Labor Unions Expand Lawsuit Against Trump Admin's Federal Worker Firings

Labor Unions Amplify Legal Battle Against Government Employee Dismissals During Shutdown

San Francisco – Several labor unions have intensified their lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking to prevent the large-scale dismissal of federal employees amidst the ongoing government shutdown. This legal expansion now includes more workers and aims to prolong the court's protection against such terminations.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) initially filed a lawsuit on September 30. They argued that the administration's actions of forcing furloughed employees to work unpaid and threatening job terminations during the shutdown violated legal statutes. Represented by Altshuler Berzon LLP, Democracy Forward, and Democracy Defenders Fund, the unions have sought judicial intervention.

On October 15, Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order. This order prevents the administration from executing or issuing further reduction-in-force (RIF) notices against employees in unions' represented offices. Judge Illston later extended this order to cover all agency offices with unionized members or bargaining units, even in terminated contract scenarios.

The lawsuit's scope broadened on October 17 to encompass employees represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The amended lawsuit filed on Tuesday aims to include additional federal workers represented by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE).

AFGE National President Everett Kelley stated, "The administration’s move to fire thousands of patriotic civil servants while the government is shut down is patently illegal, and I’m glad we are able to expand our lawsuit to protect even more federal workers from facing termination." He emphasized the union's commitment to challenging these actions, describing them as politically motivated firings unsupported by legitimate work considerations.

Lee Saunders, AFSCME President, commented, “The administration’s planned mass firings clearly broke the law, which is why we won our motion to stop them temporarily last week.” Saunders reiterated the union's commitment to leveraging all legal avenues to defend essential workers from these mass terminations.

SEIU Executive Vice President Heather Conroy expressed concerns over the administration's actions, labeling them as both "cruel" and "unlawful." Conroy declared that the SEIU stands firm in its resolve to support federal workers and ensure their reinstatement and fair treatment.

Randi Weingarten, AFT President, voiced similar sentiments, highlighting the adverse impacts on federal workers and the communities they serve. Weingarten described the administration's actions as an act of political retaliation that disregards the dedication of federal employees to public service.

NFFE National President Randy Erwin highlighted the additional stress on dedicated civil servants due to the shutdown and alleged unlawful dismissals. Erwin praised the courts for holding the administration accountable.

NAGE National President David J. Holway criticized the Trump administration for using federal employees as "political pawns." Holway emphasized the importance of defending democracy and ensuring fairness for government employees.

Matt Biggs, IFPTE President, reinforced the unions' solidarity and determination to oppose the administration's "unprecedented and unlawful" actions against federal workers.

NTEU President Doreen Greenwald also pledged support in fighting the administration's "reckless" actions against federal employees, aiming to preserve essential government services.

Danielle Leonard from Altshuler Berzon LLP condemned the administration's actions during the shutdown, stating that the legal challenge seeks to protect government workers from being used as "political pawns."

Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, noted that the rule of law remains active even amidst the shutdown, and courts continue to uphold constitutional rights. She pledged ongoing legal support for unions against what she described as unlawful power grabs.

Amb. Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, underscored the necessity of holding the administration accountable for its actions, emphasizing the importance of legal compliance in treating government employees.