John,

In the dead of night, Donald Trump’s administration issued a disgraceful and retaliatory Executive Order declaring war on federal workers by denying their collective bargaining rights.

The order claimed that the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 enabled “hostile Federal unions” that have “declared war on President Trump’s agenda.”^[1] This attack on federal workers is an attack on everything the government does. It is an attack on Social Security, public health and safety protections, on our veterans and the nurses who care for them, and on our national parks.

The unions stated in response:^[2]

"The message is clear that to avoid the draconian effects of the Exclusion Order, unions must fall in line with the President’s agenda, cease all efforts to speak out against or challenge in court the President’s policies, and demonstrate to the President’s satisfaction that they will 'work with him' in the future.”

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and other unions have filed a temporary restraining order to block the executive order pending further litigation.^[3] You can support federal workers in their court battle by signing the grassroots amicus brief that is fighting back against Trump and his union-busting ways.

The Congressional Labor Caucus issued the following statement:^[4]

“Collective bargaining is the strongest tool that workers have available to create a fair workplace. This action strips away those hard-earned rights – which have been upheld by presidents from both parties for decades – from federal workers who keep our country running, including nurses who care for veterans, inspectors who keep our food safe to eat, teachers who educate our children, and so many more.

“Furthermore, this EO not only undermines the principles of fair labor practices but also threatens the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal government, jeopardizing the delivery of critical services to the American people. The freedom to join a union and collectively bargain is central to achieving the American dream for millions of American workers. This action is the single most anti-worker and anti-union presidential action since Ronald Reagan fired striking air traffic controllers in 1981, and it must be reversed immediately.”

According to the unions’ lawsuit, this order affects 75% of federal workers represented by unions and affects the Department of Justice, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Health and Human Services, among many others. Multiple federal agencies are now suing to void existing contracts with unions and to prevent unions from collecting dues from worker paychecks, affecting at least 100,000 of the National Treasury Employees Union’s 158,000 members.

Trump’s order claims to be in response to national security concerns, but that’s plainly ridiculous. Elon Musk and Donald Trump don’t like that AFGE and NTEU are standing up for their members against attempts to politicize the civil service, chaotically fire federal employees, and cut services to the American people. These federal workers have had union rights since before America went to the moon. A union nurse at the VA or a Treasury worker trying to make sure billionaires pay taxes aren’t a threat to national security.

Under current law, federal workers are not allowed to strike or to bargain over wages. But they can negotiate about working conditions and stand in the way against decimating services. That’s what Trump wants to stop. It’s part of his far-reaching attack on every institution with power to oppose him.

We can’t let Trump and Musk get away with this. Sign onto the grassroots amicus brief and support federal union workers today.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, CHN Action

[1]Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Exempts Agencies with National Security Missions from Federal Collective Bargaining Requirements
[2]Unions move to block Trump from nixing bargaining for federal workers
[3]EMPLOYMENT_TRUMP_BARGAINING_motion_for_TRO.pdf
[4]Labor Caucus Leads All House Democrats in Defending Federal Workers’ Collective Bargaining Rights