USPTO, National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 243 sign new collective bargaining agreement

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 243 (NTEU 243) have signed a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) as a result from negotiations that began in 2022. 

Through the CBA and related labor-management relations efforts, the USPTO and NTEU 243 worked together to prioritize operational excellence while preserving employee flexibilities that make USPTO one of the top agencies to work for in the federal government. The CBA, which immediately takes effect, carries a five-year term with rollover provisions. 

“The signing of this agreement represents the USPTO’s commitment in supporting the partnership between NTEU 243 and management,” said Derrick Brent, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO. "The agreement signifies how collaboration and communication help us, as an agency, fulfill our mission to the public, providing high impact services, while also fostering an environment that supports a rich experience and opportunities for our employees." 

The NTEU 243 represents approximately 1,303 non-professional employees across the agency including paralegals, IT specialists, IT project managers, customer service representatives, legal instrument examiners, budget analysts, and other support staff.  

“NTEU 243 is proud to enter this agreement on behalf of over 1300+ support personnel at the USPTO. Our membership does very important work every day to keep the USPTO running efficiently and effectively, from IT Specialists to paralegals to legal instrument examiners and others who support the patent and trademark examining process,” said Harold Ross, President of NTEU 243. “To paraphrase Colin Powell, this success is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.” 

The USPTO's work to finalize a new agreement with NTEU 243 supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s policy efforts to encourage collective bargaining and promote equality of bargaining power between employers and employees, as laid out in the Executive Order on Worker Organizing and Empowerment. 

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