Federal Labor Relations Authority: Key Considerations

This practice note reviews the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) and where it stands in the federal employment sphere. Key topics include the origin and composition of the FLRA, its jurisdiction, handling unfair labor practice (ULP) complaints, union representation, labor arbitration, negotiating labor disputes, the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP), and the relationship between the FLRA and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This practice note should aid federal agency counsel in understanding the overall purpose, structure, and processes of the FLRA when dealing with issues of federal employment.