Nurses Union Applauds Milestone for Protect America’s Workforce Act

The Protect America’s Workforce Act has gained significant traction in the U.S. House of Representatives, as it achieved the necessary 218 signatures to advance to a floor vote. This development is a crucial step for the bill, which seeks to restore collective bargaining rights for nurses and other federal workers.

The milestone was welcomed by National Nurses United (NNU), the largest union of registered nurses in the United States. In a statement, the union expressed optimism about the bipartisan support for the legislation. "Nurses are very encouraged that 218 congressional members, both Democrats and Republicans, signed onto the petition, signaling they are ready to vote to restore collective bargaining rights for VA nurses and strengthen the care our nation’s veterans receive at Veterans Health Administration facilities across the country," the statement read.

The Protect America’s Workforce Act aims to counteract actions taken by the current administration, which issued executive orders on March 27 and August 28 that sought to remove bargaining rights from over a million union workers. According to NNU, these orders were unjustified and claimed that federal workers posed a national security threat.

NNU has highlighted that the orders were perceived as retaliatory measures against union advocacy, particularly regarding issues impacting veterans' health. The union emphasized the importance of the bill in allowing nurses to voice concerns about patient safety without fear of reprisal.

With the discharge petition now complete, the focus shifts to the upcoming vote in the House. National Nurses United urges legislators to support the bill, underscoring its significance in reinstating crucial protections for unionized federal workers.

National Nurses United, with over 225,000 members, is the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in the U.S. Its affiliates include the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.