Legal Definitions - FLRA

The FLRA stands for the Federal Labor Relations Authority.

The FLRA is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for overseeing labor-management relations for most federal employees and their unions. Its primary role is to administer and enforce the law that governs collective bargaining and other labor relations matters within the federal sector. This includes resolving disputes, investigating unfair labor practice complaints, and supervising union representation elections.

• Example 1: Resolving a Contract Dispute

  Imagine a union representing federal employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs is negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the agency. They reach a stalemate over a proposed change to employee work schedules. If the parties cannot resolve the issue through their own negotiations, either side might petition the FLRA to intervene. The FLRA could then provide mediation services or issue a decision to resolve the impasse, ensuring that federal employees' rights to bargain are upheld.

• Example 2: Investigating an Unfair Labor Practice

  Suppose a federal agency, without consulting the union that represents its employees, suddenly implements a new policy requiring all staff to work an additional hour each day. The union believes this unilateral change in working conditions is a violation of their collective bargaining rights. The union would file an unfair labor practice complaint with the FLRA, which would then investigate the claim, determine if the agency acted unlawfully, and potentially order a remedy, such as requiring the agency to bargain over the change.

• Example 3: Overseeing a Union Election

  Consider a group of federal scientists at a research facility who decide they want to form a union to collectively negotiate their terms and conditions of employment. They gather enough support to petition for a union election. The FLRA would be responsible for overseeing this election process, ensuring it is fair and democratic, and ultimately certifying the union if the majority of employees vote in favor of representation. This ensures that federal employees have a clear and legitimate path to unionize if they choose.