Union Lodges Grievance, Says OSHA Broke Bargaining Pact On Whistleblower Plans

OSHA violated its collective bargaining agreement with its internal union by holding discussions on the future of its whistleblower protection program (WPP) without including bargaining unit employees in the talks, the union contended in an e-mail message to agency officials late last week, arguing that the agency's move amounts to an unfair labor practice. The union, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 12, has already publicly cried foul about being locked out of discussions on several options to move or split up the program (see related story). But this is the first time