This is a good thing to ponder. President Kennedy allowed unions to cover federal employees even when the employees were not actually members of the union. This has had good and bad results. On the positive side, employees have the union as a protector when they feel management is unjust. In addition, the National Treasury Employees Union, for one, has effectively lobbied for timely benefits and pay increases for the career service.
On the downside, when employees perceive a management action as adverse to themselves, they will file a grievance with the union. In individual cases, this is a seemingly endless process. Because of countless cases over many years, managers have had a lot of trouble taking action against poor performers.
However, unions can speak out publicly on issues when career officials cannot for fear of retribution. For example, after the November 2008 presidential election, some political appointees refused to leave government, when leaving is the tradition after an election. With the aid of President Bush, some appointees were able to take career positions, a process called "burrowing." Unions however spoke out loudly against the practice, and attracted the attention of the press.
The Washington Post, the New York Times and other major media outlets published articles and editorials bringing the practice to the attention of the public. The New York Times was especially vocal, publishing an editorial stating: “There is, of course, nothing new in this cynical practice. Dozens of political loyalists burrowed in during the final months of the Clinton administration. But the score of Bush burrowers who have so far come to light bring with them the worst pro-business, anti-regulatory biases that have made this administration such a disaster.”
See: Editorial, “Eight Years is More Than Enough,” NY Times November 23, 2008.
Advice to Fernando. Like other powerful organizations, there is good as well as bad associated with unions. The best way to deal with unions, as with all government players, is to develop a reputation for honesty, fairness, and consistency with employees from your first day in office, and that you are always available to sit down and talk with union officials. If you become known as being arbitrary, and nasty with employees or unions, you are in for a rough time in government. We will talk more about burrowing later in Part ten, “Transition of government after election day.”