Over 2020-2023, the number of unfair labor practice complaints filed at the FLRA for adjudication increased by 62 percent while the number of pending cases increased by 80 percent. Image: aerogondo2/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe FLRA “has been struggling with limited budget resources for many years,” hampering its ability to resolve disputes between federal unions and agencies and carry out its other duties, the agency’s inspector general has said.
A report listed “achieving performance goals with insufficient funding” as one of the agency’s top challenges, noting that the agency’s fiscal 2023 budget of $2.4 million was some $200,000 below that of 2004. The agency responded in that time by closing two regional offices and not filling vacancies, resulting in a staff decreased from 213 to 116 positions.
“As a result, the FLRA now occupies less space and has roughly half as many employees as it did in 2004—but no less responsibility. And that will imperil the FLRA’s ability to fulfill its mission-related goals and objectives,” it says.
It said that just over 2020-2023, the number of unfair labor practice complaints filed at the FLRA for adjudication increased by 62 percent while the number of pending cases increased by 80 percent. Petitions to the agency’s office of general counsel to determine which employees should be included in bargaining units also increased, as did the number of those cases pending.
“All of the above is a problem because the longer it takes for the FLRA to resolve disputes between federal actors, the more expensive it is to resolve the disputes. Unresolved labor-management issues mean lingering disputes that distract from workplace missions. Delayed adjudication of cases involving backpay in particular costs taxpayer money—because the longer it takes to resolve the cases, the greater the federal government’s potential backpay liability,” it said.
It added that tight budgets also hamper the agency’s ability to address other management priorities, including protecting itself from cyberthreats and digitizing records.
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