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The Hill
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hill
EPA axes union contract
'The Trump administration and EPA's unlawful and authoritarian move to unilaterally strip EPA workers of their collective bargaining agreement and workplace rights is nothing short of an assault on our democracy, the rule of law, and the lives of working people in America,' said Justin Chen, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 238, which represents 8,000 EPA staffers, in a written statement. He also said the union would fight the decision, saying 'AFGE Council 238 is united in our fight to defend our rights, our agency's mission, and to protect the future of our country and planet. We will see the administration in court.' An EPA spokesperson cited a March executive order that sought to limit union activity at various agencies. 'EPA is working to diligently implement President Trump's Executive Orders with respect to AFGE, including 'Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,' in compliance with the law.' an EPA spokesperson told The Hill on Friday. A similar decision was made at the Department of Veterans Affairs this week. Both agencies' actions come after a federal court sided with the Trump administration on the issue.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Trump's environment agency terminates contract with unionised employees
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Eliminating union deals allows US agencies like the EPA to more easily fire or discipline employees. WASHINGTON - The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to end its contract with unionised employees, according to the union's president, the latest action in President Donald Trump's push to weaken collective bargaining across the federal government. The union, which represents 8,000 EPA employees, is planning a legal response to the decision, said Mr Justin Chen, president of the agency's chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees, in a statement on Aug 8. The decision gets Mr Trump closer to his goal to strip hundreds of thousands of federal workers of the ability to collectively bargain with US agencies. Eliminating union deals would allow agencies to more easily fire or discipline employees, according to attorneys representing federal workers. 'EPA is working to diligently implement President Trump's Executive Orders with respect to AFGE, including 'Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs', in compliance with the law,' an EPA spokesperson said in a statement, referring to the executive order Mr Trump issued in March. The order involves removing collective bargaining rights at more than 30 federal agencies, including the EPA, and is currently being challenged in court by unions who say it violates free speech and obligations to bargain with workers. The EPA had more than 16,000 employees as of March 2025, according to federal HR records. That figure does not include employees that accepted buyouts. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 4 men arrested after police search operation in forested area near Rail Corridor Singapore SAF regular serviceman dies after being found unconscious at Hendon Camp swimming pool: Mindef Singapore E-bike rider arrested for rash act causing hurt after accident with pedestrian in Toa Payoh Singapore Man arrested for allegedly stealing from business class passenger on flight to Singapore Asia Manila struggles to keep a lasting hawker culture, casts eyes on how Asian nations lifted street food Singapore Driver taken to hospital after car hits lamp post in Orchard Road Singapore Urban farming, robots, AI exhibitions: Public invited to share ideas for new Science Centre Asia 2 Malaysian tourists critically injured after being set on fire in Bangkok The agency said in July it would cut the size of its workforce by at least 23 per cent and close its scientific research office as part of Mr Trump's broad effort to downsize the federal government. Unions are suing to stop Mr Trump's effort to dismantle collective bargaining agreements. A federal appeals court on Aug 1 said the administration could move forward with exempting certain federal agencies from their obligation to negotiate with unions. AFGE, which represents the EPA workers, is a plaintiff in that lawsuit. REUTERS
