Summary

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is an independent agency created by the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, which sets forth a basic framework for relations between labor and businesses engaged in interstate commerce. It defines and protects the rights of employees and employers, encourages collective bargaining, and seeks to eliminate unfair labor practices that could interrupt commerce. This testimony discusses whether NLRB's July 8, 1997, draft strategic plan complies with the provisions of the Government Performance and Results Act and Office of Management and Budget guidance. Although NLRB's plan is a work in progress, GAO found that the July 8 version is deficient in several critical areas and omits important information required by the act.

GAO noted that: (1) although NLRB's plan is a work in progress, the July 8, 1997 version has deficiencies in several critical areas and often omits important information required by the Results Act; (2) for example, the plan's mission statement clearly articulates neither the purpose of NLRB's various functions nor how it performs its work; (3) moreover, although the plan's long-term goals are linked to its mission statement, its goals and objectives are neither results oriented nor measurable as stated; (4) NLRB has consulted with key stakeholder groups, such as unions, employees, and NLRB employees; however, it has not yet consulted with the Congress; (5) NLRB's draft plan includes no description of the strategies or initiatives that will be used to achieve the plan's strategic goals, has no information on the time schedule or resources required by key actions associated with the plan's progress, and omits three of the six basic elements required by the Results Act; and (6) NLRB officials have acknowledged these deficiencies and are further revising the plan.