Federal Insider: Republicans launch new tactic in latest attack on federal unions

Newly emboldened congressional Republicans are taking a novel approach to their longtime efforts to undermine federal employee unions.

Official time, which allows labor leaders a limited range of activities while being paid by the government, has been a favorite target. Rather than trying to outlaw it directly, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday will consider a new tactic — legislation that would provide a strong deterrent by hitting the retirement benefits of many who use official time.

The intent is the same — weakening it and the unions.

The bill introduced Monday by Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.) would prohibit “employees who spend the majority of their time on official time from counting that time as creditable service” toward retirement, according to a document provided by the committee.

Hice did not respond to a request for comment, but when he announced plans for the legislation in January, he cast it as keeping with President Trump’s promise “to take back control of the People’s government.”

With Trump in the White House, Republicans have a better chance of winning on this and other measures affecting the people who operate the government.

“When I came to office, I was shocked to learn that there are thousands of federal employees collecting paychecks — paid by the American taxpayer — without performing the duties they were hired to do,” Hice added. Official time “essentially allows for employees to perform union activities, which are often political in nature, during the workday on the taxpayer’s dime.”

But union political activities are not allowed. The permitted activities benefit an agency’s workforce generally, not just union members. In fact, official time is part of a deal that requires unions to represent everyone in a bargaining unit, whether they are union members or not. Management, nonunion workers and agencies also benefit, because official time covers employee participation in labor management forums that promote issues such as improved productivity.