Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, SENATE NEWS—‘Protect America’s Workforce Act’ has bipartisan backing at introduction, (Sep 18, 2025)
Organizations Mentioned:Actors' Equity Association | American Federation of Government Employees | American Federation of Musicians | Federal Education Association | International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers | International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers | NORTH AMERICA | National Nurses United | National Postal Mail Handlers Union | National Treasury Employees Union | Service Employees International Union | Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO | UAW | United Steelworkers
By Brandi O. Brown, J.D.
A bipartisan group of 48 senators introduced the legislation.
Yesterday, the ‘Protect America’s Workforce Act’ made its way into the Senate. The legislation responds to President Trump’s executive orders issued earlier this year, which revoked collective bargaining rights for most federal employees. It was introduced by U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Tim Kaine (D-VA), but is cosponsored by many others including Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
According to the press release announcing introduction of the legislation, the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CRSA) grants the president authority to limit collective bargaining agreements when there is a national security concern. President Trump’s executive orders, however, sought to take advantage of the CRSA, the senators argue, by inappropriately classifying two-thirds of the federal workforce as having national security missions in order to claim the authority needed to cancel valid union contracts.
“Trump’s attacks on unions, union jobs, and the right to collective bargaining is making our economy weaker and putting American jobs at risk,” said Schumer. “Earlier this year, President Trump issued wide-sweeping executive orders that revoked collective bargaining rights that federal workers have held for decades—a threat to the rights of all of America’s workers. Federal workers deserve to have union protection to improve their working conditions and to defend those who speak up on behalf of the American people—it’s how our federal workforce finds and retains the best talent and how we live up to the values and standards our country has set for itself. Democrats know that union strong is America strong which is why I am proud to support the Protect America’s Workforce Act to restore commonsense measures that will right this wrong and help protect the rights of the people who have elected to serve our country.”
It also has the support of the AFL-CIO, Actors’ Equity Association, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of Musicians, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Communications Workers of America (CWA), Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE), Federal Education Association, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, LIUNA - the Laborers' International Union of North America, National Education Association, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Nurses United, National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Seafarers International Union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, United Auto Workers (UAW), United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), and United Steelworkers (USW).
“President Trump’s March executive order stripping most of the federal workforce of collective bargaining rights represents the single most aggressive action taken by the federal government against organized labor in U.S. history, dwarfing any previous action against public or private sector working Americans,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said. “AFGE members are grateful to Sen. Warner for introducing the Protect America’s Workforce Act and standing up for the nonpartisan civil service, the women and men who serve in it, and the critical role that collective bargaining has played for decades in fostering a safe, productive, and collaborative workplace that serves the American people.”
Companion legislation introduced in House. H.R. 2550, which also has bipartisan support, similarly seeks to restore collective bargaining rights to affected workers. House members introduced a discharge petition that would bring the bill to the House floor for an immediate vote. It needs 218 signatures but so far has been signed by only 216 members.
News: FederalLegislation LaborNews PublicEmployees FedTracker LaborEmployment