AWF Urges An “Official Time” Policy Rider In Workers Appropriations Process

ATR ^ | 2011-10-13 | Christopher Prandoni

[92nina]

Today, the Alliance for Worker Freedom, an affiliate of Americans for Tax Reform, sent a letter to the hill explaining how implementing an "official time" policy would save the taxpayer money. You may view the full letter here.

A study conducted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for FY 2008 found that, among 61 federal departments and agencies, close to 3 million hours of official time was used in arbitration and collective bargaining. The report found that federal expenditures for these activities totaled $120,730,471, an increase of over $7 million from the previous year. Click here to see the full letter.

Let’s remember that our country now has one of the largest federal civilian workforces in its history, with over 80,000 employees making over $150,000 a year. On average, federal workers are making 30-40% more than their counterparts in the private sector.

As if big benefits, high pay, and "golden" pension plans weren’t enough, public sector union members’ goal is to increase the size and scope of government. This self-serving goal should be done on their own dime—not ours. That government employees are permitted to waste so many work-hours at taxpayer expense is unseemly and unnecessary, especially given the economic burdens many Americans face today. Republicans cannot promise a smaller, more fiscally responsible government if we cannot commit to reforming the government we already have.

Read more: http://www.atr.org/awf-urges-official-time-policy-rider-a6527#ixzz1b3PhbfJH

[92nina]

A time policy rider would discount official time being used during certain union activities, amounting to massive taxpayer savings.

Take this article and others I found to the fight to the Libs on their own turf; put the Left on the defensive at Digg and at Reddit and in Stumbleupon and Delicious

[muawiyah]

A return to the time when federal employees who sought promotion were required to pass a test appropriate to the higher level position would help a tremendous amount to eliminate the need for arbitration and collective bargaining activities.

Over the last three decades, as that administrative time has skyrocketed we have seen virtually every civil service type test eliminated. The consequence is you bring people into administrative and management positions who are ILL SUITED to handle the intellectual components of their jobs.

Frequently those tests disappeared as part of a "consent decree" involving a faux civil rights contest. Since we already have EEOC to adjudicate civil rights complaints within the government as well as several other OPM processes that can rule in the same areas there's little need for any separate adjudication ~ with unions or otherwise.

Getting better trained and more capable supervisors is a great idea for the federales. It's long overdue ~ even at the top with the SES and the appointees above them, testing in subject matter related to the job would be a very good idea.

I know there are those who will claim that "testing" overlooks the opportunity to bring up otherwise charming and erudite individuals to management levels, but the cold, hard facts are that we already have far more than anyone's fair share of BS artists in the federal government at every level. Finding out if they have any practical knowledge is certainly worth the price.

[92nina]

You make all the right points I think.