We know that elections have consequences. With Republicans now controlling both Houses of Congress and the White House, the support of Democrats by federal employee unions is likely to result in changes in federal labor relations.
Federal employee unions are generally supportive of Democrats. Federal employees donating in the 2016 election cycle followed suit. Here is a breakdown from agencies with significant donations.
There have not been dramatic legislative changes in federal human resources and labor relations since 1978. That could change in 2017. Here are some of the more significant proposals for change.
The author says that unions have become a more partisan topic in government and that there are likely to be changes under the incoming presidential administration that will impact labor relations.
The author poses this question to FedSmith readers: if you currently pay or used to pay dues to a federal employee union, why did you choose to do so?
Federal unions showed the largest growth rate in membership since 2008 according to recent BLS data. The author points out, however, that federal unions have been under attack from various laws and court cases which he says presents a long term challenge for unions going forward.
A bill to require OPM to provide yearly data to Congress on union activity by federal employees is under consideration in the House.
The “Federal Employee Rights Act” would put significant restrictions on the financial stability of federal employee unions and require a majority of employees in a bargaining unit to vote in favor of union representation.
Federal employee unions have become a target in the presidential campaign, and one candidate is proposing to eliminate the ability of federal employees to join unions. Here is a summary of the proposals and how much federal employee unions have contributed to politicians.
The author says that unions, like the people they represent, come in a lot of flavors. He describes some of his own experiences which highlight both the good and the bad when it comes to unions and also says that the right leadership in agencies and unions can be a force for real progress.
