By James Williams, Editor-in-Chief

In a sweeping move with wide-ranging implications, President Donald J. Trump has signed an Executive Order eliminating collective bargaining rights for federal employees in agencies designated as having national security responsibilities. The order, authorized under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, immediately impacts thousands of federal workers across critical sectors including the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Science Foundation, Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Justice’s Immigration Review Office, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The State Department, USAID, International Trade Administration, U.S. International Trade Commission, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and energy units within the Department of the Interior are also affected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Agriculture agencies, as well as cybersecurity teams within every cabinet-level department, the FCC, and the General Services Administration are included. The Department of Treasury and most of the Department of Justice, along with FEMA, round out the list of impacted agencies. However, police and firefighters retain their collective bargaining rights.

According to the White House, union rules have hampered critical national security operations. The Department of Veterans Affairs was forced to reinstate over 4,000 employees due to union grievances after disciplinary actions under the VA Accountability Act. At ICE, the agency was delayed in implementing cybersecurity updates because it had to undergo midterm union bargaining. The administration reports that VA unions have filed over 70 national and local grievances since the start of Trump’s second term, citing such actions as obstructive. “President Trump refuses to let union obstruction interfere with national security,” reads the official fact sheet. “This order restores agency authority to act swiftly in the interest of American safety and sovereignty.”

Locally, Philadelphia City Council Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson issued a strong rebuke of the President’s action. “I am outraged at the news that President Trump has moved forward with ending the collective bargaining rights of more than two-thirds of our federal workforce. In addition to the massive federal layoffs announced earlier this week, this serves as a complete dismantling of the rights that so many who came before us fought for. Without labor unions, we would not be entitled to a standard minimum wage; Americans would not be able to rely on benefits such as Social Security, unemployment benefits, or health insurance; and there would be no protections against child labor or forcing employees to work long hours with no compensation. Our country only operates because of our brothers and sisters in labor who continue to advocate on behalf of fair wages and equal treatment for all. This attack on federal employees presents a dangerous precedent and a complete disregard for our civil servants — many whom are veterans. It was only through the support of our labor unions that allowed my grandfather and our family to enter the middle class upon migrating to Philadelphia from the South in the 1950s. They were able to take advantage of family-sustaining and supporting wages to build a better life for themselves. This is the same fight that I have vowed to take on as a member of Philadelphia City Council. No one should face retaliation for simply doing their job and practicing their constitutionally protected rights. I look forward to working with my City Council colleagues, as well as our state and federal partners, to address this unwarranted attack on our public servants.”

Councilmember Gilmore Richardson has long been a champion for unions and worker protections. In collaboration with local unions, she created Philadelphia’s first Apprenticeship Guidebook, a practical resource connecting residents to skilled trades and apprenticeship programs. During Women’s History Month, she spotlighted female union apprentices to promote diversity in the trades. She has also introduced legislation giving hiring preferences to graduates of the School District of Philadelphia’s Career and Technical Education programs—many of whom enter union trades. She frequently participates in labor fairs and job readiness events, working with groups like the General Building Contractors Association to bring awareness of union opportunities to students and job seekers. She has also advanced legislation to ensure that separated workers receive career training resources, and she has been vocal in defending federal workers and collective bargaining rights. “We must stand together to defend fair wages, job security, and the dignity of our workforce,” she said.

As legal challenges to the Executive Order loom and federal agencies begin to implement the directive, the future of labor rights for tens of thousands of federal employees hangs in the balance. Councilmember Gilmore Richardson and other labor leaders promise continued advocacy at the local, state, and national levels to defend the rights of workers and protect public service careers.

Stay with The Uptown Standard for updates as this story develops.

The Town Crier is a Rapid Response news blog that is written by James Williams and created in collaboration with ChatGPT. For research assistance and content editing. The image of the Town Crier was created by ChatGPT.