22 U.S.C. § 4118 — Administrative provisions

(a) If an individual gives the Department a written assignment authorizing salary deductions for the exclusive representative’s regular periodic dues, the Department must honor it at no cost to the individual or representative. Unless (b) applies, it cannot be revoked for one year after signing. (b) The assignment ends when (1) the organization loses exclusive-representative status; (2) the person no longer receives a Department Service salary; or (3) the person is suspended or expelled from the organization. (c) While no organization is certified as exclusive representative, the Department must negotiate with an organization whose valid Board-approved petition alleges that 10 percent of Department employees belong to it. Negotiations may concern only deducting that organization’s dues from salaries of members who voluntarily allot money for that purpose. The agreement ends when an exclusive representative is certified for covered employees. (d)(1) An employee representing the exclusive representative in bargaining, including impasse proceedings, must receive official time during hours otherwise in duty status. The number cannot exceed the number of Department representatives designated for that work. (2) Internal union activities, including soliciting members, electing officials, and collecting dues, must occur while the employee is off duty. (3) Except for paragraph (1), the Board decides whether an employee participating for or on behalf of a labor organization in Board proceedings receives official time. (4) Except for paragraphs (1)–(3), an employee representing the exclusive representative or handling another matter under this subchapter receives the amount of official time the Department and representative agree is reasonable, necessary, and in the public interest.