How are things where you work? Too hot, too cold or just right?

Are federal and postal unions that represent most government workers suffering political tunnel vision? Or are they doing the right/smart thing by helping friends (some friendlier than others) and ignoring or blasting foes real and perceived foes.

Or do do the unions — after years of experience — have it just about right?

When different unions endorse the same candidates campaign-after-campaign are they helping, or hurting, their members’ worklife and reflecting their members’ political preferences?

Although unions are required to “represent” most workers, most workers (outside of the U.S. Postal Service) are not dues-paying members. So, when feds say why they won’t join a union because its “too political” is that the real reason? Or are they too cheap to pay dues, but not above accepting benefits (and there have been many) won for them by unions?

Friday’s column dealt with a political look-who’s-coming-to dinner situation. A major federal union broke some ground when it invited a an important House Republican to speak at its legislative conference. He got a polite reception. A better-known, fed-friendly Democrat who followed him got a standing ovation.

So what, if anything, do feds think of a possible thaw in what has been an extended political standoff? You can check the “comments” section. Meantime, here’s what two people told us directly.

You’ll recall during your Christmas vacation break, a fill-in column by a griping federal employee who blamed all the world’s problems on the Republicans in Congress — even though when he wrote it, the Democrats held the majority in the Senate, even though Democrats had the majority in the House for Obama’s first two years and even though Congress has nothing to do with proposing raises for federal employees.

His expensive union membership overwhelmed his good sense as he griped about his lousy raises the past few years — the Obama years! — and said that after 32 years of government service, he’s leaving in perhaps the most empty promise since, “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.”

Now, after three years of no raises by his POTUS and then a 1 pay raise twice in a row, he’ll miss out on a whopping WH promise of 1.3 percent next year.

It’s a safe bet no lesson was learned and he’ll continue to vote against his own interests for many years to come. — Hal G., Indian River Shores, Florida

*”Really, Chairman Chaffetz has the chutzpah to address the NTEU and urge “rooting out the bad apples”. I say Congress’ house should be the first rooter outer! It makes me furious. I do happen, however, to agree about the SES and VA needing consequences. Along with a more equitable rating system that isn’t a small pot of money to be divvied out amongst employees with the fair haired children receiving the lion’s share of the pot and apologies to the rest of the organization that go like this: “Sorry, but you understand we love your performance, but the pot is small” — Terry

NEARLY USELESS FACTOID

By Michael O’Connell

Robert Southey published “The Story of the Three Bears” in 1837, in a collection of essays called “The Doctor”. The story had been around long before that — Southey had been telling the story as early as 1813 — but this was the first time a narrative of the story had ever been published. In this version, it was an old woman who intruded upon the bears’ home.

Source: Wikipedia

MORE FROM FEDERAL NEWS RADIO:

Rep. Edwards makes another bid to repeal pension contribution increase
Rep. Donna Edwards reintroduced the Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act to rescind the laws requiring feds hired after 2013 to pay more into their pensions than those hired before them.

SSA’s big data project speeds up transition to innovation culture
The Social Security Administration is shedding its reputation as an agency stuck in the 1980s when it comes to IT. SSA cobbled together a few leftover computers and took advantage of an open source platform to develop a new approach to conquering its big data problem and address a huge improper payment challenge.

Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.