Following the Trump administration’s illegal firing of 4,000 employees, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston granted an emergency temporary restraining order at the request of AFGE and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) that orders the administration to halt any additional firings and bars them from carrying out the firings in offices at the defendant agencies where the unions represent employees or have members. On Oct. 17, the judge expanded the order to include members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU), National Association of Government Employees (SEIU-NAGE) and the National Federation of Federal Employees (IAM-NFFE).
During the Oct. 17 hearing, the judge made clear that the temporary restraining order applies to all union members – even those whose contracts were terminated by the administration.
The Trump administration recently stated it believes the order does not apply to agencies that have terminated their collective bargaining agreements under implementation of President Trump’s illegal executive order, which excluded several agencies from collective bargaining.
AFGE and a group of unions are actively suing the Trump administration over the EO, as it violates workers’ First Amendment right to form a union.
The time to join a union is NOW
For nine months, the administration has relentlessly attacked federal employees’ jobs, dignity, and the rights to belong to a union. They have slashed essential services provided to the American people and have made it clear that they have no plans on stopping.
The most important way for employees to protect their paychecks and have a voice on the job is through union membership. The only way AFGE can continue to fight for its members and federal workers in the workplace, in the courts, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and in the streets is if we have a strong, mobilized membership.
The Trump administration is just getting started, making good on its promises to dismantle federal agencies while firing and traumatizing the workforce. AFGE has been fighting back and winning in court.
AFGE has accomplished significant wins as the leader in the fight to protect federal employees’ jobs and services. Union membership is more important than ever.
How to join AFGE and get involved
Get behind the union wall of protection today. If you’re already a member of AFGE, we encourage you to take the next step by getting actively involved. The stronger our union is, the more powerful our collective voice is.
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