Committee Members Ask Obama to Establish Formal Labor Management Council (6/16/09)

Committee Members Ask Obama to Establish Formal Labor Management Council

June 16, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), today released a letter asking President Obama to issue an executive order reestablishing the National Partnership Council to improve collaboration between union leaders and federal agency managers, to improve agency operations and the quality of service agencies provide to the public. Former President Bill Clinton issued the original executive order establishing the partnerships. After raising the issue at a recent hearing, Norton asked Chairman Ed Towns (D-NY), chair, Committee on Government Oversight and Reform and Stephen Lynch, chair, Subcommittee on Federal Work Force, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, to sign on to the letter with her. "Federal government labor relations hit an unprecedented low when the right to bargain was wiped out for entire categories of employees and judicial intervention became necessary to overturn changes that retracted rights of others protected by statute, Norton said. "The National Partnership Council can help reestablish the labor-management cooperation that is essential to help assure the smooth functioning of vital federal agencies."

The Council advised the Clinton administration on matters involving labor-management relations and acted as a liaison between the administration and agency employees. The Council also maintained communication among the unions, heads of executive agencies, and the President to better serve taxpayers. The three House members wrote, "Union leaders with whom we have spoken agree that the labor-management partnership recognized the importance of employees and their employee representatives to smooth, collegial decision-making in the government...In light of your commitment to strengthening executive agencies, we believe that an Obama executive order will go far in helping achieve the stated goal."

To view the full letter, click here.