[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 158 (Thursday, October 18, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2174-E2175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL LABOR-MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 2007

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 18, 2007

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, Former President Clinton once 
said, ``Only by changing the nature of federal labor-management 
relations, so that managers, employees, and employees' representatives 
serve as partners, will it be possible to design and implement 
comprehensive changes necessary to government.'' With this ideal in 
mind, I am proud to introduce the Federal Labor-Management Partnership 
Act of 2007, the Act.
  The Act codifies Executive Order 12871, signed by former President 
Clinton in 1993. During its implementation, labor-management 
partnerships created a co-equal forum for managers and labor 
representatives to negotiate, plan, and exercise collective bargaining 
and effective decision-making. The impetus behind the Executive Order 
was recognition of the need to transform hostile, adversarial labor-
management relationships into valuable problem solving partnerships. 
This method of bilateral affiliation proved to be successful for the 
civil service. It helped boost employee morale, and aided agencies in 
improving and upholding their service missions.

[[Page E2175]]

  The need to re-establish labor-management partnerships is clear. In 
many Government agencies there is a lack of trust exhibited between 
managers, employees, and their representatives. This has created a 
morale problem at many mission critical agencies; including the 
Department of Homeland Security, DHS, which was named in a recent study 
by the Office of Personnel Management as having the lowest level of 
morale in the Federal Government.
  Now, more than ever, the American people expect Government to lead by 
example. Therefore, it is imperative to restore labor-management 
partnerships. Partnership is a proven practice that works. Partnership 
gives added value to the federal workforce; and it is my fervent belief 
that partnership is essential for a more productive civil service.

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