2. Miscellaneous Cost Increases Agency space rental costs will rise $677,000 in 1980 as a result of GSA cost increases and 1979 space changes. New space cost in 1980 will be about $44,000. Agency equipment replacement costs will be up $83,000. Implementation of improvements in the Agency's computer based management information systems including the casehandling information system will cost an additional $272,000. Court reporting costs are anticipated to rise $152,700. Communications costs will go up $199,600 of which postage at $130,000 is the largest portion. 3. Miscellaneous Cost Decreases A 1980 expansion of only 34 positions has enabled the Agency to reduce its recent high level of expenditures for alterations, new equipment, full field investigations and some new employee training conference costs. These total reductions equal $1,121,300. MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT AND COST REDUCTION The National Labor Relations Board has effectively dealt with an increase in total case intake of 84.7% from 1970 through 1980 with only a 39.8% increase in total paid staff. Further, 90% of the total case intake increase are unfair labor practice cases that consume far more of the Agency's resources to process than an equivalent number of "R" cases. Our current estimate of savings for 1980, utilizing our 1979 estimated staff productivity plus about a 2% improvement is $689,000. For 1979, we are estimating a sharp improvement over actual 1978 productivity and a savings of $5,418,000. SUMMARY We believe this Agency has successfully faced the challenge of growth during the decade of the 70's but as we enter the decade of the 80's we are determined not to rest on our past achievements. We have been and remain deeply committed to manage the new challenges ahead. The resources we have requested, both employment and money, will permit us to continue to succeed. The Congressional appropriations process has been an integral part of our success in keeping up with our mission. By accepting our accounting of our performance in past years and by approving our appropriations justifications year after year the Committee has helped to maintain and enforce this country's labor policy through a continually effective NLRB. With the same understanding and assistance which the Committee has provided us in the past, we can continue to resolve labor disputes quickly so as to minimize disruptions to the Nation's economy and do so in a fair and cost effective manner. |