North Carolina Congressman Proposes Bill To End Federal Pay For Union Business
U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop Has Filed A Bill To End The Use Of Official Time By Federal Workers For Union Activities. The National Right To Work Committee Said Federal Workers Unions Used More Than 2.6 Million Hours Of Official Time For Union Activity In 2019, Costing Taxpayers More Than $163 Million In Payroll And Other Costs.Â
Photo: North Carolina Congressman Dan Bishop
Photo Credit: Dan Bishop photo – danbishop.house.gov / U.S. Capitol – CC
Published March 22, 2021
The Center Square [By Nyamekye Daniel] –
U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop has filed a bill to end the use of official time by federal workers for union activities.
Bishop, a North Carolina Republican, has filed the Do Your Job Act, which would stop union officials from being paid while conducting union business.
The National Right to Work Committee said federal workers unions used more than 2.6 million hours of official time for union activity in 2019, costing taxpayers more than $163 million in payroll and other costs.
“The abusive practice of allowing union work to occur on official time wastes millions of taxpayer dollars every year, as federal employees use paid time off to perform official union duties,” Bishop said.
The policy was established in 1978 through the Civil Service Reform Act. It allows federal workers unions to use paid hours for lobbying for more benefits or higher pay or to perform other union functions.
“By amending the Civil Service Reform Act, we can ensure that Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars go toward the public services they are intended for, not union interests,” Bishop said. “But as it stands, some of these federal employees can lobby Congress for desired outcomes or even spend 100% of their time on union representative functions. This has to change.”
Joining Bishop is sponsoring the bill are U.S. Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif.; Mo Brooks, R-Ala.; Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.; Burgess Owens, R-Utah; Ralph Norman, R-S.C.; Scott Perry, R-Pa.; Joe Wilson, R-S.C.; Tracey Mann, R-Kan.; Jim Banks, R-Ind.; Louie Gohmert, R-Texas; Tom McClintock, R-Calif.; and Debbie Lesko, R-Wis.
National Right to Work Committee President Mark Mix said the money used to pay federal union members for official time in 2019 could have paid for the processing of 135,000 backlogged retirement applications or 17,000 more disability determinations.
“Labor unions are private organizations pursuing their own interests, not taxpayers’ interests,” Mix said. “As such, Big Labor should have no more influence over government policy than any other private entity. They certainly shouldn’t be collecting government paychecks for nongovernment work.”
The National Federation of Federal Employees and the American Federation of Government Employees did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
About the Author:
Nyamekye Daniel, The Center Square Staff Reporter
Nyamekye Daniel has been a journalist for four years. She was the managing editor for the South Florida Media Network and a staff writer for The Miami Times. Daniel’s work has also appeared in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and The New York Times.
This is long time coming however, I am afraid like all other Republican Led Proposals it will fall on deaf ears. Sounds great but will you Propose the same bill in 2022 when Republican MAGA/American First Representatives are leading the House? We (Republicans) only Propose worthwhile Bills that benefit the American People during a Democratic Led House–why is that anyway?? It is the publicity that it gets–that’s why. Then when we need it the most and can get it through–constituents that see a downside from the Bill will contribute to a campaign and miraculously the Author has a changed vision–so it goes nowhere–so on–so no and so on.