Denise Davis, a retired federal employee and NTEU union member, looks on as her great grandsons’ Deondre and Montrell Griffin hold a sign during a rally across the street from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) headquarters, in support of the civil service in the wake of mass firings, and organized by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. March 15, 2025. REUTERS/Chase Castor/File Photo
Union Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Over Collective Bargaining Rights
Legal Challenge to Executive Order
On Monday, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Washington, D.C., seeking to prevent President Donald Trump from revoking collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees. The legal action follows an executive order issued by Trump last week that exempts more than a dozen federal agencies from collective bargaining obligations.
Allegations of Labor Rights Violations
The lawsuit contends that Trump’s executive order violates federal labor laws and the U.S. Constitution. The NTEU argues that the order was not driven by legitimate national security concerns but instead by a policy objective aimed at making it easier to dismiss federal employees and a broader effort to undermine federal sector unions that have opposed the administration’s policies.
On the same day the executive order was issued, eight federal agencies initiated a separate lawsuit against multiple local union affiliates, seeking to invalidate existing union contracts that cover thousands of government workers.
Potential Impacts of the Executive Order
If implemented, the executive order would allow agencies to modify working conditions without negotiating with unions, particularly in response to budgetary constraints. Additionally, it would facilitate the process of disciplining or terminating federal employees. The Trump administration has argued that these measures are necessary to protect national security and improve government efficiency.
Union’s Legal Demands
In its lawsuit, the NTEU is seeking a court ruling that would nullify the executive order and prohibit federal agencies from enforcing its provisions. The union maintains that the order represents an overreach of executive authority and threatens the rights of federal employees.
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