April 7, 1999
Mayor Williams Meets with Labor/Management Partnership Council
Washington, D.C. – Mayor Anthony A. Williams met today with the Labor/Management Partnership Council for the first time under his administration. The Labor/Management Partnership Council is composed of local labor officials and District government managers who will meet monthly to discuss ways in which the two can work cooperatively on important issues that affect the District.
"Our first priority in District government is to provide quality, efficient, and effective services to the citizens we serve. Labor and management must work together to meet this goal," said Mayor Williams. "This meeting is an important first step in establishing a partnership between labor and management that will benefit all District residents by improving government services."
Josh Williams, President of the Metropolitan Washington Council AFL/CIO also expressed the need for a collaborative relationship between labor and management. "Taxpayers of this city demand and deserve high quality services provided efficiently and cost-effectively. This is not possible without structured cooperation between the workers of the city and the management. Labor-management cooperation is a powerful tool for service improvement and a better quality of life. Success is not possible without a meaningful commitment between management and labor to do the best job possible for the residents of this city."
Mayor Williams and the Labor/Management Partnership Council discussed key aspects of the workforce investment strategy introduced in the FY2000 Budget, among other topics, including increased training for workers and Managed Competition, both of which would contribute to the improvement of service delivery in the District.
Human Resource Development – The employees of District government are our most important partners in building a government that is more responsive to the needs of citizens. To develop its human resources, the District government must change its current approach to workforce development. The reconstituted program will have three components:
- A comprehensive training program with multiple sites, methods of delivery, and program options designed to meet the identified training needs of the workforce;
- A systematic assessment process that measures the quality of training and ensures the accountability of both employees and trainers; and
- A central office that is responsible for developing the comprehensive training program, Managing the assessment process, and making adjustments to programs and policies as necessary.
Managed Competition – As the District works to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of its services, it must seek innovative methods of service delivery that improves quality while also reducing cost. After proper training, managed competition will be vehicle available to the district to deliver higher levels of service and reduce cost. Competition can be used to motivate District employees to think innovatively about the work that they perform and their productivity. It also affords the District the opportunity to seek the highest level of service.
