Administration to agencies: Involve unions early in decisions

Agency managers should talk to labor representatives as soon as possible after they know a problem requires a decision or action, not after managers come up with their own solutions, according to a memo from administration officials.

The Office of Personnel Management and Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday issued a memo reminding agencies that President Obama wants managers and employees to discuss issues predecisionally — or before a decision has been made — through labor-management partnership councils. Labor leaders have complained they are being frozen out of the decision-making process at some agencies and consulted only after key workplace decisions are all but made.

"It is imperative that management immediately engage unions on an ongoing basis consistent with the spirit and intent of the Executive Order" signed by President Obama in 2009 that created the partnership councils, OPM Director John Berry and OMB Deputy Director for Management Jeffrey Zients wrote in their memo.

The memo suggested ways to use predecisional discussions as part of the annual budget process:

• When drafting proposed funding levels for the next fiscal year, ask high-level labor representatives for ideas on what the agency's upcoming goals and strategies should be.

• While Congress is considering the White House's budget proposal, consult employee representatives about how to implement those proposals after they become law.

• After the budget is passed, allow employee representatives to share ideas on the best ways to spend money to accomplish the agency's mission.

Berry and Zients also said predecisional discussions should be held confidentially.

"This confidentiality is an essential ingredient in building the environment of mutual trust and respect necessary for the honest exchange of views and collaboration," the memo said. "Ultimately, the goal is to allow employees, through their elected labor representatives, to have meaningful input which results in better quality decision-making, more support for decisions, and timelier implementation."