Federal Employee Unions Win Extension of Order Barring Trump Administration’s Illegal Shutdown Firings
Additional labor unions added to lawsuit challenging administration’s move to fire workers because of shutdown
A federal court has extended its order barring the Trump administration from firing federal workers because of the government shutdown as litigation filed by labor unions proceeds.
During a hearing on Oct. 28 before Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, attorneys for the unions argued that the administration violated the law by threatening to fire federal workers furloughed because of the shutdown and ordering employees to work unpaid during the shutdown to carry out the mass terminations. The unions are represented by Altshuler Berzon LLP, Democracy Defenders Fund, and Democracy Forward.
Judge Illston granted the unions’ request for a preliminary injunction that will prevent the administration from issuing reductions-in-force or implementing those already filed during the shutdown. The injunction continues the temporary restraining order the judge previously issued.
“This federal court decision is the result of organized labor standing together and leading the fight against the administration’s unprecedented, politicized, and unlawful attack on federal workers’ rights. This is not only a win for the dedicated federal workforce who make up our nonpartisan civil service, but a victory for the American people and the public services our communities and our economy count on,” said IFPTE President Matt Biggs. “Even during a government shutdown, this administration and OMB Director Vought sought to break the law by engaging in mass layoffs that Congress has not provided funding to carry out. When our opponents seek to divide, demoralize, and defeat us, we will stand united and utilize every resource to protect IFPTE members, our democratic institutions, and the public interest.”