govexec.com: Union files unfair labor practice charge against GAO chief

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=37280&dcn=todaysnews

Union files unfair labor practice charge against GAO chief
By Brittany R. Ballenstedt [e-mail] June 22, 2007

A federal labor union on Thursday filed an unfair labor practice charge against the head of the Government Accountability Office, claiming he has made inappropriate statements interfering with employees' rights to unionize.

The charge, delivered to Comptroller General David M. Walker by the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, stems from comments the GAO head allegedly has made during agency meetings and to the media.

"Walker has made remarks regarding IFPTE and its efforts to assist employees of GAO in their organizing activities, which violate the requirement that management, especially the comptroller general as head of the agency, maintain strict neutrality during a union organizing campaign," the union stated in the charge.

GAO spokesman Paul Anderson said Friday that Walker had received the letter and is reviewing it. We "look forward to discussing this matter with them in due course," he said.

On May 8, IFPTE filed a representation petition with GAO Personnel Appeals Board's Office of General Counsel to hold a union election. The push to unionize is partly a response to a new personnel system, under which 308 senior analysts did not receive pay raises last year. Walker has said the decision to deny the employees the pay hike was based on a 2004 market-based compensation study that determined many analysts were overpaid relative to workers with comparable skills and experience at other agencies and outside government.

Earlier this month, Walker announced that GAO had hired private law firm Venable LLP to help in responding to the organization effort. GAO also contended that 461 out of the 1,386 employees who filed cards petitioning for the election are in supervisory positions and thereby are ineligible to join unions under labor law.

FULL story at link.