Labor Management Relations Examining Series, 0244

Individual Occupational Requirements

Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- labor relations, industrial relations, personnel administration, business administration, economics, labor economics, labor law, political science, accounting, or law; or other education that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in these subjects.

OR

Experience

General Experience (for GS-5 positions): Experience that provided evidence of the ability to meet and deal objectively and effectively with people (e.g., as a counselor, personnel investigator, credit rating investigator); to survey organizations and analyze management methods and practices (e.g., as a management analyst); or to collect, assemble, and analyze pertinent facts and to write reports on findings (e.g., as in investigative or research type of work).

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience that demonstrated objectivity, persuasive-ness, and discretion. The experience should also show ability -- potential for the lower grade positions, demonstrated for the higher grade positions -- to:

• Apply investigative techniques in obtaining evidence and factual data in cases in dispute, analyze and develop the issues of fact and law involved, and objectively evaluate the merit of the charges;
• Confer and deal effectively with representatives of labor and management to bring about equitable adjustments; and
• Write clear, concise reports, recommendations, and letters.

In addition, for examiner positions at grades GS-9 and above, the experience must show that the applicant has gained familiarity with:

• Federal and State laws, regulations, and decisions governing collective bargaining, wages, hours, and working conditions, and with the National Labor Relations Act in particular;
• General economic principles;
• Collective bargaining principles, practices, and techniques;
• The general structure, functions, policies, and practices of management and labor organizations; and
• Current problems in the field of labor-management relations.

Specialized experience may have been gained in the following types of work:

1. Industrial or governmental personnel management practices. Examples include:
   • Experience in an industrial or governmental organization having a comprehensive personnel program that provided a thorough understanding of personnel management practices, and that involved dealing with labor unions on industrial relations problems, or a specialized knowledge of a particularly pertinent area such as wage administration, or employee-management relations if the latter involved participation in substantive employee-management cooperation processes.
   • College-level teaching in the field of personnel administration.
2. Labor law administration or labor law investigation and enforcement. Examples include:
   • Government representative engaged in the administration or investigation and enforcement of laws, executive orders, regulations, or standards, relating to such matters as wages, hours, or working conditions.
3. Labor economics, labor relations, or collective bargaining in commerce, industry, and/or government. Examples include:
   • Government representative in contractor industrial relations work, involving the administration of applicable labor laws and serving as liaison between the contracting agency, management, and labor on labor relations matters.
   • Management representative responsible for the execution of labor relations programs sponsored by management, or of agreements between management and labor organizations involving labor relations programs.
   • Labor union representative in connection with matters concerning relationships between management and labor, e.g., representing labor in the negotiation and preparation of collective bargaining agreements, or in the interpretation and application of collective bargaining agreements.
   • Advisor or consultant on labor-management relations and collective bargaining.
   • Mediator or arbitrator in the field of labor-management relations.
   • College-level teacher in the field of labor-management relations or labor economics.
   • Investigator conducting investigations or research related to labor matters, labor economics, or labor-management relations matters for labor unions, newspapers, journals, foundations, commercial or industrial enterprises, or Federal, State, or municipal agencies.
4. Labor law. Examples include:
   • College-level teacher in the field of labor law.
   • Practicing labor lawyer.

For positions at grades GS-11 and above, the applicant must have specialized experience in (3) or (4) above.

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