House Forces Vote on Bill to Restore Federal Worker Collective Bargaining Rights
Legislation that would restore collective bargaining rights to thousands of federal workers is moving forward in Congress.
Members of the House of Representatives received enough signatures to file a discharge petition and force a floor vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act (H.R. 2550). Five Republicans joined with House Democrats to hit the 218 signatures required to file the petition. Two Republicans from New York, Representatives Mike Lawler and Nick LaLota, signed the petition, which had been stuck on 216 signatures for months.
The legislation would nullify President Trump’s executive orders that banned collective bargaining at most federal agencies under the auspices of national security.
The bill is opposed by House leadership.
Lead sponsor, Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), says under House rules the vote could be held as early as December 2. However, the legislation could be packaged in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual Pentagon budget package that is expected to pass both houses of Congress next month.
Supporters believe putting the language restoring collective bargaining into the NDAA is the better way to go, since it might be too controversial to pass on its own in the Senate. And if it does get stripped out, then supporters will lean on the discharge petition.
“There will have to be a vote on it,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), “one way or the other way.”
A companion bill is in the Senate, with the support of all Democrats and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
Executive Orders
The legislation nullifies a pair of executive orders from President Trump that prohibit collective bargaining at most federal agencies under the auspices of national security. The first order signed in March prohibited collective bargaining at 18 federal agencies. A second order signed in August added another six agencies.
The White House said in a fact sheet that certain unions “have declared war on President Trump’s agenda” and say the change is necessary to protect national security.
Union leaders who have challenged the orders in court, hailed the move from the House and called for a vote.
“An independent, apolitical civil service is one of the bedrocks of American democracy,” said American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National President Everett Kelley. “Today, lawmakers stood up together to defend that principle and to affirm that federal workers must retain their right to collective bargaining.”