Obama Follows Clinton's Lead On Creating Labor Council

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/11/AR2009081103283.html?hpid=sec-politics


NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley favors partnerships.

By Joe Davidson
Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Pulling a page from Bill Clinton's playbook, the White House plans to create a National Council on Federal Labor Relations, with the intention of fostering cooperation between federal employees and management and the goal of improving government service.

The panel would follow the outlines of the National Partnership Council, created by former president Clinton only to be repealed by George W. Bush. Federal unions have pushed the Obama administration to issue an order similar to Clinton's, and the White House is preparing to do so.

Yet, while the draft executive order is patterned on one Clinton issued, it dumps the word "partnership." That gives the Obama effort its own identity. Also, some union members think the word connotes a relationship with the boss class that's a bit too cozy.

In addition to the National Council, a draft executive order being readied for President Obama also would create agency-level forums charged with identifying and correcting federal workplace problems, provide for the involvement of employees and union representatives in decisions before those decisions are final, and develop an evaluation process to document "progress and improvements in employee satisfaction and organizational performance."

But the thrust of the order goes beyond the workplace and focuses on making things better for Uncle Sam's customers.

"Labor-Management Forums will allow managers and employees to collaboratively champion change in the Federal Government so that agencies can deliver the highest quality services to the American people," according to the draft.

FULL story at link.