FLRA NEWS
FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY · WASHINGTON, DC · 20424
January 26, 1996 · PR 104-96 Contact: Helenann Hirsch 202-482-6500
FLRA LAUNCHES NEW COLLABORATION AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM
AND APPOINTS FIRST PROGRAM DIRECTOR
The Federal Labor Relations Authority today announced that it has launched the
Collaboration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (CADR), a new agency-wide
program dedicated to reducing the costs of conflict in the federal workplace by
improving labor-management relationships and encouraging alternative methods of
resolving conflict.
CADR is a first. It's the first time all three independent components of the FLRA -- the
Authority, the General Counsel and the Federal Service Impasses Panel -- have joined
forces to create a unified program within the agency. It's the first unified program in the
history of federal labor-management relations to target collaboration and alternative
dispute resolution efforts to every step of the labor-management dispute -- from
investigation and prosecution to the adjudication of cases and resolution of bargaining
impasses.
In jointly announcing the program, FLRA Chair Phyllis Segal, General Counsel Joseph
Swerdzewski and FSIP Chair Betty Bolden emphasized how the significant changes in the
federal sector labor-management relations program over the last two years have made
CADR possible. "CADR is a program whose time has come. Managers, unions and the
employees they represent are moving away from the traditional adversarial way of doing
business. They're working together, instead of against each other, to resolve disputes
without costly, time-consuming litigation so that they can focus their energies on
providing quality customer service to the American taxpayer. CADR will help them do
this. It aims to institutionalize collaboration and alternative dispute resolution approaches
to ensure that service is at the heart of federal sector labor-management relations."
CADR's services will revolve around the FLRA's core mission, focusing on resolving
cases and helping parties provide interest-based conflict resolution services in pending
unfair labor practice, representation, negotiability and impasse bargaining disputes. It
will also assist labor and management in developing collaborative relationships and
constructive approaches to conducting their relationships.
CADR will be directed by Thelma Colwell, who brings to this effort a special blend of
experience and skills. These include expertise in federal sector labor relations, as a
practitioner and as a decision writer; leadership and organizational development skills, as
a federal agency Division Head, Office Head, and private sector entrepreneur; and
seasoned experience in teaching, curriculum development and delivery of conflict
resolution training. She has a deep understanding of and extensive experience with
interest-based problem solving in federal sector labor relations.
The FLRA is an independent agency that administers the labor-management relations
program for over 1.9 million federal employees worldwide. It is charged with providing
leadership in establishing policies and guidance relating to federal sector labor-management relations and resolving disputes under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute.
For information about CADR contact:
Thelma Colwell
Director, Collaboration and Alternative Dispute
Resolution Program (CADR)
Federal Labor Relations Authority
607 14th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20424-0001
(202) 482-6503
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