This bill mandates federal agencies to publicly report detailed information on union activities and costs related to taxpayer-funded union time.
Joni Ernst
Senator
IA
The "Taxpayer-Funded Union Time Transparency Act" mandates federal agencies to submit annual reports to Congress and publish them online, detailing the costs, purposes, and extent of taxpayer-funded union activities, including official time for union representatives, collective bargaining negotiations, and dispute resolution. These reports must include comprehensive financial data related to union activities, such as employee compensation, travel expenses, arbitration fees, and the use of agency property by labor organizations. The Comptroller General is tasked with auditing these agency reports to ensure compliance with accounting standards.
Federal Agencies Must Annually Report Detailed Union Activity Costs Under New Transparency Bill
A piece of legislation called the "Taxpayer-Funded Union Time Transparency Act" is setting up new, detailed reporting requirements for federal agencies regarding their interactions with employee unions. Starting annually by June 30th, each agency head would need to compile and publicly post a report covering the previous year's spending and resources related to union activities.
Opening the Books on Union Time
So, what's actually in these reports? The bill demands a granular level of detail. Agencies will have to tally the total cost of "official time" – that's paid time federal employees spend on union representation duties instead of their regular jobs, as authorized under section 7131 of Title 5, U.S. Code. This isn't just a total dollar figure; the report needs specifics for each employee using official time, including their position, salary, benefits cost, and the exact hours spent on these activities. Beyond personnel time, agencies must report all costs tied to collective bargaining: negotiation expenses, grievance processing, dispute resolution, arbitrator fees, travel, lodging, and even fees paid to outside experts. The bill also requires reporting on agency property used by unions, down to the square footage of real estate provided and the monetary value of that use, along with any reimbursements collected.
Transparency vs. Operational Load
On paper, the goal is transparency – letting taxpayers see exactly how much federal time and money goes towards supporting union functions within agencies. However, implementing this level of tracking looks like a significant administrative lift. Agencies will need robust systems to capture everything from hours spent by individual employees on specific union tasks to the cost of maintaining office space used by labor groups. The bill doesn't just ask for data; it demands explanations for why official time was authorized and justifications for any year-over-year increases. Furthermore, the Comptroller General is tasked with auditing agency accounting practices for these items every four years, ensuring compliance. While transparency is often seen as a positive, the sheer volume of detailed reporting could divert agency resources and potentially create a chilling effect, making employees or managers warier about engaging in or authorizing legitimate union activities due to the intense scrutiny involved.