For Immediate Release
September 5, 2024
Contact: press@gsa.gov

Technology Modernization Fund announces investment in labor protection infrastructure

WASHINGTON — The Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) announced a $23 million investment to modernize the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) case management system. This funding will enable the NLRB to replace its outdated system with a state-of-the-art, cloud-based solution, dramatically improving the agency's ability to protect workers' rights and process labor disputes efficiently.

“Across government, we’re focused on serving the American people through the secure, accessible, and responsible use of technology,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “The TMF is a proven model for driving effective, impactful, and cost-effective government IT modernization and GSA is committed to its growth and long-term success.”

“This investment in the NLRB's technological capabilities represents our commitment to making government digital services more efficient and effective for workers and the general public,” said Larry Bafundo, TMF Executive Director. “By providing the tools for faster case processing and improved data management, we're empowering the NLRB to better serve the American workforce and uphold the principles of fair labor practices.”

“This investment exemplifies the transformative power of strategic IT modernization,” said Clare Martorana, Federal CIO and TMF Board Chair. “By leveraging TMF, we’ve accelerated NLRB’s digital transformation, significantly enhancing its operational capabilities. The shift to a cloud-based solution isn’t just replacing legacy infrastructure – it’s unlocking new levels of scalability, security, and accessibility.”

National Labor Relations Board: Case management system modernization

The NLRB is responsible for enforcing labor law in relation to collective bargaining and unfair labor practices. In 2023, the NLRB processed over 22,000 cases and recovered more than $56 million for workers. However, the NLRB’s 17-year-old system has led to a cascade of issues, including delays in case processing, reduced data reliability, and increased cybersecurity risks. These technological challenges impact NLRB’s internal operations and affect its ability to provide justice for workers and resolution for employers.

“With TMF support, we can modernize our case processing system, allowing all agency personnel to serve our mission more efficiently and effectively,” said Lauren McFerran, NLRB Chairman. “These improvements will also allow the public more ready access to agency documents and information, helping us be more open to those we serve.”

This modernization effort will prioritize e-filing capabilities, allowing for faster and more efficient submission of labor-related documents, as well as enhanced public access to critical information and case statuses. The system upgrade will also facilitate more robust data analytics, enabling the NLRB to identify trends, make data-driven decisions, and allocate resources more effectively. Furthermore, the upgraded system will be built with scalability in mind, ensuring the NLRB can readily adapt to future technological advancements and evolving labor landscape needs.

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About the TMF: The Technology Modernization Fund is working to transform the way the government uses technology to deliver for the American public in an equitable, secure, and user-centric way. The TMF invests in technology projects across government, providing incremental funding, technical assistance, and oversight throughout execution to ensure the success of its investments.

The TMF is overseen by the Technology Modernization Board, which is composed of government IT leaders representing proven expertise in technology, transformation, and operations. TMF investments have supported projects ranging from modernizing the payment system used by the government’s second largest revenue-collecting agency to helping to develop a new customer relationship management platform to maintain crucial international partnerships. For more information, visit tmf.cio.gov.

About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.