Federal Labor Relations and Unions Flashcards
7 cards from real Civil Service FAQ practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Federal Labor Relations and Unions flashcards as text
Which of the following is an unfair labor practice (ULP) by a federal agency under the FSLMRS?
Answer: Refusing to bargain collectively in good faith with the exclusive representative
Refusing to bargain in good faith with the certified exclusive representative is explicitly prohibited as an unfair labor practice under 5 U.S.C. § 7116, as it undermines the collective bargaining process.
An employee who believes they were disciplined because of their union activity should file a charge with the:
Answer: Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA)
Retaliation against an employee for union activity is an unfair labor practice, and ULP charges are filed with and investigated by the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
Under most federal collective bargaining agreements, a "grievance" covers:
Answer: Any matter involving the interpretation or application of the agreement or applicable law or regulation
Negotiated grievance procedures in the federal sector are broadly defined to cover matters involving the interpretation or application of the collective bargaining agreement, law, or regulation affecting conditions of employment.
What is the typical final step in a federal negotiated grievance procedure?
Answer: Binding arbitration before a neutral third-party arbitrator
Negotiated grievance procedures in the federal sector culminate in binding arbitration, where a neutral arbitrator issues a final and binding decision on the dispute.
Which labor organization is the largest union representing federal civilian employees in the United States?
Answer: American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing approximately 700,000 federal and District of Columbia government workers.
When an employee has both a negotiated grievance procedure and a statutory appeals procedure available for the same matter, they must:
Answer: Elect to use one procedure or the other, but not both simultaneously
Federal law requires employees to make an election of remedies — they must choose either the negotiated grievance procedure or the applicable statutory appeals procedure for the same matter and cannot pursue both simultaneously.
Under federal labor law, a union has a duty of fair representation that requires it to represent all bargaining unit employees:
Answer: Without regard to union membership status and without discrimination
The duty of fair representation obligates the exclusive representative to represent all employees in the bargaining unit fairly and without discrimination, regardless of whether they are union members or pay dues.