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An employee representing a union is entitled to
official time for representational purposes including while negotiating a collective
bargaining agreement during the time the employee otherwise would be in a duty status. The
entitlement extends to time expended in proceedings designed to resolve an impasse in
negotiations. The number of union officials authorized official time for negotiations is
generally set forth in groundrules but normally may not exceed the number of management
officials designated for this purpose.
To the extent the union and management agree
that official time is reasonable, necessary, and in the public interest, an employee may
also be given official time when representing the union. Similarly, bargaining unit
employees may be given official time in connection with any other matter covered under 5
U.S.C. Chapter 71.
- Union officials usually perform their union functions on an as-needed or on-call basis
and remain assigned to the primary duties for which they are employed. There are
situations, however, where the union and management have agreed to full-time union
representatives.
Collective bargaining agreements usually establish procedures for
union representatives to follow in requesting official time. Such procedures often require
supervisory approval, identify the criteria under which supervisors may deny official time
or schedule its use, and identify the purposes for which union representatives may use
official time.
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The Federal Labor Relations Authority determines
to what extent employees participating for, or on behalf of a union, in proceedings before
the Authority may be authorized official time during the time the employee otherwise would
be in a duty status.
Employees may not be authorized official time to conduct internal
union business. This includes the solicitation of membership, elections of union
officials, and the collection of dues. All such activities must be performed while the
employee is in a non-duty status. |
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