FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 18, 1999

CONTACT: Sharon J. Wells (202) 606-2402 sjwells@opm.gov

OPM Director Delivers Opening Remarks at National Partnership Council Conference

Washington, D.C. U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Janice R. Lachance delivered the opening remarks at todays Skills-Building Conference sponsored by the National Partnership Council.

The two-day conference will focus on skills and concepts involved in strategic planning, implementing and maintaining partnership, overcoming barriers and evaluating partnership efforts.

As Chair of the National Partnership Council, I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity to speak to council members and federal labor-management relations experts to encourage and support labor-management partnership efforts, said Lachance. These workshops provide an invaluable experience to participants by offering direct, hands-on skills-building opportunities to labor-management partnerships.

On October 1, 1993, President Clinton issued Executive Order 12871, LaborManagement Partnerships , which established the National Partnership Council. The Council's primary responsibilities are to support and promote collaborative federal labor-management relations.

The Council currently comprises representatives from the three largest unions representing federal employees (the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, and the National Federation of Federal Employees); the Public Employee Department of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFLCIO); seven representatives from Federal agencies, including two from neutral agencies; and two elected office holders from groups representing managers.

Information on the National Partnership Council can be accessed at OPMs web site, www.opm.gov. Media interested in receiving the text of the Directors speech may contact Sharon Wells at (202) 606-2402.

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