Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Taxpayers foot bill for union work, lawmakers seek changes
Fox News ^ | March 26, 2015 | John Roberts

Posted on 03/26/2015 9:44:40 AM PDT by jazusamo

When he arrived on Capitol Hill in January, freshman Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga., discovered something he had no clue was going on. Hundreds of federal employees spend their entire workday -- not doing the business of the government, but working for their unions.

Hice told Fox News he was shocked by what he found.

"Waste on an egregious level by federal employees who are taking taxpayer monies and using it for purposes other than the reason they were hired," Hice said.

It's called "official time," and it was sanctioned into law by Congress in 1978. Lawmakers voted to allow federal employees who are union members to spend part of their day addressing union issues. The reason behind the law: Federal employees are not required to join a union even if they are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. The Civil Service Reform Act was designed to make up the financial gap of unions having to represent employees who did not pay dues, by allowing federal workers to "volunteer" time during their working hours to address grievances, work on collective bargaining and deal with other issues.

But Hice argues that the situation has gotten out of control, and he's pushing new legislation to change it.

According to the Office of Personnel Management, in 2012 (the most recent year there are statistics for) federal workers spent 3.4 million man-hours on union issues and not the work they were hired for. OPM estimates the cost to taxpayers was more than $157 million.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: federalworkers; unions
I applaud their efforts but with 0bama in the WH they'll have to have a veto proof majority.
1 posted on 03/26/2015 9:44:41 AM PDT by jazusamo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

Put the rats on the record as supporting this.

bring the bill.


2 posted on 03/26/2015 9:48:24 AM PDT by cableguymn (We need a redneck in the white house....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

OK, I can vouch for this. I was a union steward before I went into management with at&t. Union officers would routinely go and play golf, surfing, snow skiing, shopping, mini vacations etc on “UA” union time that was paid for wage time by at&t. I think today there is less abuse, but it was horrible in the 1990’s.


3 posted on 03/26/2015 9:51:33 AM PDT by realcleanguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo
I applaud their efforts but with 0bama in the WH they'll have to have a veto proof majority.

Gosh, what a good time to put forward a whole lot of bills, so that the White House lead by Obama can veto them left and right. 'We need the White House so we can restrain the government and bring it back under the people's control.'

Running from fights because 'they can't be won' is a big reason why we're in this disaster right now.

4 posted on 03/26/2015 9:51:45 AM PDT by kingu (Everything starts with slashing the size and scope of the federal government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cableguymn

Absolutely...After what Gov. Walker has done in WI and the favorable nationwide reaction to it this will put the spotlight on the Rats support for these union slugs.


5 posted on 03/26/2015 9:52:05 AM PDT by jazusamo (0bama to go 'full-Mussolini' after elections: Mark Levin....and the turkey has.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: jazusamo

Do it in their off time.


6 posted on 03/26/2015 10:08:04 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DoodleDawg

Yep, if they want to be active in a union they have every right to be...On their own time.


7 posted on 03/26/2015 10:14:53 AM PDT by jazusamo (0bama to go 'full-Mussolini' after elections: Mark Levin....and the turkey has.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson