FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 02, 2025
April 02, 2025
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-639-6405/202-374-6491
[email protected]
AFGE Applauds Bipartisan Bill to Protect Union Rights, Urges Immediate Passage
Categories:
Congress, White House
Abolishing union rights for federal workers will diminish public services
WASHINGTON – American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National President Everett Kelley today issued the following statement in response to bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and co-sponsored by Reps. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), and Mike Turner (R-Ohio), to protect federal employees from unlawful attempts to take away their union rights:
“AFGE commends Representatives Jared Golden and Brian Fitzpatrick and their colleagues Reps. Donald Norcross, Mark Pocan, Debbie Dingell, Nick LaLota, Mike Lawler, and Mike Turner for their courageous leadership in standing up for federal workers and their fundamental union rights. We also thank Rep. Fitzpatrick for spearheading a letter signed by himself and seven of his Republican colleagues calling on President Trump to reverse his decision to strip more than a million federal workers of their collective bargaining rights under the guise of national security.
“Federal workers, nearly a third of whom are veterans, dedicate their lives to serving our nation every day with honor and pride. President Trump’s executive order stripping patriotic citizens serving their country of their union rights isn’t just wrong and un-American, it weakens workplace safety, morale, and effectiveness inside our government and harms the public through diminished services.
“Federal employees have had the right to join a union and bargain collectively for decades, under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Collective bargaining benefits the public because it helps resolve workplace conflicts early on – avoiding costly and disruptive litigation – while improving employee morale and retention. Without union representation, employees – especially whistleblowers and veterans – lose vital protections from retaliation and political interference.
“We urge both houses of Congress to immediately take up and pass this bipartisan legislation. Now is the time for lawmakers to stand up for working-class Americans across this country and use their power to protect the dignity and rights of those who proudly serve our nation.”
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