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We oppose Trump's Executive order as it unjustly strips collective bargaining rights from a majority of federal employees, undermines labor protections, and weakens workforce morale and accountability.
In a significant move affecting the federal
workforce, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to revoke collective
bargaining rights for a substantial portion of federal employees. This action is
another part of the administration's ongoing efforts to reshape the federal
bureaucracy and assert greater control over its operations.
Scope of the Executive Order
The executive order targets agencies deemed to have
national security responsibilities, invoking provisions from the Civil Service
Reform Act of 1978. Traditionally, this act allowed the president to exclude
agencies primarily engaged in national security work from collective bargaining
obligations. However, the current order expands this exclusion to include
departments such as Agriculture, Defense, Health and Human Services, Justice,
State, and Veterans Affairs and agencies like the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The
Transportation Secretary has also been authorized to exclude the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) and other subdivisions from labor rights. This
expansion could affect approximately 67% of the federal workforce and 75% of
unionized federal employees.
Rationale and Justification
The administration asserts that the Civil Service
Reform Act grants the president authority to end collective bargaining in
agencies with vital national security missions. The White House contends that
certain federal unions have obstructed the president's agenda, and this order is
a response to ensure that union activities do not interfere with efforts to
protect Americans and national interests.
Union Response and Legal Challenges
Federal employee unions have strongly opposed the
executive order, viewing it as a direct attack on workers' rights and a
retaliatory measure against unions that have challenged the administration's
policies. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing
over 800,000 federal workers, has announced plans for immediate legal action to
contest the order. AFGE National President Everett Kelley described the move as
"a disgraceful and retaliatory attack on the rights of hundreds of
thousands of patriotic American civil servants—nearly one-third of whom are
veterans—simply because they are members of a union that stands up to his
harmful policies."
Similarly, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler condemned the
order as a blatant attempt to silence unions that have opposed the
administration's actions in court, pledging to fight the measure vigorously.
Broader Context
This executive order is part of a series of actions by
the Trump administration to reduce the influence of federal labor unions and
increase managerial control over the federal workforce. Earlier initiatives
included making it easier to terminate federal employees and limiting the scope
of collective bargaining agreements. The administration argues that these
measures are necessary to enhance efficiency and accountability within federal
agencies.
Implications and Next Steps
By Implementing this executive order, significant
legal challenges from federal employee unions and advocacy groups are expected.
The outcome of these legal battles will have profound implications for labor
relations within the federal government. It could set precedents affecting the
balance of power between the executive branch and federal employees. As the
situation develops, it will be crucial to monitor how these changes impact the
functioning and morale of the federal workforce.
Government Related Links:
Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs (The White House, 3-27-25)
Fact Sheet: President Trump Exempts Agencies with National Security Missions from Federal Collective Bargaining Requirements (The White House, 3-27-25)
Guidance on Executive Order Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Programs PDF (OPM, 3-27-05)
Union Related Links:
AFGE President Everett Kelley Issues Strong Rebuke to Retaliatory Executive Order Targeting Federal Employees' Union Rights (AFGE, 3-27-25)
AFL-CIO President on Federal Collective Bargaining Executive Order: “Very Definition of Union-Busting” (AFL-CIO, 3-27-25)
Related Articles:
Trump administration moves to end union rights for many federal workers (The Hill, 3-27-25)
Trump administration moves to end union rights for many federal workers (The New York Times. 3-28-25)
Trump signs order ending union bargaining rights for wide swaths of federal employees (NPR, 3-28-25)
Trump moves to strip unionization rights from most federal workers (Politico, 3-28-25)