In March, Trump signed an Executive Order removing collective bargaining rights for employee unions in several federal departments, citing national security reasons.
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill — The local union representing civilian workers at the Rock Island Arsenal has penned a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asking him to help restore their collective bargaining rights.
In March, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order removing collective bargaining rights for employee unions in several federal departments, including the Department of Defense. The Order cites a 1978 law that restricts some union action based on national security.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2119 sent a letter to Hegseth asking him to reverse parts of the executive order.
“The order stripped DoD civilian employees of their collective bargaining rights, weakening their ability to advocate for safe staffing, updated technology, and fair workplace conditions,” the union said. “AFGE Local 2119 says the move undermines national defense by silencing the civilian workforce that supports our armed forces.”
The union said in its letter that Hegseth has the authority to certify employees represented by AFGE under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute.
“By excluding AFGE-represented employees while allowing other unions’ members to retain their rights, the DoD has singled out AFGE and undermined workers’ ability to advocate for military readiness,” AFGE Local 2119 said.
In August, Trump signed another Order excluding more federal agencies from collective bargaining requirements, again saying they have national security missions.