Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, the Subcommittee on Government Operations held a hearing on the policies and management of the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
TAKEAWAYS
* Federal Labor Relations Authority Chairman Kiko faced strong criticism for anti-union bias in her management of the agency and the decisions issued by the three-member Authority.
* Subcommittee Chairman Gerald E. Connolly said, “Chairman Kiko’s statutory interpretation is, as the Office of Legal Counsel said, unreasonable. It contradicts and disregards longstanding precedent. Her anti-union bias seems to be present, if not extreme. The agency she leads has not prosecuted a single violation since 2017, and her mismanagement has demoralized and dismantled the capacity of the principal enforcement agency of federal service law."
* Republican subcommittee members agreed with some of the concerns of Democrats, noting that the right to organize and collectively bargain is a foundational right of federal employees.
* Members Connolly and Lynch rebuked Chairman Kiko for drafting rogue, unfounded legal opinions that ignored congressional intent and Department of Justice precedent. “Mr. Udall wrote this law, and his interpretation is different than yours," Rep. Lynch said. “I’ve got to go with Mr. Udall on this."
WITNESS
The Honorable Colleen Duffy Kiko
Chairman
Federal Labor Relations Authority
VIDEOS
Watch Chairman Connolly’s opening statement.
Watch Rep. Lynch’s question line.
Watch Rep. Holmes Norton’s question line.
