WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined 48 of his Senate colleagues to introduce the Protect America’s Workforce Act, legislation to repeal two union-busting executive orders and restore collective bargaining rights and workplace protections for federal workers.
This legislation responds to two executive orders issued earlier this year by President Trump. These executive orders revoked collective bargaining rights for most federal employees under a false national security claim. While federal employee unions don’t negotiate pay or benefits, their agreements protect workers from retaliation, discrimination, and illegal firings, and support whistleblowers and veterans.
“Unions help millions of workers exercise their fundamental right to fair pay and better working conditions,” said Hickenlooper. “Federal employees, including thousands in Colorado, deserve the opportunity to join unions. Larger unions equal an expanding middle class.”
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CRSA) grants the president authority to limit collective bargaining agreements when there is a national security concern. President Trump’s executive orders, however, sought to take advantage of the CRSA by inappropriately classifying two-thirds of the federal workforce as having national security missions in order to claim the authority needed to cancel valid union contracts.
This legislation also has the support of the AFL-CIO, Actors’ Equity Association, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of Musicians, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Communications Workers of America (CWA), Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE), Federal Education Association, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America, National Education Association, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Nurses United, National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Seafarers International Union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, United Auto Workers (UAW), United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), and United Steelworkers (USW).
Bill text is available here.
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