactions, thoughts … Continue reading

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MARTIN: THE CONTRACT AVATAR For decades labor-management contracts have been printed and distributed to all unit employees. Our grandparents walked around with copies in their shirt pockets, our parents had them on the shelves in their cubicles, but they are … Continue reading

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QUESTION: WHO GOT YOUR PAY RAISE MONEY? ANSWER:  This one is almost too easy to answer.  You probably already read who took it in other media material.  The latest IRS analysis of how much money tax cheats are stealing from … Continue reading

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