Legislation Would Repeal Order Ending Collective Bargaining for Federal Employees

A bill recently introduced with bipartisan support seeks to repeal the recent Trump administration executive order that would end collective bargaining for unionized federal employees at several agencies with national security missions.

On April 1, Congressmen Jared Golden of Maine and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania introduced the Protect America’s Workforce Act, which would nullify the March 27 executive order that aims to stop collective bargaining with federal unions at agencies including the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of State.

“In his order, President Trump said that federal workers’ rights are incompatible with national security. He is wrong,” said Golden, in a statement.

“Union workers make America stronger every single day, including the 6,000 federal workers in Maine. Throughout our history, unions have ensured workers got a fair shake in the workplace. Unions built our middle class and are key to strengthening its future. We cannot have a government that undermines workers’ rights.”

Numerous unions have voiced their support for the legislation’s goal of repealing the recent executive order, which has already kicked off a legal battle.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), for example, issued a statement urging both houses of Congress to immediately take up and pass this bipartisan legislation.”

National Federation of Federal Employees National President Randy Erwin described the executive order as “blatantly illegal and unconstitutional,” and “a direct attack” on workers and American democracy.

“It is clear from this legislation that even lawmakers from the President’s own party recognize that ending collective bargaining for workers is indefensible,” Erwin continued. “Members of Congress know that their constituents and Americans across the country will suffer if this executive order is implemented.”