Federal unions plan to punch back if agencies under President Donald Trump’s command try to dump contracts negotiated late during the prior administration.
On Friday, Trump sent a memo to agencies and departments telling them not to stand by collective bargaining agreements reached 30 days prior to his inauguration. Many of those union contracts have telework and remote work rights for federal employees, which could complicate the president’s push to return government staff to the office full time.
Those in labor see Trump’s memo as another attack on the federal workforce. American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley said the administration was trying “to frighten and confuse career federal employees.”
“Federal employees should know that approved union contracts are enforceable by law, and the president does not have the authority to make unilateral changes to those agreements,” Kelley said in a statement.