Patent Examiner Union Accuses Agency of Violating Labor Law

The Patent Office Professional Association filed an unfair labor practice charge against the US Patent and Trademark Office, accusing the agency of denying the union an opportunity to speak at a town hall meeting last month.

The PTO violated federal labor law by denying a union representative the chance to speak at a March 27 “formal discussion of personnel policies, practices and general conditions of employment with bargaining unit employees,” according to the ULP charge filed Monday with the US Federal Labor Relations Authority and posted on the union’s website Tuesday.

POPA’s Tuesday update also announced grievances it had filed ...