Human Resources Division (HRD) - Labor Management Relations Branch

Labor Relations provides the full range of labor relations services for APHIS and AMS. The Branch evaluates management and human resources policies in order to determine their labor relations impact and/or implementing requirement; determines the need for and develops APHIS and AMS policies, practices, and procedures related to the conduct of labor-management relations; develops and maintains relationships with APHIS and AMS unions, partnerships, and associations. Within APHIS, serves as management’s primary representative in contract negotiations and in the development of negotiation strategies; adjudicates grievances filed under negotiated procedures, and charges of unfair labor practices; coordinates arbitration and Impasses Panel case handling. Represents APHIS and AMS in third-party labor management related matters; provides labor relations training for managers, supervisors, and union officials; provides general labor relations research services to managers and supervisors; provides mediation and consultative services to resolve disputes; and, maintains liaison with recognized bargaining units and officials of the agencies serviced, the Department, Office of Personnel Management, professional societies, and officials in other
Government agencies.

AMS/GIPSA Employee Relations provides advice and guidance to AMS, GIPSA, and APHIS-IS managers on approaches to addressing employee misconduct and/or poor performance, and their prevention; consults with managers, gathers facts and/or reviews misconduct reports of investigation, recommends options, and prepares appropriate correspondence and documentation for disciplinary or performance-based actions; utilizes creative approaches and alternatives to traditional disciplinary action; advises on and helps to adjudicate administrative grievances; represents AMS, GIPSA, and APHIS-IS in appeals before the Merit Systems Protection Board; and manages the mission area’s ethics program and develops policy and guidance on the full range of ethics issues, including financial disclosure and conflicts-of-interest.

Employees Only

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