Coalition Statement Responding to U.S. Supreme Court Ruling
Public Service Unions, Small Business, Veterans and Conservation Organizations and Rule of Law Advocates Vow to Continue Fight
WASHINGTON – In response to today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court granting the government’s request for a stay of the preliminary injunction against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) blocking the firings of thousands of federal workers, the coalition of plaintiffs and co-counsel in the case released the following statement:
"There is no doubt that thousands of public service employees were unlawfully fired in an effort to cripple federal agencies and their crucial programs that serve millions of Americans every day. Today’s order by the U.S. Supreme Court is deeply disappointing but is only a momentary pause in our efforts to enforce the trial court’s orders and hold the federal government accountable.“Despite this setback, our coalition remains unwavering in fighting for these workers who were wronged by the administration, and in protecting the freedoms of the American people. In fact, plaintiffs will be back in court tomorrow developing alternative grounds for relief. This battle is far from over."
The plaintiffs in this case consist of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE); American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); the Main Street Alliance; the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks; the Common Defense Civic Engagement; the Western Watersheds Project; AFGE Local 1216; AFGE Local 2110; VoteVets; and United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP); American Public Health Association; American Geophysical Union; the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO; Climate Resilient Communities; and Point Blue Conservation Science.
The plaintiffs are represented by the law firm of Altshuler Berzon LLP and the State Democracy Defenders Fund (SDDF). The state of Washington is represented by the Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown.