Labor-Management Partnerships Stalled

A successful labor-management program in the District has stalled because of neglect by the Fenty administration, labor leaders charged at a DC City Council budget hearing Tuesday. "For the first time since the inception of the DC Office of Labor-Management Programs, I appear before you as labor co-chair without the presence of the other co-chair - the Mayor or the City Administrator," said Metro Council President Jos Williams. Williams (middle in photo) joined AFSCME Council 20 Executive Director George Johnson (right in photo) and AFGE 2725 President Eric Bunn (left in photo) to testify about labor's mounting frustrations with the DC Labor-Management Program, created in 1997 to promote partnerships in DC government offices to improve operations, services and the quality of life for District government workers. Partnerships created under the program are separate from the collective bargaining process. "The partnership approach works," said Johnson at the hearing, citing an example in which members of AFSCME 2091 and the Department of Public Works' partnered to create new recycling bins that increased efficiency, reduced littering, and improved safety on the job. "It all added up to higher income for the city and more jobs for DC workers. A win-win outcome," said Johnson. But labor-management partnerships have declined since the Fenty Administration took office, Johnson testified. "Mayor Fenty has not met with labor about anything," said Bunn. "It is disheartening to see this go for naught. Labor has been and continues to be ready for partnership." "It's a very sad commentary you have provided here today," said DC City Council Chairman Vincent Gray, who committed his support to help re-invigorate the program. Click here to read Williams’ full testimony. – report/photo by Andy Richards