Judge halts Trump's executive order removing union rights from federal employees
During a hearing on Wednesday, the judge indicated that the administration's actions seem to be aimed at unions that have resisted his agenda.
TroibNews 
A federal judge has issued a temporary order halting the Trump administration's attempts to revoke collective bargaining rights for employees across nearly a dozen government agencies and departments.
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman’s ruling mandates that federal agencies must engage with the unions representing their employees and continue collecting dues payments, along with other standard employee relations activities. This ruling affects workers at several key agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Energy, the Office of Personnel Management, and more.
Last month, Trump signed an executive order that aims to eliminate the longstanding rights of most public employees to join unions that represent them in collective bargaining regarding their conditions of employment. The order also seeks to terminate existing contracts between those unions and the government. This action was justified by Trump through a lesser-known wartime provision in federal labor laws, which allows the president to exempt agencies involved in national security operations.
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has filed a lawsuit contending that Trump has overstepped his authority under collective bargaining laws. Additionally, the NTEU argues that the executive order was retaliation against their efforts to counter his plans for government downsizing.
During a hearing on Wednesday, Judge Friedman indicated that the administration's actions seem to be aimed at unions that have opposed Trump’s policy initiatives.
In response, the Trump administration has initiated its own legal actions in Kentucky and Texas to challenge the validity of the NTEU’s contracts with various agencies.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman’s ruling mandates that federal agencies must engage with the unions representing their employees and continue collecting dues payments, along with other standard employee relations activities. This ruling affects workers at several key agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Energy, the Office of Personnel Management, and more.
Last month, Trump signed an executive order that aims to eliminate the longstanding rights of most public employees to join unions that represent them in collective bargaining regarding their conditions of employment. The order also seeks to terminate existing contracts between those unions and the government. This action was justified by Trump through a lesser-known wartime provision in federal labor laws, which allows the president to exempt agencies involved in national security operations.
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has filed a lawsuit contending that Trump has overstepped his authority under collective bargaining laws. Additionally, the NTEU argues that the executive order was retaliation against their efforts to counter his plans for government downsizing.
During a hearing on Wednesday, Judge Friedman indicated that the administration's actions seem to be aimed at unions that have opposed Trump’s policy initiatives.
In response, the Trump administration has initiated its own legal actions in Kentucky and Texas to challenge the validity of the NTEU’s contracts with various agencies.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
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