H.R. 2676: No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act

This bill, known as the "No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act," proposes to amend U.S. federal law regarding the use of "official time" by federal employees. Official time is a provision that allows federal employees who are union representatives to perform union-related activities without it counting towards their personal leave or work hours, which essentially means they are paid while conducting union business during regular work hours.

Key Provisions of the Bill

The main provision of the bill is the complete elimination of official time for federal employees. Specifically, it states that:

• Any activities performed by an employee that relate to the business of a labor organization (such as negotiating contracts, representing employees in grievances, or other union activities) must take place when the employee is not on duty. This means they would not be compensated by taxpayer dollars for time spent on union business.

Impact on Federal Employees

If this bill becomes law, federal employees who engage in union activities would need to do so outside of their regular work hours. This could affect their ability to effectively represent their fellow employees, as they would not have access to work hours for discussions or negotiations related to union matters.

Clerical Amendments

In addition to eliminating official time, the bill includes a clerical amendment to update the legal texts of the United States Code to reflect this change, specifically striking the current provision that allows official time and replacing it with the new provision reflecting its elimination.

Overall Objective

The bill aims to ensure that taxpayer funds are not used to pay federal employees while they are participating in union activities. Proponents may argue that this moves towards a more efficient use of government resources, while opponents might express concern about the potential limitations it places on labor representation among federal workers.

Relevant Companies

None found.