Air Force Materiel Command -- A strong partnership was reaffirmed as leaders of the Air Force' largest civilian employer and the military's largest employee union sat down to discuss workforce issues here May 28.

Gen. Donald Hoffman, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, and John Gage, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, joined other command and union officials for an afternoon of briefings and discussions focused on programs designed to give AFMC employees greater opportunities to contribute to the command's mission while at the same time improving their work environment.

General Hoffman, who leads a civilian workforce of some 56,000 people, emphasized his commitment to creating a work environment where everyone feels they are contributing to the mission while management ensures the right quality of life is maintained.

"There are a lot of things we don't have control over," the general said. "But one thing we can work hard to control and care for is our workforce."

Mr. Gage praised the "classy" relationship that has existed between his union and AFMC over the past several years. He said AFGE is looking forward to working with AFMC and President Barack Obama's administration.

"Our new union theme is going to be one of good government," Mr. Gage said. "Good government is good for people and we want to partner with you and move forward."

He added that many positives programs are happening in AFMC, including employee fitness and training programs.

In 2001, President George W. Bush issued an executive order lifting the requirement to maintain labor-management partnerships, a requirement initiated by President Bill Clinton. But then-AFMC Commander Gen. Lester Lyles exercised his option to keep the AFMC Partnership Council in place and it has thrived ever since.

Mr. Gage said he fully expects President Obama's administration to revive a policy that requires government agencies to enter into some form of partnership agreements with labor organizations.

"I believe an executive order is coming soon and it will be supportive of our efforts," he said.

The meeting highlighted the ongoing work of the command's Partnership Council, co-chaired by AFMC Executive Director Dr. Steve Butler and AFGE Council 214 President Scott Blanch.

The council was formed in the late 1990s following several turbulent years of labor relations in the command. In addition to the co-chairs, the council consists of five union representatives who usually are AFGE local chapter presidents from AFMC bases, as well as five management members, who typically are executive directors from AFMC centers. Also, most AFMC bases have a local version of the council.

Dr. Butler said the council's next big projects are negotiating a new command master labor agreement and determining the best approach as the command begins to convert some contractor positions to government jobs.

Mr. Blanch praised the council for changing the culture of labor relations in AFMC over the past several years. He thanked AFMC leadership for "sticking with the union over the past eight years," when government-labor relations were strained.

Over the years the council has tackled many challenging issues with positive results, including a successful alternative dispute resolution program, civilian wellness and fitness initiatives, computer access for shop-floor workers and emphasis on the Air Force Wingman concept.

General Hoffman charged the council to continue it s great work and continue to focus on programs such as the command's safety-oriented Voluntary Protection Program, its wellness program and efforts to groom good supervisors. He added that communication is the key to success in all aspects of management-employee relations, "especially at the first-level supervisor to worker level."

Also, the general said the partnership mission can play a key role in stemming the growing number of suicides across AFMC and the Department of Defense.

"We have to work together and work very hard to ensure that the workplace is a positive experience for our people," General Hoffman said. "If we can do that, we may help people past some of the troubles they face outside the workplace."