The Chairman of the Federal Labor Relations Authority, Colleen Duffy Kiko, in her capacity as the Chairman of the Foreign Service Labor Relations Board (FSLRB), announced the appointment of Dennis Hays and Madelyn Spirnak to serve as Members on the Board. These two FSLRB Members will serve on a part-time basis, as complaints or disputes involving the Foreign Service arise. The appointments were effective October 7, 2018.
A career diplomat, Madelyn E. Spirnak retired from the Foreign Service in 2006. During her 26-year career, and in overseas and domestic assignments following her retirement, she specialized in Middle East and European affairs with particular focus on trade and investment issues. Her final assignment before retirement was as Senior Advisor for Agricultural Biotechnology in the State Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. After retirement, Ms. Spirnak continued to serve in State Department domestic and overseas assignments.
Ambassador Dennis K. Hays (Ret) also brings a wealth of Foreign Service experience to the post – with a 24-year career culminating in his service as U. S. Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname. Amb. Hays was twice elected President of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the professional voice and exclusive bargaining agent of all Foreign Service agencies. After retiring from the Foreign Service, Amb. Hays served as the executive vice president of a major foreign policy organization, as an advocate for domestic and foreign technology concerns, including an advanced nuclear fuel technology company and traveled extensively overseas promoting rule of law, anti-corruption and police reform.
The FSLRB was created by the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to administer the labor-management relations program for Foreign Service employees working for the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for Global Media (formerly the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)), U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of Commerce.