Union Training Courses
With one Executive Order, President Joseph R. Biden created a dramtic shift in the world of federal labor relations, resciding numerous Trump Executive Orders, including those regarding official time, bargaining topics, negotiation timeframes, and union responsibilities to pay for things they never had to pay for before. FELTG training will help you understand what these changes mean to you. These courses were created for union officers, stewards and other representatives, with the goal of helping union officials to develop relationships and improve skills to better work with federal agencies on matters of bargaining, representation, arbitration and more. We often deliver these sessions as part of union meetings or retreats; we know you’re busy, so to accommodate your schedule, we’ll work after hours and on weekends too!
UN-1: Federal Labor Unions: Nuts & Bolts (1 day)
This course will get you immediately up to speed with the world of federal labor relations, whether you’re new to your union role or are a seasoned pro. Attendees will learn about the foundations of the federal labor relations system, from who the major players are (FLRA, FSIP) to how the grievance and arbitration processes work. Attendees will leave the training with a working understanding of the major labor relations issues of the day.
Course Topics: An overview of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute; the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA); fundamental employee, union, and management rights; Weingarten meetings; formal discussions; a bargaining unit employee’s right to be represented by the union in certain meetings.
UN-2: Handling Grievances & Arbitration (1 day)
So you want to go to arbitration? Be sure you know how it works. After all, government arbitration is a very different process than in the private sector. After this full-day training, you’ll understand not only arbitration, but also grievances before the MSPB and EEOC. You’ll also learn how arbitration awards, while usually binding, may be reviewed for legal sufficiency.
Course Topics: Invoking arbitration under the collective bargaining agreement; the agency grievance process vs. the negotiated grievance process; the arbitration process; selecting an arbitrator; rules of evidence; educating the arbitrator.
UN-3: Navigating Negotiability Issues (1-2 days)
Negotiability may be the most complex topic in federal sector labor relations, and an understanding of what topics are negotiable, and what topics are not, is fundamental to helping determine the legality of your negotiations and contract provisions. Attendees will learn what subjects must be bargained, what subjects may not be bargained, and what subjects may be bargained at the agency’s discretion.
Course Topics: FLRA process and procedures; management rights; mandatory bargaining; permissive topics; intersection of grievances, MSPB appeals, and EEO complaints; bargaining styles; impact and implementation bargaining; bringing the bargaining process to closure.
UN-4: Bargaining in Federal Sector Labor Relations (1-2 days)
What does it mean to “bargain” in federal sector labor relations? FELTG provides the answers in this training. Ensure you know where the law stands and that you have the right skills for negotiations with federal agencies. This one- or two-day training will cover it all — everything from understanding management rights and management maybes to handling emotion (both yours and others) at the bargaining table. Plus, learn the styles of bargaining that make your negotiations most effective.
Course Topics: Bargaining procedures related to collective bargaining agreement (CBA) timelines; impact and implementation bargaining; management-union relationships; position vs. interest-based bargaining; good and bad ways to implement bargaining; effective word choices; choosing your battles.
UN-5: Labor Relations Meetings, Official Time & ULPs (1 day)
With one Executive Order, President Joseph R. Biden created a dramtic shift in the world of federal labor relations, resciding numerous Trump Executive Orders, including those regarding official time. So where does the law currently stand on those issues? This training will answer that question, and provide a detailed explanation of when meetings become formal discussions or Weingarten meetings, Brookhaven meetings, and management and employee rights. Plus, the program will cover what constitutes an Unfair Labor Practice, complete with an explanation of ULP procedures start to finish.
Course Topics: Agency obligations; Weingarten and Brookhaven meetings; formal discussions; official time – what is covered by law and what is bargained for; unfair labor practices; procedures; common legal missteps; practical strategies.
UN-6: EEO Basics for Union Representatives (1 day)
If you haven’t played a role in any part of the federal EEO process, it likely seems a mystery. In fact, even if you have played a role previously, it may still be a mystery. This one-day training will arm you with the information and skills you need to help a bargaining unit member successfully navigate the EEO process.
Course Topics: Statutory authority and jurisdiction of EEOC; theories of discrimination; EEO official time; overview of the EEO process; amended and consolidated complaints; timeliness issues; representing an employee in the EEO process; settlement.
UN-7: Representing Employees in Disciplinary Proceedings (1 day)
Some disciplinary actions go to arbitration, while others can be appealed to the MSPB. FELTG’s experienced instructors will walk you through the various steps leading up to a disciplinary proceeding no matter the forum, with specific instructions for each step of the way.
Course Topics: Who can represent an employee; strategies and tips; disciplinary meetings; interview techniques; discovery; gathering and organizing evidence; responding to proposed discipline; building and presenting your case; arbitration vs. MSPB proceedings.
UN-8: Hearing Advocacy for Union Representatives (3 days)
This workshop-based seminar focuses on practicing effectively and successfully in administrative hearings while representing bargaining unit employees. We’ll provide you useful guidance for each step, from getting organized for the hearing to practicing the techniques of effective direct and cross-examination.
Course Topics: Preparing a case; evidence; depositions; getting organized for the hearing; interview techniques; developing and trying the case.
UN-9: Legal Writing Skills for Union Representatives (1 day)
Law school experience is not necessary for this one-day course. FELTG instructors will help you develop the necessary skills for the highly specialized craft of writing in federal sector labor relations. Attendees will learn how to produce effective and legally sound documents for use in arbitration, settlement discussions, and FLRA, MSPB and EEOC proceedings.
Course Topics: Legal writing overview; writing a Memorandum of Understanding; pre-ULP writing considerations; drafting arguments under contract interpretation; persuasive legal writing.
UN-10: Federal Labor Relations Updates (1/2-1 day)
The federal labor relations world is changing every day, and it’s important for practitioners to know where things stand. This program will cover the impact of President Biden’s executive orders, recent FLRA and FSIP decisions, OPM regulations, best practices, and other recent developments that agencies need to be aware of.
Course Topics: An overview of the Executive Orders and the complicated litigation history; the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute and the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA); recent cases from FLRA and FSIP; recent OPM regulations; understanding management-labor relations under the current administration.