During negotiations for the most recent collective bargaining agreement, that went into effect on March 10, 2005, Local 12 proposed that the Union and management collaborate on establishing “Labor Recognition Month.” During negotiations, Local 12 explained to management that the purpose of “Labor Recognition Month” would be to highlight for departmental employees labor leaders who had contributed to the betterment of the American labor force. Specifically, our proposal read as follows:
Labor Recognition Month. The parties agree that one month of each year, to be designated by the Union, shall be recognized as Labor Recognition Month. During that month, the Union will carry out a series of activities to publicize the contribution of organized labor to society. All employees will be provided administrative leave to participate in these activities. Local 12 representatives shall be provided official time to prepare and conduct the activities for Labor Recognition Month.
Management responded it had no interest in this proposal, and further, that the proposal was nonnegotiable. Local 12 disagreed with management’s assertion and filed a negotiability appeal with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). The FLRA held that the proposal is negotiable. We are presently preparing for future negotiations on this as well as additional proposals that the FLRA has mandated that management address. Management’s most recent statement as to Local 12’s request for bargaining on the issue of Labor Recognition Month is that
“The Department chooses not to be a party to a Labor Recognition Month. (The Union should withdraw this proposal)”
Thus, Local 12’s attempts at finding even a modicum of cooperation with management have been obliterated by management’s refusal to enter into the joint venture proposed by Local 12. For this reason, Local 12 will work unilaterally to pay homage to the women and men who have had major impact on the working conditions of Americans throughout history.
Local 12 will designate September as Labor Recognition Month. Because we did not receive management’s response to our proposal until August 25th, we have had little time to mount a large scale celebration for this month. However, we do plan to recognize Frances Perkins as the first recipient of our month of honor.
We will be distributing a bookmark that honors the accomplishments of Frances Perkins, and we will be showing the film Call Her Madam Secretary that chronicles Ms. Perkins’ years as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor. Also, we will hold a luncheon on September 27th, at which Stewart Acuff of the AFL-CIO will be our guest speaker. He will address the early days of the DOL, and the legislation that Ms. Perkins aided to passage with the help of organized labor.
Frances Perkins
By law, when management refuses to negotiate on a proposal put forth by a federal labor union, the union may file a petition with the FLRA, asking that body to make a determination as to whether management can rightfully decline to bargain over the particular proposal. If, as in this instance, the FLRA determines that the matter is negotiable, the parties must go back into negotiations to discuss the proposal.
