Final answer:
The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) is the independent agency that administers the federal labor relations program and investigates unfair labor practices, as per the options a. given in the question.
Step-by-step explanation:
The independent, neutral agency that administers the federal labor relations program and investigates unfair labor practices is identified by looking at the functions of the agencies listed. the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), not only administers federal labor-management relations laws but also settles labor disputes and prevents unfair labor practices, making it the correct answer to the question. This is in contrast to options b, c, d, and e, which either have different roles within the government or, in the case of option e, is not an actual federal agency related to labor.
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 made significant changes to the federal employment system, including the establishment of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). However, it is the FLRA that deals specifically with labor relations and unfair labor practices in the federal sector.