Summary: A review of selected federal agencies disclosed that none had a formal strike prevention plan. A strike is defined as any concerted action by employees to withdraw or limit their services to interrupt operations.
Each agency approached strike prevention in various ways. Basic to preventive measures was the maintenance of good employee-management relations, primarily through maintenance of labor-management relations programs. Other personnel practices which contribute to strike prevention included: (1) provision of adequate machinery for adjusting employee grievances; (2) management training in labor relations; (3) open communication between management, employees, and their representatives; and (4) use of the collective bargaining process for resolving conflicts. While there is no general requirement for agencies to develop contingency plans, the following features should be considered in strike contingency planning: (1) designating specific duties and responsibilities of management; (2) delineating and emphasizing communications channels; (3) assessing priority work and alternative methods for doing the work; (4) establishing security arrangements for safety of personnel and facilities; and (5) establishing procedures for documenting contingency situations.
