Federal labor unions striking back after Trump revokes union rights for federal employees

President Trump has issued a new executive order, stripping additional federal workers of their union rights. This move has sparked controversy, with unions arguing that it is retaliation, not about national security.

The executive order does not apply to all federal employee unions. Instead, it targets those that have challenged Trump in court over issues like mass layoffs and leaves unions that support him untouched. This includes unions representing law enforcement and Customs and Border Protection employees. However, unions like the one led by Cole Gandy at the Agriculture Department have lost their contracts.

Gandy, who works with Customs and Border Protection inspectors, has been trying to assure union members that this isn't the end. He contends that Trump's attack on unions has nothing to do with national security, but is retaliation. The unions have been trying to convince the courts of this, pointing out inconsistencies in multiple lawsuits.

Judges have ruled that Trump can move forward while litigation continues, citing his unique responsibility for safeguarding national security. However, the courts involved in the legal proceedings regarding the dissolution of collective bargaining rights by Trump are not explicitly named in the provided search results.

The VA has told unions to clear out of federal buildings, with Sharda Fornnarino, a union representative at the Denver VA, being informed that nearly all of its collective bargaining agreements were being ended. Fornnarino, an outpatient surgery nurse and local director for the union National Nurses United, has spent time advocating for things like training for nurses who are floated to different departments and enhanced safety on the job.

The VA has defended its decision, stating, "those hours can now be used to serve veterans instead of union bosses." Fornnarino contests this statement, calling it "propaganda." Last year, employees like Fornnarino spent 750,000 hours of taxpayer-funded time on union activities. Collective bargaining agreements at the VA, such as Fornnarino's, spell out things like disciplinary procedures, parental leave policies, how overtime is managed, and much more.

The executive order comes after other agencies, including HHS and the VA, have terminated union contracts. Some federal workers are quitting their jobs, having decided that a government job is no longer worth it. Gandy, however, remains determined to continue the fight to be a union. His day job involves training Customs and Border Protection inspectors on how to stop pests from entering the country.

President Trump says the move is necessary to protect national security. However, the unions contend that the president's actions are about something else. The legal battle continues as the unions fight to protect their rights and the rights of federal workers.

Federal labor unions striking back after Trump revokes union rights for federal employees