SLC Times

Senator Lee introduces the No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act

Jul 31, 2024

WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act, legislation that would prohibit the misuse of taxpayer dollars for union-related activities by federal employees during work hours.

“Taxpayers should not be burdened with the cost of federal employees engaging in union activities,” said Senator Lee. “Federal salaries are funded by the taxpayers, who rightfully expect federal employees to work on their assigned duties while on the clock. The No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act ensures that union-related activities are conducted on personal time and at personal expense.”

Since the passage of the Civil Service Reform Act in 1978, the practice known as “official time” has allowed federal employees to use work hours for union-related activities and to handle cases before the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). This means federal employees can engage in union work, represent bargaining unit employees and advance union causes while being paid by the taxpayer.

The cost of this practice to the American taxpayer is significant. According to a 2016 report by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), federal employees spent 3.6 million hours on union-related business at a cost of $177.2 million. Under the Trump Administration, this number dropped to 2.6 million hours, costing $134.9 million. However, due to a lack of unified reporting requirements, the last available data is from 2019, creating a transparency gap in the current use of official time.

The No Union Time on the Taxpayer’s Dime Act will amend Section 7131 of Title 5 of the U.S. Code to explicitly prohibit using official time for federal employees. The updated law will state:

Any activities performed by an employee relating to the business of a labor organization shall be performed during non-duty status.

The legislation is endorsed by Heritage Action, Americans for Prosperity, and the National Right to Work Committee.

No Union Time on Taxpayer’s Dime Act: One-pager | Bill text