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The Politics (and Money) of Federal Union "Official Time"

Official Time

Chairman International association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Puget sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility
Thu May 1, 2008 9:57 AM

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It is my opinion that I have reached a place in the relationship with my Employer where both of us have realized that solid professional business relationships can and do present a bounty of benefit. The issue of Official Time will always be controversial if there is no professional relationship that is founded upon the same principles. In my business as a Union Official there is zero tolerance for representational duties towards the employees as well as the safeguarding and interpretation of the contractual agreement between the Employer and Employee. Honor and dedication and the record which should always proceed you should be the determining factors that establish the parameters and use of Official Time. Official Time will never be of any worth to an Employer unless their is value added by it. Union Reps need to realize that they must be a part "of" the company business, and not apart "from" it.

Re: Official Time

Agent
IRS
Thu May 8, 2008 9:42 AM
Good point but please tell me, "Why did George W Bush revoke all partnership councils between management and employees as one of his very first official acts as President of the US?" His philosophy of the employer/employee relationship is that managements' job is to manage and the employee's job is to do managements' directives without question. Forget the fact that most managers have spent little or no time doing the various tasks of the employees. Wouldn't it make more sense to ask the input of the employees to obtain a better result? Not according to George and apparently Mr. Gilson.

There you go again

Executive Director
Federal Union
Thu May 1, 2008 10:26 AM

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Just a few points...

1. So some federal union leaders get 100% offiicial time. But federal unions cannot require fees from all employees who received representation, bargain wages (generally) or strike. So what is Gilson complaining about?
2. Little of federal union members' dues go to politics. In fact, unions are forbidden from using member dues for political contributions. Dues can only be used for communications with members about politics--and government facilities and time cannot be used.
3. The Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute states that employee union representatives have the right to lobby Congress. It is then kind of logical that official time can be used for such activities.

Bob Gilson wants to cut back on Union's official time, restrict our ability to lobby Congress and to talk to our members about politics. All of this would only serve to weaken our ability to represent our members. But that appears to be what Gilson wants.

Mismanaged Negotiations?

Gils Son
Treasury
Thu May 1, 2008 10:28 AM

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I was under the impression that the exclusive employee representative (union) agents WERE performing agency work!? Sounds like FLRA agreed with me. What appears to be missing from dad's analysis is that the HR & LR types that management relies on in negotiations with unions were grossly remiss in their analysis and negotiating recommendations on the labor contracts and regulations cited at the initial negotiations. These points that are laid out should have been vetted prior to negotiations with the union by the LR/HR componets. If they went toimpasse the unions would have lost. Since management AGREED via labor agreements, management can not turn back time. Relative to the point on union dues, everyone can quit if they do not like the political aspect but these Hr/LR are paid with tax money and I have a big problem with these shoddily prepped negotiations that result in thes union boondogles!

Re: Mismanaged Negotiations?

HR specialist
retired
Thu May 1, 2008 11:47 AM
Whoa!! Have you worked in ER/LR lately? The last place I worked, management insisted on taking what they saw as the easy way out - which was to ignore the HR recommendations and get negotiations over with, regardless of the consequences. Of course, afterwards they'd blame HR, but we weren't at the table, and we weren't consulted during the negotiations.

Re: Mismanaged Negotiations?

Gils Son
Treasury
Fri May 2, 2008 6:44 AM
To HR Specialist-You mean management ignores HR/LR expertize despite their very significant roles in negotiations!? I mean no disrespect but what good are HR/LR if they are not utilized to avoid such legalistic trappings in initial negotiations? Is this true throughout the government? It would be interesting to hear from others in the field on this issue. Frankly, from the above posting it appears that management treats LR/HR like the union!?

Re: Mismanaged Negotiations?

Employee Relations Specialist
AF
Fri May 2, 2008 10:09 AM
I too have given advice to management that was ignored just to be done with the issue. Sometimes it is too painful for them.

Amazing, but not surpising

Retired
HUD
Thu May 1, 2008 10:37 AM

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Wow Mr. Gilson, have you ever written anything positive about unions? You talk about how much taxpayer money is spent by unions, but fail to mention the millions wasted on management boondoggles day in and day out. Amazing.

Incorrect statements in article

Professional staff member
Department of Energy
Thu May 1, 2008 10:55 AM

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You article makes a grievous misstatement when it says: "So what do the unions do with the money that comes from dues? You guessed right if you say it goes to political activity."

Federal employee unions are prohibited by law from using union dues for political activity. Managers who abuse employees through discrimination in hiring practices, lowballing performance evaluations, or otherwise mistreating employees have entire taxpayer-funded federal staffs to represent them, in the Offices of General Counsel and Labor Relations. Federal employees in offices without unions have no-one to defend or represent them. That's what unions do - represent employees in legal matters.

Please do not print inaccurate screeds such as this. It lowers your credibility as a source of information on federal employee matters.

Apples and oranges do not a comparison make

AFGE Litigating Attorney
AFGE
Thu May 1, 2008 11:17 AM

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Judging from your histrionic tone, and apparent lack of analytical ability, I'd say you missed quite a bit in your time in Federal service. Even with you quoting parts of the HUD and FSIS cases out of context and without understanding, the distinction between the two cases is simple. "Telework" is one thing, and "official time" is another. Because these 2 terms are controlled by different governing statutes, they can't be treated the same.

This means the conflict you imply is manufactured, not real. The FLRA has long held official time, including location, negotiable -precisely because the official time statute says so. All the FLRA did in FSIS was enforce the law. Quit complaining that your apple isn't an orange.

I'd respond to the rest of your rant, but it's too unfocused to warrant a response. Suffice it to say that those federal employees (i.e. taxpayers) who have benefited from union representation likely disagree. Oh, and your funding argument is tired; give it a rest.

Your bias

Boatswains Mate William Bushey
Military ealift Fleet Spport Command
Thu May 1, 2008 11:27 AM

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Get a grip brother! If it wasn't for the Federal and Industrial unions that reppresent employees in the federal government, you wouldn't HAVE a federal govement! Uncle Sam's managers and directors are without a doubt the worst employer and dedicated hatchet men and women the planet. I thank my lucky stars each and every day for the representation I get from my union.
Bear in mind that those same agencies you lament as losing taxpayers dollars to union activity use taxpayer money to screw the employees being protected and advocated for.

Total Comments: 42
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