Labor joins protests to stop government cuts

By Sheri Williams

Members of the Labor community took to the streets to join a nationwide “Hands Off” day of action in April to protest cuts to vital government services, including the firings of tens of thousands of union workers.

“America’s unions are coming together with allies of labor at events across the country to send a message: #HandsOff our unions and our contracts!” the AFL-CIO wrote on social media.

Thousands of people gathered at the California Capitol on April 5 to demand the administration keep its “hands off” of vital benefits such as Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.

The event was part of more than 1,200 protests across the country that drew hundreds of thousands of people in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C.

In Sacramento, the protest was the culmination of weeks of rallies protesting massive cuts to critical government functions including healthcare, education and civil rights enforcement.

A week earlier, members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents tens of thousands of federal workers in California, rallied at the federal courthouse to stop the attacks on the federal workforce.

“Since Inauguration, federal workers have been disrespected, demeaned, and degraded by Elon Musk and the Trump Administration,” the union said in a statement. “AFGE members, civil servants, lawmakers and community supporters across the country are raising awareness about the disastrous attacks and how they are impacting federal employees and the services they provide.”

Prior to that event, AFGE Local 1230 held a press conference to address the Department of Homeland Security’s recent decision to revoke collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers (TSOs). Union leaders and workers discussed the devastating impact of this move, the legal action filed to block it, and the next steps in the fight to protect workers’ rights. That came in response to the February 27 action by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who unilaterally revoked TSOs’ collective bargaining rights and voided their union contract, canceling grievance proceedings and past rulings.

This decision has led to a sharp decline in morale among officers and threatens workplace protections that ensure fair pay and safe working conditions. AFGE has filed a lawsuit with other unions to overturn this illegal action and will not back down in the fight for workers’ rights.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that Trump’s executive order is a retaliatory attempt to punish federal employee unions that have been engaging in constitutionally protected speech. Unions have repeatedly scored court victories after suing in opposition to actions taken by the Trump administration targeting federal workers.

The lawsuit was filed by Bredhoff and Kaiser. Other plaintiffs joining AFGE in the lawsuit are the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Association of Government Employees (NAGE-SEIU), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Nurses United (NNU), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU), who collectively represent more than 950,000 federal employees.

The new complaint cites a White House fact sheet that specifically referenced a statement made by the lead plaintiff, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents more than 820,000 federal employees.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration over-broadly applied the national security exemption to eliminate collective bargaining rights for over a million workers whose primary functions are not related to national security. Those employees work at agencies and departments like the Department of Veterans Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency, Food Safety and Inspection Service, and several others.

“AFGE is not going to be intimidated by a bully who is throwing a temper tantrum because our union is beating them in the court of law and in the court of public opinion,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said. “Federal employees have had the right to join a union and bargain collectively for decades—through multiple wars, international conflicts, and a global health emergency during President Trump’s first term. During all that time they served the American people with honor and distinction. No one, including President Trump, ever suggested unions were a national security concern. Trump’s newest order to revoke union rights is a clear case of retaliation. But I’ve got news for him: we are not going anywhere.”

“Federal workers and all AFSCME members have been making their voices heard in court and on the streets to protect public services and their jobs. They won’t let billionaires raid our communities without consequence—and that’s why they’re facing retaliation,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “The extremists in this administration have made their contempt for public service workers clear and know that stripping collective bargaining rights means stripping away their power. We are filing this lawsuit to stop this illegal effort to silence those who speak out and protect free speech for all working people.”

“President Trump’s unlawful order isn’t just an attack on federal workers—it’s an attack on the public. NAGE members make sure veterans get the care they deserve, support our military, protect our environment, and keep our government running. By stripping away their rights, this administration is deliberately weakening public services and putting political loyalty ahead of skill and experience,” said NAGE National President David J. Holway. “If this order stands, the ones who will suffer most are the American people.”

“America’s public service workers don’t work for profits, politics, or for glory—they serve our nation. The President’s unlawful executive order attacking federal unions is not only an attack on a million federal workers, but is a direct attack on all workers who seek a collective voice to bargain for a better future,” said April Verrett, president of the two-million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU). “This is blatant retaliation against brave workers who dared to exercise their First Amendment rights to criticize this administration’s authoritarian overreach. The labor movement stands in solidarity, and we will not let this administration’s union-busting tactics silence us.”

“The VA nurses rely on collective bargaining to advocate for patient safety and ensure the best care for our veterans—most of whom are over 45 years old, and many of whom have a disability. Without these bargaining rights, we risk retaliation for speaking up and holding our employers accountable. Our veterans deserve nurses who can fight for their care without fear,” said Nancy Hagans, RN, president of National Nurses United (NNU). “This latest move by the administration is a clear attempt to intimidate us for standing up against its efforts to dismantle and privatize the VA, which studies have shown is a better place for veterans to receive care compared to the private sector. We will not be silenced by this bully behavior.”

“This is the most significant assault on collective bargaining rights we have ever seen in the United States,” said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). “It is clear that this executive order is retaliation for federal unions fighting back against the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle the civil service. This is yet another direct attack by the President not only on federal employees, but also veterans, working families, and the very fabric of our democracy. However, federal workers’ collective bargaining rights are protected by law and President Trump does not have the right to unilaterally eliminate them. NFFE and our allies are confident the rule of law will be upheld, and the critical rights of working people will be protected.”