Murkowski Joins Colleagues to Protect Federal Workers’ Collective Bargaining Rights

Murkowski Joins Colleagues to Protect Federal Workers' Collective Bargaining Rights

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is proud to join as a co-sponsor in 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 that have benefitted our nation for decades.

This legislation comes in response to two executive orders issued earlier this year by President Trump. These executive orders revoked collective bargaining rights for a majority of federal employees. While federal employee unions do not negotiate pay or benefits, collective bargaining agreements do protect federal employees from retaliation, discrimination, and illegal firings, while promoting resources for whistleblowers and veterans.

"Collective bargaining rights and workplace protections have lifted up federal employees across the United States for decades, protecting them from unsafe working conditions and political retribution," said Senator Murkowski. "Whether our neighbors are working to ensure food safety, respond to forest fires, track hurricanes, or review patents, our nation's federal employees deserve these protections. I'm proud to stand up for our federal employees, as they work tirelessly for our nation's benefit."

"Thank you, Senator Murkowski, for standing up for Alaska's federal servants," said AK AFL-CIO President Joelle Hall. "Federal workers serve Alaska and our country every day. They, like every other worker, have a right to belong to a union that advocates for fairness in the workplace and gives them a voice on the job."

Background:

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 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).

This legislation is led by U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Tim Kaine (D-VA), and co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Bill text is available here.

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