On July 17, a broad coalition of lawmakers and labor leaders rallied on Capitol Hill to demand immediate congressional action to restore union rights for nearly one million federal workers.
The press conference marked the formal launch of a discharge petition to force a House vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act (H.R. 2550) – a bipartisan bill that would overturn President Trump’s March 27 executive order attempting to strip union rights from large segments of the federal workforce.
“If you support federal workers, if you support veterans who make up a third of the workforce, if you support human rights in the workplace – sign the petition,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley at the press event. “Workers, the labor movement, and the country are watching.”
The executive order – issued under the false pretense of national security – attempted to strip nearly a million civil servants of their union rights guaranteed under the law. For many, it means losing union representation, grievance rights, workplace protections, and a seat at the table to raise concerns about safety, staffing, discrimination, and more.
H.R. 2550 would reverse this unprecedented act of union-busting and restore collective bargaining rights to the affected workers. The bill already has bipartisan support, with a majority of House members signed on as co-sponsors – including both Democrats and Republicans.
“Strong unions make our workplaces safer and more efficient,” said Kelley, a veteran and former local president at an Army depot. “Claiming that collective bargaining harms national security is nothing more than a ruse to silence hardworking federal employees.”
What Is a Discharge Petition?
In Congress, a discharge petition is a procedural tool that allows a majority of House members – 218 to be exact – to bypass committee leadership and bring a bill directly to the floor for a vote. It’s rarely used, but when lawmakers believe a bill has the votes to pass but is being held up by political obstruction, the discharge petition provides a path forward.
With a majority already supporting H.R. 2550, the discharge petition is the quickest and most direct way to move this critical legislation forward for a vote.
The Capitol Hill event featured remarks from:
Each speaker emphasized that collective bargaining is not just about labor. It’s about good government. When workers can speak up about unsafe conditions, poor management, or discriminatory practices without fear of retaliation, services improve and taxpayer dollars are better spent.
What’s Next
AFGE and its allies are mobilizing across the country to urge every House member to sign the discharge petition and bring the Protect America’s Workforce Act to the floor. Members of the public can help by calling their representatives at 844-994-4554 or visiting act.aflcio.org.
This is a defining moment for federal workers – and for every member of Congress who claims to stand with America’s workforce. The votes are there. The public is behind it. Now it’s time to act.
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