IFPTE Continues Fight for Federal Workers’ Union Rights Despite Setback with House Passage of NDAA
While NDAA Fails to Maintain Union Rights for DOD Workers, IFPTE Remains Committed to Reversing the Dismantling of the Federal Sector and Workers Rights
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, shared its disappointment regarding the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which allows the Trump Administration’s Executive Order 14251, issued on March 27, to weaken the mission of the Department of Defense (DOD) by ending collective bargaining rights throughout the Department of Defense.
IFPTE President Matthew Biggs:
“The House of Representatives’ passage of the National Defense Authorization Act without our language to protect collective bargaining rights for IFPTE members and federal employees working for DOD is not just a setback for IFPTE members working at DOD agencies -- it’s a blow to DOD’s ability to utilize its workforce and its resources effectively to support our national defense and readiness. While we can’t look past the fact that Congress is about to miss the best legislative vehicle we have to start reversing the largest unionbusting effort in American history, we are continuing to pressure the Senate to withhold support for the NDAA unless it includes the protection for DOD workers’ union rights. And after the expected House passage of the Protect America’s Workforce Act in the House this afternoon, we will continue to push for the full repeal of the March 27 and August 28 Executive Orders in the months ahead.”
IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson:
“Congress enacted collective bargaining rights for federal workers over 45 years ago for a good reason: collective bargaining for federal workers safeguards the public interest and helps establish the highest standards of public service and government business. Some of the best examples of federal unions supporting the agency mission that IFPTE can cite involve our local unions at DOD. That’s why it’s profoundly disappointing that the current Congress missed the opportunity to DOD’s workforce by standing up for worker rights and labor management relations that improve the performance of DOD workplaces and DOD operations. IFPTE members know that our support for federal workers’ collective bargaining rights is not just about dignity and a voice in their workplace but making sure our government functions efficiently and effectively.
IFPTE is a labor union representing upwards of 90,000 workers in the federal, public, and private sectors.
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