According to an article in the National Journal, Representative Phil Gingrey (R-Ga) will reintroduce the 2011 Federal Employee Accountability Act in the 113th Congress. The measure would repeal two sections of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act that allow federal employees to work official hours to perform union functions; official time is defined as collective bargaining, arbitration and any other matter deemed necessary for official time by management and union representatives.

Gingrey introduced the legislation first in 2009 and again in 2011. According to the article, Gingrey cites a survey by the Office of Personnel Management which showed that over three million official-time hours were used in collective bargaining or arbitration of grievances during fiscal 2010. Gingrey estimates that repealing this official-time rule would save more than $686 million over five years and more than $1.3 billion over 10 years.

Source: WKL&B Editorial Staff