‘A new day of hope’ for federal workers

Biden rescinds Trump executive orders that targeted federal workers

Washington – The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal and D.C. government workers, applauded President Joe Biden’s action on Jan. 22 revoking three executive orders issued by the Trump administration that attempted to eliminate collective bargaining, due process, and workplace representation rights for federal employees and a fourth that attempted to politicize a large portion of the career civil service.

“We thank President Biden for taking swift and decisive action to undo these illegal union-busting executive orders,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said. “This is a new day of hope for federal workers, our union, and the American people we serve.”

The three executive orders issued by then-President Donald Trump in May 2018 were a direct assault on the legal rights and protections of the two million public-sector employees across the country who work for the federal government.

Several federal agencies, including the departments of Veterans Affairs and Education and the Environmental Protection Agency, used the executive orders as cover for illegally revoking existing union contracts and imposing unilateral management edicts on workers.

The fourth executive order, signed by Trump in October 2020, created a new excepted service hiring authority, Schedule F, to include any career federal employee whose job is in any way connected to federal policy. The order would have stripped affected employees of due process rights and protections and enabled political appointees and other officials to hire and fire federal workers at will.

RESTORES WORKPLACE RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS
“President Biden’s action to restore workplace rights and protections for federal employees, along with his commitment to partner with Labor unions as a good governance ally, means we can hit the ground running to help his administration deliver on vital priorities for the American people,” added Kelley. “Federal workers can once again have confidence in their president’s  commitment to the apolitical civil service, to standing up for workers’ rights, and to upholding merit system principles that safeguard against political interference in employment decisions.”

RAISES MINIMUM WAGE FOR FEDERAL WORKERS
Biden’s directive, in addition to rescinding the Trump administration’s three anti-union orders and Schedule F, also calls for developing recommendations to increase the minimum wage for federal workers from a low of $7.25 to $15 an hour.

“There are thousands of federal employees who work full-time yet earn less than $15 an hour,” Kelley said. “The federal government must serve as an example for other employers to follow by providing its own employees with a living wage, and we look forward to working with the Biden administration to make this a reality.”