Golden-Fitzpatrick bill to restore federal workers’ union rights clears key House hurdle, teeing up final votes tomorrow
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives voted 222-200 tonight to approve an effort by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to force Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act (PAWA), his bipartisan bill to repeal a presidential executive order that stripped union rights from roughly 1 million federal workers.
The House began debate tonight following the vote on Golden’s Motion to Discharge the bill. A vote on the final passage of PAWA is expected to take place tomorrow.
Tonight’s vote is the culmination of months of work with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), the bill’s lead GOP cosponsor. Together, they garnered 226 cosponsors for PAWA and assembled a majority of Members to sign a discharge petition forcing floor action.
“President Trump said ending collective bargaining was about protecting our national defense. But in my District, many affected workers build our warships and care for our veterans. These workers make our country safer and stronger every day. America did not vote to silence these workers, but this bill gives all of us a chance to restore their voices,” Golden said. “… If the majority we built over the past few months sticks together, we can overturn this union-busting executive order, and we can show America that this body will protect workers’ rights.”
“Today’s vote is a reminder of what this House can accomplish when we honor its purpose and allow the people’s will to move forward. A bipartisan majority affirmed that protecting America’s security and respecting America’s workers are not competing priorities — they are inseparable,” Fitzpatrick said. “Federal workers, many of whom are veterans, are the backbone of our public service. When they have a voice in the decisions that shape their work, our government is more stable, more capable, and better prepared to serve the American people. I’m proud to work alongside Congressman Golden in leading this bipartisan effort. Tomorrow, let’s carry this unity across the finish line, and restore the rights that keep our federal workforce — and the nation they serve — strong.”
Golden and Fitzpatrick introduced PAWA in April. After months of inaction on the floor, in July they initiated a discharge petition and set to work building support to force a vote in the House. In November, the discharge petition obtained its 218th signature, clearing the threshold to bring PAWA up for a vote over the Speaker’s objections.
Signatories to the discharge petition included nearly the entire Democratic caucus and five Republicans who cosponsored the bill:Fitzpatrick, Don Bacon (NE-02), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Nick LaLota (NY-01) and Mike Lawler (NY-17). Four additional Republicans did not sign the discharge petition but are cosponsors of PAWA: Reps. Mike Turner (OH-10), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07).
“The labor movement fought back against the largest act of union-busting in American history by doing what we do best: organizing,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “We commend Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick for leading us to a vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act and urge every lawmaker to support this bill. Working people built a bipartisan coalition to restore union rights to federal workers in the face of unprecedented attacks on our freedoms and livelihoods.”
“AFGE will forever be grateful to Congressman Golden for his tireless efforts to restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees,” said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). “Time and again, he has answered the call to defend the working men and women who keep this country safe and secure, healthy and prosperous. I urge all members of Congress to support the bipartisan Protect America’s Workforce Act offered by Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick and enact it into law.”
Background:
President Trump’s March 27 Executive Order, “Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,” sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture. The order affected hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
The Protect America’s Workforce Act would repeal the executive order outright, and guarantee that the federal government honors any union contract in place at the time it was made.
Federal workers’ bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.
In addition to the AFL-CIO and AFGE, the bill has support from a wide range of unions representing federal employees, including: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Steelworkers (USW).
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