In collaboration with the Employee and Labor Relations (ELR) Network, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Accountability and Workforce Relations (AWR), sponsors training for human resources practitioners, such as labor relations specialists who represent federal agencies. The Labor Relations Professional Development Series I (LR-PDS I) course was first offered in June 2009. It was developed to assist agency labor relations practitioners to enhance the skills needed for successful job performance. Since then, training opportunities expanded into more advanced training with the advent of Labor Relations Professional Development Series II.

Training is facilitated by a variety of senior labor relations management personnel across the federal government. We bring together experts from agencies such as the Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Personnel Management, Department of Transportation, and the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Training is provided at no cost to the agency or employee, and requires a nomination from the agency.

For more information about upcoming training opportunities, please email AWR@opm.gov.

Professional Development Series I, or PDS I, is developed for management representatives who have three years or less of experience in Employee or Labor Relations. PDS I is held two or more times per year in Washington, D.C., and often included the following topics:

• Overview of Federal Sector Labor Relations
• Labor-Management Dispute Resolution
• Unfair Labor Practices
• Collective Bargaining
• Contract Administration
• Negotiations
• Bargaining Unit Determinations

For more information please contact AWR@opm.gov.

Professional Development Series II, or PDS II, is developed for management representatives who have three years or more of experience in Labor Relations. PDS II is held two or more times per year in Washington, D.C., and often includes the following topics:

• Negotiability II
• Representation before a Third Party
• Unfair Labor Practices
• Unit Determinations
• Collective Bargaining

For more information please contact AWR@opm.gov.

OPM hosts regular webcast trainings with a distinguished speaker or panel of speakers to present on changes in federal labor law, best practices in labor relations, or other issues facing federal management officials. Past topics included teleworking, FLRA case law updates, USERRA, and negotiating collective bargaining agreements.

Webcast trainings are hosted at OPM headquarters in Washington D.C. and available to federal agencies online. To attend or receive updates on future webcast trainings, please email Labor Relations at awr@opm.gov.

All Labor Relations webcasts are available on the Office of Personnel Management YouTube Channel.