Latest news with #RandyErwin
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unions launch Rise Up legal defense network for federal workers fired under Trump
A network of federal employee unions and legal groups launched a legal defense group to provide counsel to thousands of government workers recently fired by the Trump administration. Deemed Rise Up, the program will recruit lawyers to provide pro bono legal help to scores of federal workers. 'Federal workers' unions and allied organizations are already fighting back in court, but thousands of federal workers still need individual legal advice and representation. Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network will mobilize and train thousands of lawyers to provide pro bono legal guidance to federal workers,' the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal government union, wrote in a statement announcing the program. The Trump administration has fired thousands of employees still in their probationary period — a timeline that can stretch from one to two years depending on the agency. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has also directed agencies to embark on reductions in force, which would mean wide-scale government layoffs. Agencies faced a deadline earlier this week to send their plans for these reductions to the OMB. 'It is critical that federal workers have access to legal recourse as the Trump administration threatens and unlawfully terminates hundreds of thousands of proud civil servants,' National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) President Randy Erwin said in a statement. 'We are incredibly grateful for the attorneys and allies in our communities who stand with federal workers delivering essential services to the American people.' Rise Up includes platforms both for fired federal workers and volunteer lawyers who will 'receive training to assist workers in need of support.' In addition to federal employee unions the AFGE and NFFE, the AFL-CIO, Democracy Forward, the National Treasury Employees Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the American Constitution Society, and the Partnership for Public Service, among others, are supporting the program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
16-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Unions launch ‘Rise Up' legal defense network for federal workers fired under Trump
A network of federal employee unions and legal groups are launching a legal defense group to provide counsel to thousands of government workers recently fired by the Trump administration. Deemed Rise Up, the program will recruit lawyers to provide pro bono legal help to scores of federal workers. 'Federal workers' unions and allied organizations are already fighting back in court, but thousands of federal workers still need individual legal advice and representation. Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network will mobilize and train thousands of lawyers to provide pro bono legal guidance to federal workers,' the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal government union, wrote in a statement announcing the program. The Trump administration has fired thousands of employees still in their probationary period – a timeline that can stretch from one to two years depending on the agency. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has also directed agencies to embark on reductions in force (RIFs), which would mean wide-scale government layoffs. Agencies faced a deadline earlier this week to send OMB their plans for doing these reductions. 'It is critical that federal workers have access to legal recourse as the Trump administration threatens and unlawfully terminates hundreds of thousands of proud civil servants,' National Federation of Federal Employees president Randy Erwin said in a statement. 'We are incredibly grateful for the attorneys and allies in our communities who stand with federal workers delivering essential services to the American people.' Rise Up includes platforms both for fired federal workers and volunteer lawyers who will 'receive training to assist workers in need of support.' The AFL-CIO, Democracy Forward, the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Federation of Federal Employees, National Treasury Employees Union, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the American Constitution Society and the Partnership for Public Service, among others, are supporting the program.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Federal workers are heroes': Local unions show support for federal employees amid layoffs
WASHINGTON () — Unions rallied together at McPherson Square, holding signs that read, 'Federal Workers are heroes' as many federal employees made their way to work Monday morning. 'We want to really be with them; a lot of them are coming back to work for the first time in a while,' said Randy Erwin, National President of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). 'But we want to thank them for the incredible work that they do… we want to show them some positivity.' You could see the emotion on employees' faces; many smiled, some held their hand on their chest in appreciation, and others said thank you. 'We're just here to say we have your back and you are appreciated because federal workers matter,' said Hasan Solomon, legislative and political director for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW). This comes as the Trump administration lays off thousands of federal workers in an effort to downsize the federal government and slash spending. The last several weeks have been tough for federal workers as uncertainty surrounds the security of their jobs. Monday morning, local unions representing some federal employees made sure they showed their support. Federal workforce prepares for more mass layoffs following new memo from OPM 'We want to see all these illegal fires stopped, and we want to see them stop now,' said Solomon. 'People who are working in the federal government, they're doing this because they want to do it… They're not trying to get rich. They just want to be able to provide a service for American people all over the country,' he added. Confusion sparked recently when the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk, listing their accomplishments for the week. Some agencies told their employees not to comply, while others encouraged it. According to , another one of those emails was sent to some workers Friday, and employees are expected to respond by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 3. Despite the changes to the workforce, unions representing federal employees are making sure to show their support and appreciation to federal workers. 'All workers stand in solidarity with federal workers because it's happening to them today, and it could be private sector workers tomorrow,' said Solomon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
