An Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) is a violation of a right protected by the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute. The ULP procedures provided by the Statute are part of the basic mechanisms by which the parties are protected in the exercise of their rights.

A ULP charge can be initiated by employees, by a union, or by management. The respondent to these charges will always be a union or management official. In many cases, when the union alleges a ULP, it is charged against the administrator, even though the alleged infraction may stem from a first-line supervisor's actions or inaction.

A ULP charge is filed with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). The FLRA, among its other functions, investigates, conducts hearings, and resolves complaints of alleged unfair labor practices.

The Remedy: If the agency union is found guilty, the FLRA may prescribe whatever remedy is necessary to correct the ULP. This may include revoking the action that caused the ULP in the first place and requiring a return to the situation as it existed before the ULP. Generally, however, the remedy consists of requiring the guilty party to sign and post a notice to employees which indicates that it will stop committing the ULP and it will refrain from taking such actions in the future.

Most ULPs can be avoided by a general understanding of the rights of the parties provided by the Statute and a common-sense approach to dealing with each other.