Federal workers and their unions are under attack. Through three executive orders, the White House is trying to make it easier to fire federal workers and weaken their unions.
AFSCME, along with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and allies across the country, isn’t standing for it.
On Wednesday – the same day that AFSCME, AFGE and several other unions will be challenging the constitutionality of Trump’s executive orders – AFGE will also be hosting a rally in front of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Other actions will be held nationwide to protest what AFGE has called an attempt to “shred workers’ rights.”
Wednesday is also #RedforFeds day. Wear red to show solidarity for federal government workers whose rights are being threatened.
AFSCME, AFGE, and other unions representing federal employees will be arguing the case in federal court on Wednesday.
At our union’s 43rd International Convention, AFSCME delegates passed a resolution in support of federal workers.
“AFSCME will continue to defend the federal workforce from unfair political attacks,” the resolution says. “AFSCME opposes all proposals to restrict workers’ due-process rights, workplace protections, collective bargaining rights and the capacity of federal employee unions to represent workers effectively.”
Strong unions are needed now more than ever, not just for the workers who join them but for communities that rely on quality public services. At a time when many Americans continue to struggle to make ends meet and public services are under attack, it needs to be easier, not harder, for workers to join in strong unions.