President Trump issued a sweeping Executive Order and related Fact Sheet invoking “national security” grounds to end collective bargaining with federal unions. Here are the facts about this outrageous and unprecedented attack on federal workers—and on the Labor movement itself.
FACT: Federal unions do not undermine national security!
- Federal civil servants dutifully protect and serve our nation every day and having a union has never changed that.
- Many federal workers are veterans. Taking away their rights to a representative and a voice in the workplace by claiming it threatens “national security” shows disdain and disrespect for their lifelong dedication to public service.
FACT: This is retaliation against unions for standing up for the workers they represent.
- Unions, including the IAM, have been fighting Trump’s effort to ruthlessly terminate tens of thousands of federal workers in violation of laws and CBAs that prevent such arbitrary terminations. Trump cites unions filing grievances to protect workers’ rights and jobs as the rationale for his EO. Trump’s effort now to get rid of the Unions that protect those workers is retaliation for exercising rights protected by federal law.
FACT: Collective bargaining rights for federal workers do not negatively impact the government.
- Trump cites the very existence of binding collective bargaining agreements to protect employee working conditions as “dangerous.” But presidents from both parties have upheld the right of federal workers to union representation for decades. CBAs provide both management and employees with guideposts for an efficient and fair workplace.
FACT: Taking away workers’ unions makes things worse, not more efficient!
- By eliminating employee unions’ collective bargaining rights, it becomes harder for federal employees to do their jobs. They will face retaliation without any grievance process to address issues. These are the people who take care of our veterans and protect our country, who enforce laws and protect the health and safety of the public.
FACT: This EO is designed to take away workers’ protections and unions’ abilities to fight back.
- Ending payroll dues deduction is another direct attempt to attack unions’ ability to fight for workers. Anti-union forces always want to make it harder for members to contribute to their representation, because they hope that it will stop financial support for unions that fight back to protect workers.
- The agencies Trump targeted are described as having critical national security missions—but these are the same agencies that he and his Elon Musk-led DOGE team are targeting for massive layoffs and budget cuts. They are stripping union representation away from workers right when they need it most!
The IAM is working with other unions representing federal employees to mount a legal challenge to this unprecedented attack on federal workers. We will not sit back and watch workers lose the right to representation and a voice on the job!
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