On the recordJune 5, 2014
the Empower Employees Act prohibits Federal agencies from automatically deducting union dues from the pay of Federal employees. The current system provided for under title 5 of the United States Code permits taxpayer resources to be used for the collection of these dues, which in turn are often used for political purposes. This legislation takes an important step in eliminating this taxpayer subsidy to organized labor by shifting the administrative burden of funding public sector unions to labor organizations and away from the American taxpayer. Federal union employees enjoy benefits far greater than those in the private sector and the unions' power to bargain is supported by the dues they automatically collect from employees' paychecks. This bill in no way prohibits Federal workers from joining a union or paying dues, but rather increases freedom and choice for American workers while decreasing the strong-hold that labor unions have on American politics and the Federal budget. ______ By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Whitehouse): S. 2441. A bill to extend the same Federal benefits to law enforcement officers serving private institutions of higher education and rail carriers that apply to law enforcement officers serving units of State and local government; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
