Federal unions cannot bargain over pay, holidays, vacation time or other federal fringe benefits. Yet tens of thousands of government workers belong to them. Senior...
In the private sector, unions typically bargain over pay and fringe benefits. In some places, workers (or a percentage of workers) must belong to the union. Or at least pay dues.
But when you work for the federal government your fringe package: retirement benefits, number of paid holidays, amount of sick leave and 401k plan benefits – is set by Congress. When it comes to pay raises, the amount white-collar federal workers get each January is set by Congress and the White House. And there is no requirement to belong to or pay dues to unions that represent you.
The big exception is the heavily-unionized U. S. Postal Service where unions and management bargain over pay raises. But while the USPS is big, most federal employees don’t work there.
So if they can’t bargain over wages (outside of the U.S. Postal Service) and benefits what do unions do?
The short answer is plenty. And much of what they do isn’t immediately – or ever – visible because it involves lobbying Congress.
Last year, federal unions, and groups representing supervisors, managers, executives and retirees teamed up and won a number of both new, and long-sought perks for feds.
Having a Democratic Congress and a Democrat in the White House last year helped greatly. Most of the candidates federal unions endorsed were Democrats and 2009 was payback time.
But unions are also doing a variety of things from boycotts to bike races:
Meantime, the AFL-CIO is holding its convention this week in Detroit.
To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com
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