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The Ebb and Flow of Federal Sector Labor-Management Relations Policies under Four Successive Presidents

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Abstract

Federal sector labor-management relations policies ebb and flow with changes in presidential administrations. As the nation’s Chief Executive, the president exercises considerable influence over both policy and practice in this domain. We review the relevant policies of four successive presidents (Clinton, Bush 43, Obama, and Trump) on seven dimensions, comparing them to the existing Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (FSLMRS). To put the presidents’ policies into broader context, we show how they correspond with the presidents’ expressed or implied views on public administration, management, and labor-management relations. We find considerable variation across the presidents, which correlate with political party and ideology. The reality is that policy and practice in this area are politically moving targets. We discuss the implications of our findings for labor and management.

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Notes

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  22. Section 7106(b)(1), FSLMRS.

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  46. Ibid.

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  48. Executive Order 13522, op. cit.

  49. Ibid.

  50. Pistole memorandum. Pistole Determination on TSA bargaining rights, February 4, 2011.

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  52. Executive Order 13812, op. cit.

  53. Ibid.

  54. Ibid.

  55. Executive Order 13836, op. cit.

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  66. Robert Creo decision, Department of Health and Human Services and National Treasury Employees Union, September 30, 2019.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wayne State University, 5771 Woodward Avenue, 387 Mike Ilitch School of Business, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA

    Marick F. Masters

  2. Department of Management, School of Business, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    Robert Albright

  3. College of Business, Penn State Harrisburg, Middleton, PA, 17057, USA

    Raymond F. Gibney

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  1. Marick F. Masters
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  2. Robert Albright
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Correspondence to Marick F. Masters.

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Masters, M.F., Albright, R. & Gibney, R.F. The Ebb and Flow of Federal Sector Labor-Management Relations Policies under Four Successive Presidents. Employ Respons Rights J 32, 139–166 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-020-09352-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-020-09352-0

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