[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 43 (Monday, November 1, 1999)]
[Page 2186]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.