|
|
Last week, in an outrageous display of union-busting, President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the federal government was ending its collective bargaining agreement with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, who are represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).
As the Trump administration seeks to roll back critical union protections for 47,000 TSA employees nationwide, we thought it was worth taking a look at what collective bargaining is, and why this matters.
What is collective bargaining?
At its core, collective bargaining is the fundamental right of union workers to negotiate with their employers over such things as pay, benefits and workplace safety. It creates a binding contract so workers are protected and have certainty around their job, salary and rights at work.
The 1935 National Labor Relations Act established collective bargaining as the “policy of the United States.”
Why does this matter?
Put simply, Trump’s decision to unilaterally end the collective bargaining agreement with TSA workers – which had just been negotiated and was set to last until 2031 – is an open assault on union workers and clear retaliation against AFGE for its outspoken opposition to Trump’s actions against federal workers.
“They gave as a justification a completely fabricated false claim about union officials – making clear this action has nothing to do with efficiency, safety or homeland security. This is merely a pretext for attacking the rights of regular working Americans across the country because they happen to belong to a union,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley in a statement.
What can be done about this?
While federal law generally protects workers’ right to strike, that protection does not extend to federal employees, including TSA workers.
Instead, this battle will be waged in the courts of law and public opinion. You can help by contacting your Congressmember (you can find their contact information, including their email and phone number, by visiting here) and telling them to take action to protect workers’ right to unionize and collectively bargain.
The California Federation of Labor Unions stands in strong solidarity with AFGE and the TSA workers affected by this decision. |
|
|
In Solidarity, Lorena Gonzalez |
|
