From U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry

"Today, President Obama launched a new era of relations between workers and managers inside the Federal government. His Executive Order Creating Labor-Management Forums to Improve Delivery of Government Services signals a new day for collaboration and cooperation within government. By directing all agencies to sit down with their elected labor representatives, we are restarting a collaborative process begun under the Clinton administration that yielded concrete improvements in agency performance.

"I look forward to serving as a co-chair of the strong new National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations created by the executive order.  This Council will work with leaders from the labor and manager communities and the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that agencies and managers fully involve their workers and the workers' elected representatives throughout decision-making processes.  Together, we will create work environments where everyone is heard and the best ideas for making government work better are brought to the fore and put into action.

"Our workers are our greatest asset, and we must unleash their energy and creativity to overcome the great challenges our nation faces.  This executive order begins to accomplish that goal by creating new space for collaboration and cooperation between Federal workers and managers."

From Jeffrey Zients, Federal Chief Performance Officer and Deputy Director for Management at the White House Office of Management and Budget

"The President is committed to shaping the federal government to be more effective and efficient in providing services to the American people.  A key component of this effort is improving how labor and management work together.  The National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations and the affiliated forums at federal agencies will provide venues for all sides to work toward a stronger, more effective federal government.

"I look forward to co-chairing the Council with Director Berry and advancing the President's priorities."

Our mission is to Recruit, Retain and Honor a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.