Dear Representative:
On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I am writing to urge you to pass the bipartisan HR 2550, Protect America’s Workforce Act, by voting yes on each of the procedural matters allowing for its clean consideration and its final passage this week. This bill rescinds Executive Order 14251, which stripped collective bargaining rights from a million workers, and restores the union contracts that have been unilaterally terminated for hundreds of thousands.
Executive Order 14251 constitutes the single largest act of unionbusting in US history, impacting hardworking and committed federal employees who provide the American people with wide-ranging services. These workers support the military, care for our veterans, ensure the safety of our transportation systems, water, food, and air, and so much more. A disproportionate number of federal workers are veterans themselves. They live and work in every state, territory, and congressional district. They deserve better than having their rights and contracts eliminated with the stroke of a pen.
Collective bargaining is not just a fundamental right at work. It is a benefit to both labor and management. Especially in the case of collective bargaining in government service, it also benefits the taxpayer. Union representation enables government workers to better serve the public. With a voice on the job, federal workers are able to effectively work with management to identify and resolve issues that affect service delivery. Federal workers know that, with union representation, someone will have their back when they blow the whistle on waste, fraud, and abuse. Collective bargaining rights are critical to morale, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Support for collective bargaining is broad and deep. That’s why this bill is so bipartisan, led by Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), with 226 cosponsors from both parties. That’s why a majority of the House signed the petition discharging a rule to give this bill a floor vote. It’s why every corner of the labor movement is urging its passage, and over 150 organizations from across civil society have done so as well. It’s why over 40 faith-based organizations on moral grounds and over 120 scholars on democracy grounds have written the Congress supporting action on this bill.
Please stand with working people, civil servants, veterans, their fundamental rights on the job, the taxpayer, and the Constitution, and vote yes on HR 2550, the bipartisan Protect America’s Workforce Act.
Sincerely,
Jody Calemine
Director, Government Affairs