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The FLRA's Collaboration and Alternative
Dispute Resolution Program
Federal sector labor-management
relations has changed significantly in recent years. Greater emphasis is now
placed on the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and consensus
decision-making in resolving workplace disputes and in improving
labor-management relationships in the Federal sector. The FLRA's Collaboration
and Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR) program enhances these efforts by
integrating ADR into all of the case processes used by the various FLRA
components. The CADR Office (CADRO) provides overall coordination and support
to the FLRA components in implementing the CADR program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)?
ADR is an informal process that
allows parties to discuss and develop their interests in order to resolve the
underlying issues and problems in their relationship. The discussion is
facilitated by a third party neutral who is there to ensure a productive
dialogue.
What are the benefits of using ADR in Labor-Management
Relationships?
ADR allows everyone to have an
active part in the decision-making process. Solutions are adopted by consensus,
and reflect an understanding of the interests of all parties. As a result, the
solutions are tailored to the needs of the participants.
ADR encourages creative, innovative
solutions, moving away from the traditional win/lose results of adversarial
proceedings.
ADR resolves disputes while
preserving relationships, and thereby helps create a productive working
environment.
What types of services does the CADR program
provide?
The services focus on alternatives
to traditional case processing and formal dispute resolution.
The CADR program assists the parties
both in preventing disputes before they become cases and in coming up with ways
to informally resolve disputes in pending cases. This includes interest-based
conflict resolution and intervention services in pending unfair labor practice cases,
representation cases,
negotiability appeals,
and impasse bargaining
disputes.
The CADR program also provides
facilitation, training and education to help labor and management develop
collaborative relationships.
The ultimate goal is to provide
parties with the skills they need to do ADR on their own.
Is the CADR program voluntary?
Yes.
Where does the CADR program fit in the normal case
processing?
The FLRA's Regulations for negotiability,
unfair labor practice, and representation cases ensure that parties have the
opportunity to use ADR to resolve their cases. For example, in negotiability cases, during the
post-petition conference, if the parties express interest in using ADR
services, the case will be put on hold to give the parties time to get help
from the CADR Office. In unfair labor
practice cases, an ADR process is available that allows the parties to
resolve the underlying dispute by facilitating a problem-solving approach,
rather than having the Regional Office investigate the facts and determine the
merits of the charge. For cases on their way to hearing, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) settlement
program is available for one more attempt at informal resolution.
ADR services are also available in
some circumstances for parties who do not have a case filed, but would like
assistance with disputes or relationship issues.
Who provides CADR program services?
All of the FLRA components provide
CADR program services.
The Office of the General Counsel
(OGC) offers ADR services in unfair
labor practice and representation cases, both before cases are filed and while
they are pending. Through its Regional
Offices and the National Office, the OGC
provides facilitation, intervention,
training and education services to agencies and unions. Each Regional
Office has a Regional Dispute
Resolution Specialist who coordinates ADR services within the
Region.
The ALJ's office has a settlement program for
parties who have hearings pending before an ALJ.
The Federal Service Impasses Panel uses ADR
techniques in resolving bargaining impasses.
Staff from the Authority Members'
offices participate in interventions in negotiability and other cases, offering
facilitation to help the parties resolve their differences before the case is
ruled on by the Authority.
The CADR Office assists all FLRA
components in the delivery of ADR services in cases and training sessions.
Examples of CADR Activity
Specific examples of recent CADR activity are contained in the
FLRA Bulletin, which is issued every four
months.
How to Get More Information or Ask for
Assistance or Training
For more information about the CADR program
or for assistance or training requests, contact the CADR Office at
CADRO@flra.gov or
202-218-7969
(phone) or 202-482-6574 (fax). The mailing address for the CADR Office is:
Federal Labor Relations Authority Collaboration and
Alternative Dispute Resolution Office 1400 K Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20424
You may also contact any of the Regional Dispute Resolution
Specialists in the Regional Offices, the Office of General Counsel's National
Office, the Office of Administrative
Law Judges, or the Federal Service
Impasses Panel.
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