Program Description

Investigates, process and resolve controversies that arise from employee-employer relations in public corporations and in the private sector. These services protect employee's rights, guaranteed by Law and in the Constitution, for collective bargaining and ensure peaceful labor relations. It looks to eliminate labor disputes that are considered illegal.

• Promotes peace in the organizations under its jurisdiction, through the protection of employee statutory rights.

• Investigate cases of disputes related to representation and recognizes the designated representative, duly elected by a majority of the workers.

• Investigates and adjudicates cases associated with illegal labor practices to ensure that collective bargaining is carried out by legitimate representatives, and avoid the use of coercion or intimidation of workers, as well as any violation of the terms of the collective bargaining agreements by any of the parties. Any employee-employer sector requiring counseling will receive, to increase knowledge of their rights and obligations under the law and help reduce illegal practices.

• Publish electronically 80% of decisions made by the Board from 1998 to the present.

• Train personnel in the areas of investigation, technical proof and on the collection of documents and witness proof.

• Automate the case control system to achieve effective follow-up, facilitate report preparation and publish information to the public in general. Create a system for filing cases to promote the Government's Electronic Website.

• Offer online orientation through the Government's Website to allow employees and employers review the processes for filing a case and understand what other methods are available to resolve the controversy prior to filing.

• Disseminate information at the universities, schools, educational centers and work centers through the program, the Board in Open Dialogue.

• Promote harmonious labor relations, in accordance with Strategic Plan 2011-2012, Vision 2020.

Statistical Data	2010	2011	2012
Cases attended	81	90	90
Customers served	842	1,000	1,000
Elections held	0	2	3

The statistical data was provided by the Agency during the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 budget formulation process.

Customers

Employers, workers belonging to labor unions, labor unions for the agricultural and industrial sectors and those in public corporations.

Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions	2009	2010	2011	2012
Managerial,Technical, Administrative, and Office Staff	21	17	20	19
Judges, Lawyers, and Legal Staff	2	1	1	1
Total, Positions	23	18	21	20

FISCAL YEAR 2011-2012 ADOPTED BUDGET

The adopted consolidated budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 totals $1,408,000. The funds include $908,000 originating from the Joint Resolution-General Fund and $500,000 from the State Special Funds.

Operating Expenses reflect an increase of $193,000, when compared with the funds assigned for fiscal year 2010-2011. This increase will help strengthen the operations and administrative areas of the Board. It will also allow the acquisition and installation of a server which will improve the internal information network and will ensure efficiency of the electronic case program. This program provides monitoring and control of all data related to the cases in an automated and effective manner.

Funds from the Joint Resolution-General Fund will help the Board meet its commitments, for example: provide a quasi-judicial forum to attend and resolve disputes between employees, unions and employers quickly, efficiently and impartially; allowing for peaceful labor relations and promoting economic development for Puerto Rico.

State Special Funds receive annual contributions from the corporate entities that have properties or goods owned or controlled by the Government of Puerto Rico, in accordance with Administrative Bulletin No. OE-2003-75. These funds are used for extraordinary operating expenses such as modernization, maintaining information systems or databases, contracting professional services or technical consultants.

SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES