“The Trump administration and EPA’s unlawful and authoritarian move to unilaterally strip EPA workers of their collective bargaining agreement and workplace rights is nothing short of an assault on our democracy, the rule of law, and the lives of working people in America,” said Justin Chen, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 238, which represents 8,000 EPA staffers, in a written statement.
He also said the union would fight the decision, saying “AFGE Council 238 is united in our fight to defend our rights, our agency’s mission, and to protect the future of our country and planet. We will see the administration in court.”
An EPA spokesperson cited a March executive order that sought to limit union activity at various agencies.
“EPA is working to diligently implement President Trump’s Executive Orders with respect to AFGE, including ‘Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,’ in compliance with the law.” an EPA spokesperson told The Hill on Friday.
A similar decision was made at the Department of Veterans Affairs this week. Both agencies’ actions come after a federal court sided with the Trump administration on the issue.
Read more at TheHill.com.
