FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2025
September 17, 2025
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
AFGE Applauds Introduction of Senate Bill to Restore Union Rights to Federal Employees
Categories:
Congress
Senate introduces bipartisan bill as House nears threshold to compel vote
WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees strongly supports the bipartisan introduction of Senate legislation that would overturn President Trump’s March executive order stripping more than 1 million federal workers of their collective bargaining rights.
The Protect America’s Workforce Act was introduced today in the Senate by Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia, Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland, Chuck Schumer of New York, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, and Alex Padilla of California. The bill has 48 original sponsors, including every member of the Democratic caucus as well as Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. It is a companion to House legislation introduced in April that currently has the bipartisan support of 222 lawmakers.
“President Trump’s March executive order stripping most of the federal workforce of collective bargaining rights represents the single most aggressive action taken by the federal government against organized labor in U.S. history, dwarfing any previous action against public or private sector working Americans,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said.
“AFGE members are grateful to Sen. Warner for introducing the Protect America’s Workforce Act and standing up for the nonpartisan civil service, the women and men who serve in it, and the critical role that collective bargaining has played for decades in fostering a safe, productive, and collaborative workplace that serves the American people.”
Due to inaction from House leadership on bringing the bill to a vote, lawmakers have introduced a discharge petition that would bring the bill to the House floor for an immediate vote – bypassing the typical procedural impediments.
The discharge petition needs 218 signatures to compel a vote on the House bill. So far, the petition has been signed by 216 members of Congress: 213 Democrats and 3 Republicans.
AFGE encourages its members to call their congressional offices and make sure that their representative has sponsored the discharge petition to bring the Protect America’s Workforce Act to a vote.
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