Labor Relations & Union Training

Robust. Uninhibited. Wide-open. These are words the U.S. Supreme Court used to describe the type of debate by union officials that is considered “protected activity.” But how robust, uninhibited, or wide open is acceptable? And when? There are many tales of profanity, shouting, rough speech, and bullying taking place between …

It’s widely expected that labor-management relations will be highly adversarial in the new administration, and arbitration can provide an answer when grievances seem unresolvable. This two-hour virtual training walks you through the various stages of arbitration, identifying the key actions that will lead to a successful result. Attendees will leave …

Anyone who has worked in Federal labor relations for any amount of time knows it’s an always-changing and ever-challenging field. It’s also about to become more adversarial than ever. Now is the time to make sure you labor relations skills and knowledge are updated.  So why not get that important …

Anyone who has worked in Federal labor relations for any amount of time knows it’s an always-changing and ever-challenging field. It’s also about to become more adversarial than ever. Now is the time to make sure you labor relations skills and knowledge are updated.  So why not get that important …

When faced with a case involving appealable adverse actions, an arbitrator must apply the same substantive standards as the Merit Systems Protection Board. The arbitrator must decide whether discipline was appropriate, and also assess whether the agency considered the relevant factors in determining the penalty. Just like an MSPB judge, the arbitrator …

5 USC 7112 of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute defines the types of positions that must be excluded from the bargaining units. But in the modern workforce, those definitions aren’t always that clear. In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG Instructor Ann Boehm takes you through how to not only identify …

In this 60-minute webinar, FELTG instructor Ann Boehm identifies and discusses when the law requires your agency to provide the union an opportunity to be involved in discussions, focusing on the requirements for a meeting to be considered a formal discussion, the union’s rights and responsibilities when it comes to …

It’s time for negotiations, and it’s critical not only that you know the current law, but that you have the right skills and know how to choose wisely your words and your battles. This training will cover it all — everything from understanding management rights and management maybes to handling …

Does it sometimes feel like there are different rules for employees in unions? Well, there are. And if you supervise bargaining unit employees, you need to know those rules. This course will explain those specifics and provide Federal supervisors with information about working with Federal labor unions. This interactive and …

Why do unions have the right to attend formal discussions? Why did Congress use the word “formal?” What does “formal” mean? Are there other types of meetings the union has a right to attend? What if the employee doesn’t want the union to attend the meeting? Is it better to …

Litigating cases in Federal sector employment law is a unique prospect and isn’t for the unprepared. In addition, taking a case to arbitration is also a world of its own. This training focuses on providing tips to practice effectively and successfully in administrative hearings before the MSPB, EEOC, and in …

Whether you’ve been to law school or not, you can always use a refresher on legal writing, especially if you work in the specialized and sometimes arcane-sounding world of Federal sector labor relations. In this interactive class, FELTG’s experienced instructors will help you sharpen your skills and provide you with …

Not all meetings are created equally. In fact, some meetings can get your supervisors in trouble, despite their good intentions. This training will cover everything you need to know about meetings. Plus, we’ll discuss official time, identify unfair labor practices (ULPs), and discuss practical strategies along with common legal missteps …

Why are labor-management relations perpetually adversarial? Are agencies and unions supposed to be working together, or against each other?  How can both sides get along better, as Congress intended? The Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute says collective bargaining “safeguards the public interest,” “contributes to the effective conduct of public business,” …

Negotiability may be the most complex topic in Federal sector Labor Relations, and an understanding of which topics are negotiable, and which topics are not, is fundamental to determining the legality of your negotiations and contract provisions. This immersion into negotiability will provide attendees a foundational knowledge of negotiability terminology, …

Arbitration in the Federal government is a very different process than in the private sector, and it requires an understanding of not only the collective bargaining agreement, but also the ability to interpret relevant Federal employment laws, regulations, and Executive Orders. Attendees will leave this training with an understanding of …

Do you have someone on your staff who is working with unions for the first time? Do you have seasoned LR/ER practitioners looking for a refresher? Did employees in your organization recently organize and form a union or change unions? This course will bring you immediately up to speed on …

5 U.S.C. § 7116(a) lists eight agency ULPs and 5 U.S.C. § 7116(b) lists eight labor organization ULPs, which will be covered in full detail during this class. This training will also include a discussion of employee rights vs. management rights, an overview of the Federal Service Impasses Panel, and …

Working in Labor Relations requires a firm foundation of the statute, historical perspective, and FLRA decisions, plus an understanding of agency and union rights and responsibilities. Whether you’re new to Labor Relations or looking for a refresher, this class will provide an overview of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute …

Just about every Federal Labor Relations professional has dealt with a union request for information, but they may not have handled it correctly. This training will help anyone dealing with an information request to ensure the agency provides information that it owes the union, but also ensure that the union …

Whether you’re currently preparing to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement, or if it’s a year down the road, now is always the best time to ensure that you’re ready for anything.  This training will provide you with key strategies and guidance to ensure you are well-equipped to begin negotiations and …

The Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute defines the types of positions that must be excluded from the bargaining units (BUs). But in the modern workforce, those definitions aren’t always entirely clear. This course will take you through how to identify the applicable statutory provisions, and to provide practical and specific …

This course will discuss when the law requires you to provide the union an opportunity to be involved in agency meetings with employees, focusing on the requirements for a meeting to be considered a formal discussion. It will also explore the union’s rights and responsibilities when it comes to meetings, …

Did you know that an arbitrator, much like a Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) judge, has the authority to mitigate a penalty if it is outside the bounds of reasonableness? This session will explain how the Douglas Factors came about and provide a detailed look at the role those factors play in the arbitration …

Executive Order 14003 rescinded limitations on collective bargaining and instructed agency leaders that they “shall elect to negotiate over the subjects set forth in 5 USC 7106(b)(1) and shall instruct subordinates to do the same.” How should this be interpreted? Shall seems to be the critical word here.  In this training, …