Agencies Could Ignore Expiring Labor Provisions Under Proposal

The Federal Labor Relations Authority is considering whether federal agency heads should be allowed to “review the legality” of expiring collective bargaining agreements when the contracts have carry-over provisions keeping them in force until a new agreement is reached.

That would give agencies the authority to make changes “even if they conflict with a preexisting agreement,” the FLRA said.

The agency is charged with protecting federal workers’ union rights. The action was prompted by the Agriculture Department, which requested guidance on what to do with union contracts that continue in force until a new agreement is reached, a process that ...