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Washington, D.C.— The nation’s largest independent union of federal employees supports the concept contained in proposed legislation that would allow federal workers to use for personal travel frequent flier miles accumulated through travel on government business, its leader said today. Under present law, employees are required to turn their frequent flier miles earned through business travel back to their agencies.

President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) added, however, that extending to federal workers the right to use business frequent flier miles for personal travel—a benefit which is widespread throughout the private sector—“does nothing to alleviate the pressing need for competitive pay, more affordable health care and other family-friendly benefits” for members of the federal workforce.

NTEU, which represents 150,000 employees in 25 agencies and departments, has long recognized that federal workers should be rewarded for saving taxpayers’ money, Kelley said, noting that NTEU has been the leader in negotiating “gainsharing” programs in which employees share with their agencies savings generated in travel and other activities.

The union has negotiated “gainsharing” programs with the Internal Revenue Service, IRS Office of Chief Counsel, and, on a pilot basis, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Clearly, the concept contained in this legislation would be a positive move” in making federal employment more competitive with the private sector, Kelley said.

“All too often, given their heavy workloads and the demands of their personal lives, frequent travel for federal employees on official business can be a hardship. Providing this small benefit would be a step toward improving the quality of their lives—and it would be another tool that benefits both their agencies and America’s taxpayers by helping attract and retain the quality employees government needs,” she said.