Thanks to the lobbying and outreach efforts of AFGE and our members, the needed 218 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed a discharge petition to compel a vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act, the bipartisan Golden-Fitzpatrick legislation restoring collective bargaining rights for more than 1 million federal workers.
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) provided the decisive signatures #217 and #218 to complete the discharge petition effort which launched in June.
The persistent outreach of AFGE leaders, activists and staffers was pivotal in reaching the 218-signature threshold which ensures the bill will advance despite procedural roadblocks and reflects a rare and powerful moment of bipartisan unity in defense of the nonpartisan civil service.
“An independent, apolitical civil service is one of the bedrocks of American democracy,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “Lawmakers heard from our members and have stood together to defend that principle and to affirm that federal workers must retain their right to collective bargaining.”
As federal workers continue to face attacks on their collective bargaining rights, and the very missions of their agencies, it’s been the collective strategizing and mobilizing of AFGE members that has made it clear to lawmakers that our workplace rights are worth fighting for.
AFGE extends its deep appreciation to every Democratic and Republican member of Congress who signed the petition and demonstrated the courage to safeguard the rights of federal workers who protect our nation, care for veterans, process Social Security benefits, secure our borders, respond to disasters, and keep the government running for the American people.
AFGE also recognizes the bipartisan Senate champions who introduced the companion Protect America’s Workforce Act earlier today, reaffirming broad congressional support for protecting union rights and ensuring continuity in government services.
“AFGE will continue fighting until these essential rights are fully restored, including by fighting to retain Section 1110 of the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act,” said Kelley.
Section 1110, the bipartisan Norcross amendment to the NDAA, restores bargaining rights to hundreds of thousands of Defense Department civilians.
AFGE encourages members and supporters to thank the lawmakers who stood with federal employees and to urge the remaining members of Congress to join them.
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