OPM publishes database of union agreements

The Office of Personnel Management announced that it had published a public database containing each federal union’s collective bargaining agreement with the agencies they serve.

Executive order 13836, one of three orders focused on workforce policy signed in May 2018, mandated that all collective bargaining agreements be published online.

The launch comes as federal unions continue to grapple with departments and agencies as President Trump’s workforce orders aim to limit how much time employees can spend performing union duties while on the clock.

OPM Director Dale Cabaniss touted the publication as an accountability measure. "This database is about transparency in government," she said in a statement. "OPM is committed to implementing President Trump's workforce reforms so the American people can have a more effective and efficient government."

The database includes 774 collective bargaining agreements that are available for public viewing across dozens of agencies with unions like NTEU and the American Federation of Government Employees. Labor relation specialist staff are expected and encouraged to upload relevant CBA documents and arbitration awards, though the public is also available to view the database.

Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said the union "did not oppose the provision of the executive order requiring the online database of all collective bargaining agreements in the federal sector."

He added: "Our contracts have always been part of the public record, so this database does not change the important work we do on behalf of the employees we represent."