Economy, finance and labor · Federal workforce and hiring

Executive Order 12871: Labor-Management Partnerships

President: Bill Clinton

Created a National Partnership Council and directed covered agencies to form labor-management partnerships; EO 13203 dissolved the council and revoked the order.

Status: Revoked — by EO 13203 in 2001.

Is Executive Order 12871 still in effect? No. EO 13203 revoked it in 2001.

What does Executive Order 12871 do?

EO 12871 established a National Partnership Council and directed covered agencies to involve employees and unions in workplace problem-solving, training and specified bargaining practices. A 1997 GAO review documented implementation at the U.S. Customs Service, including a 1994 partnership agreement with 19 goals. Interviewees reported mixed results across locations; that limited study does not establish a government-wide improvement. EO 13203 revoked the order and dissolved the council in 2001.

Administration position: The order said labor-management partnership would support government reform and service quality. Those were the administration’s expected management effects, not findings that every partnership produced them.
SignedOctober 1, 1993
Administrative agencyOffice of Personnel Management
Agency scopeBodies covered by 5 U.S.C. chapter 71

Before and after

Before the order

Federal labor relations operated under chapter 71 without this government-wide partnership directive.

After the order

Covered agencies formed partnership structures until EO 13203 directed their implementing policies to be rescinded where lawful.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
National Partnership CouncilAdvise the President and promote partnership effortsDuring the council’s operation
Covered agency headsForm partnership councils and involve unions in problem-solvingUnder the order
Agencies and unionsUse training, alternative dispute resolution and specified bargaining practicesDuring implementation

What happened next

EO 12871 established the council and agency requirements.

EO 13203 revoked EO 12871 and dissolved the council.