(WASHINGTON, DC) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray, other DC government officials and union representatives today signed several labor agreements that highlight continued improvements in labor relations and the realization of the Mayor’s campaign pledge to re-establish the Labor Management Partnership Council (LMPC).

The accords – including a Labor-Management Partnership Agreement, agreements with DC Compensation Units 1 and 2 and an agreement with the Service Employees International Union – are part of the Mayor’s efforts to reassure District government employees and their organized representatives that his administration will deal with them as partners, not adversaries.

“Developing and maintaining positive labor relations must start at the highest level – and in the DC government, it’s starting with the Mayor,” Mayor Gray said. “I am not only re-establishing the Labor Management Partnership Council, but I will actively participate in it and serve as its management co-chair. My commitment is to develop and maintain a positive labor-management relationship for the good of our residents, our workers and our city.”

The Council’s goal is to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of government services while minimizing waste. The Mayor recognizes that support of the partnership from all levels of the District government and union leadership – which represents approximately 25,000 DC government employees – is paramount to the success of the LMPC.

Mayor Gray is directing agency heads and other top management officials to engage on partnership initiatives, and labor officials have agreed to engage with government leaders as well. The partnership is separate from the formal collective-bargaining process.