Civil Service FAQ Federal Labor Relations and Unions

Question 1

What is the primary federal law governing labor-management relations for most civilian federal employees?

Accepted Answer

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (Title 5, Chapter 71)

Answer

The National Labor Relations Act of 1935

Answer

Executive Order 10988 issued by President Kennedy

Answer

The Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act

Question 2

Which independent federal agency is responsible for overseeing labor-management relations in the federal sector?

Accepted Answer

Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA)

Answer

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)

Answer

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Answer

Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)

Question 3

Under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute, federal employees have the right to:

Accepted Answer

Form, join, or assist labor organizations and bargain collectively

Answer

Strike or picket federal facilities during contract disputes

Answer

Negotiate their pay rates and General Schedule salary levels

Answer

Veto agency reorganization plans through their union

Question 4

Which of the following matters is generally EXCLUDED from collective bargaining in the federal sector?

Accepted Answer

Pay rates and General Schedule salary levels

Answer

Grievance and arbitration procedures

Answer

Employee work schedules and tour of duty

Answer

Disciplinary action appeal procedures

Question 5

"Official time" as defined under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute refers to:

Accepted Answer

Time granted to union representatives during work hours to perform representational activities

Answer

Annual leave hours used by employees to attend union conferences

Answer

The designated period during which formal contract negotiations must occur

Answer

Paid administrative leave for union officers during authorized work stoppages

Question 6

The Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP) is empowered to:

Accepted Answer

Resolve collective bargaining impasses between federal agencies and exclusive representatives

Answer

Investigate and prosecute unfair labor practice charges against agencies

Answer

Certify or decertify union representation through supervised elections

Answer

Review and set aside arbitration awards that conflict with law

Question 7

An "exclusive representative" in federal labor law is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

A labor organization certified by the FLRA to represent all employees in a bargaining unit

Answer

Any union that represents at least 10% of employees within an agency

Answer

A union selected by management to serve as the employees' representative

Answer

An attorney exclusively authorized to handle federal labor arbitration cases