Legislation has been reintroduced in the House that would repeal provisions in place since 1978 authorizing federal employees to be compensated for collective bargaining during their official duty hours in the federal workplace.
OPM describes official time in this capacity as "paid time off from assigned government duties to represent a union or its bargaining unit employees."
The Federal Employee Accountability Act of 2013, HR-107, is sponsored by Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga. Gingrey objects to federal employees conducting union business "on the taxpayers dime" and claims that over $1 billion has been paid to federal employees for union work.
The bill also would repeal a provision requiring the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine what percentage of time spent on union activity qualifies as official duty time.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
