    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [October 28, 1999]
    [Page 1914]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1914]]

    Memorandum on Labor-Management Partnerships
    October 28, 1999

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Reaffirmation of Executive Order 12871--Labor-Management
    Partnerships

        When I became President, I believed that cooperation between Federal
    agencies and their unions could help create a Government that works
    better, costs less, and makes a positive difference in the lives of the
    American people. That is why I issued Executive Order 12871, Labor-
    Management Partnerships, and directed agencies to form partnerships with
    their unions; involve employees and union representatives as full
    partners in identifying and resolving workplace issues; provide training
    in consensual methods of dispute resolution; negotiate with unions over
    the subjects set forth in 5 U.S.C. 7106(b)(1); and evaluate bottom-line
    results achieved through partnership.
        With your hard work and support, we have made great strides over the
    past 6 years. In many agencies, unions and management are working side
    by side on the tough challenges facing the Government and its employees.
    I am very proud of this success, but I am also convinced that we can do
    even more. I believe the time has come to redouble the Administration's
    efforts to create genuine labor-management partnerships. Therefore, I am
    taking new steps to reaffirm my strong commitment to partnership and to
    renew my call for agencies to work with their unions to achieve the
    important objectives of the Executive order.
        First, I direct agencies to develop a plan with their unions at
    appropriate levels of recognition for implementing this memorandum and
    the Executive order. Every effort should be made to develop a plan that
    helps the agency and its employees deliver the highest quality service
    to the American people. Whenever possible, workplace issues should be
    resolved through consensus using interest-based problem-solving
    techniques.
        Agencies should aggressively seek training, facilitation, and
    mediation assistance that can help foster an environment where
    partnerships can succeed and thrive.
        Second, agencies are directed to report to me, through the Office of
    Management and Budget (OMB), on the progress being made toward achieving
    the goals of this memorandum and the directives set forth in the
    Executive order. Reports must be submitted by April 14, 2000, and
    annually thereafter, and must be prepared with the involvement and input
    of the unions. Agencies shall describe the nature and extent of their
    efforts to comply with the Executive order and shall identify specific
    improvements in customer service, quality, productivity, efficiency, and
    quality of worklife that have been achieved as a result of partnership.
    These reports will not only help me assess our progress toward
    establishing successful partnerships, but will provide best practices
    that can assist unions and agencies in their efforts to develop
    effective partnership-building strategies. Finally, I am directing the
    Office of Personnel Management to analyze the information contained in
    these reports and, in coordination with OMB, to advise me on further
    steps that might be needed to ensure successful implementation of this
    memorandum and Executive Order 12871.
        This memorandum is intended only to improve the internal management
    of the executive branch and is not intended to and does not create any
    right to administrative or judicial review, or any other right,
    substantive or procedural, enforceable by a party against the United
    States, its agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or employees, or
    any other person.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this memorandum.