IFPTE Applauds Bipartisan Majority of House Members Standing Up for Federal Workers’ Union Rights

Discharge Petition to Nullify Single Largest Union Busting Effort Secures 218 Signatures  

WASHINGTON, DC – The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), representing 90,000 workers across North America, including upwards of 34,000 federal workers employed by the U.S. government, applauded the bipartisan support that has lifted Discharge Petition #6 for floor consideration of H.R. 2550, the Protect America’s Workforce Act (PAWA) in the House of Representatives, to the 218 vote threshold. The discharge petition is sponsored by Congressman Jared Golden (D, ME-2), and PAWA’s bipartisan lead sponsors are Rep. Donald Norcross (D, NJ-1) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R, PA-1). PAWA nullifies the March 27th Executive Order to remove the union rights of 1 million federal workers. 

IFPTE President Matthew Biggs: 

“This week, a bipartisan group of Representatives repudiated the largest single union-busting effort in U.S. history, pushing the Protect America’s Workforce Act to a vote on the House floor. With the 217th and 218th signatures provided by Rep. Nick LaLota (R, NY-1) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R, NY-17), all Members of the House of Representatives will get a chance to vote in support of federal workers’ union rights. Reversing this unlawful attack on federal workers’ union rights has been IFPTE and the U.S. Labor Movement’s highest priority since late March. IFPTE members in the federal sector know firsthand that collective bargaining doesn’t just give federal workers a voice at work, it improves agency operations and – just as the federal statute states – is truly in the public interest. IFPTE thanks Rep. Golden for leading the petition, Rep. Norcross and Rep. Fitzpatrick for sponsoring the legislation, and House Minority Leader Jeffries for marshaling support for the petition. We call on all Members of the House to vote for the Protect America’s Workforce Act, and we urge the Administration to rescind the March 27 and August 28 anti-union EOs that do not have to support of Congress.”  

IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson: 

“Just as federal workers take an oath to protect the Constitution and to faithfully perform their duties, federal union members are committed to improving their working conditions, their workplaces, and their agencies through collective bargaining. Nullifying the March 27 Executive Order and maintaining federal employees’ bargaining rights isn’t just pro-worker, it’s pro-America. We thank all the Members of the House who have signed the Protect America’s Workforce Act discharge petition and moved the bill towards House passage. The Trump Administration can do the right thing by rescinding the union busting Executive Orders.” 
 

IFPTE is a labor union representing upwards of 90,000 workers in the federal, public, and private sectors.

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