OPM Press Release “FY2016 Official Time Report Highlighting Taxpayer Funded Union Time”

I recently read a Press Release from the Office of Communications, Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The release was entitled “FY2016 Official Time Report Highlighting Taxpayer Funded Union Time Released by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management.” I was immediately struck by the inherent bias of the release which referred to “official union time” as “taxpayer funded union time.” Obviously, the intent was to suggest that taxpayers are bearing the burden to fund union official time. The article does not mention the historical give and take of the law which established official time. Instead, OPM attempts to attack federal employees who receive protection on the job from their union against unscrupulous management officials who subject them to unfair treatment. Considering management has a staff of attorneys and personnel specialists on their side to prosecute the employees, all on the taxpayer’s dime, it seems only fair the “poor working man” has somebody on their side to protect their rights. If OPM wants to issue a press release, maybe it should issue a release about how it cannot issue disability decisions in a timely manner. Hard-working federal employees, who become disabled and lose their jobs through no fault of their own, are left to wait on OPM to process their disability applications. During OPM’s long delays when the employees are not receiving any monies, the employee’s credit is ruined and sometimes they are forced into bankruptcy/foreclosure, all because OPM cannot timely review their disability applications and issue decisions. Now that is an injustice!!!