OPM presents partnership awards

The National Partnership Council Wednesday presented awards to four agencies and labor organizations credited with working together to improve customer service and increase productivity at four federal agencies.

The John N. Sturdivant National Partnership Awards are named for the former American Federation of Government Employees president and founding member of the partnership council. He died after a year-long battle with leukemia on Oct. 29, 1997.

Office of Personnel Management Director Janice Lachance presented the awards to:

• The Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz., and AFGE, for reducing turnover among licensed practical nurses and improving patient care.
• The Anniston, Ala., Army Depot and AFGE, for working with the private sector to retain the depot's position as a key provider of repair, maintenance and upgrade services to combat vehicles.
• The Customs Service and the National Treasury Employees Union in Washington, for initiating a climate that has contributed to a sharp increase in drug seizures.
• The Social Security Administration and AFGE in Baltimore, Md., for designing a toll-free telephone system and paving the way for labor and management to agree on a plan to shift employees' work schedules during swings in workload.