National Weather Service Employees Organization

Labor Management Forum Website

The Department of Commerce Labor Management Forum's website is: http://hr.commerce.gov/Employees/LaborManagementForum/index.htm.

The purpose of the Labor Management Forum is to have employees and union representatives work as partners with management to identify problems and craft solutions for the benefit of their organization, services and products. It is designed to foster cooperative labor-management relations.

“The greatest benefit of the Labor Management Forum is that it vastly increases areas of bargaining potential in all levels of the NWSEO,” said NWSEO President Dan Sobien. Under the charter, NWSEO officers will have an increased ability to negotiate over permissive areas, including the numbers, types, and grades of employees or positions assigned to any organizational subdivision, work project, or tour of duty, and on the technology, methods, and means of performing work. The change is designed to help streamline the Department of Commerce, increase its efficiency and save money.

President Sobien was elected co-chair of the Labor Management Forum by all DOC unions. He represents the Labor side of the Department of Commerce. DOC Chief Financial Officer Scott Quehl also co-chairs the Labor Management Forum, representing Management. NWSEO Vice President Bill Hopkins and Treasurer Marguerite Matera, and NESDIS Vice President Hugh Sharkey are also members.