FEMA Canceling Union Contracts

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and at least Three other Federal Agencies have Canceled their Contracts with Unions to comply with Trump’s (R) Executive Order stripping many Federal Workers of Union Protections.

FEMA’s Acting Administrator, David Richardson (R), sent a Memo to American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 4060, the Union representing the Agency, saying that FEMA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement had been Terminated, Ending a nearly 10-year Contract.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have also Canceled their Collective Bargaining Agreements. The Agencies’ actions come after Veterans Affairs (VA), the Federal Government’s Second-Largest agency, announced Plans Wednesday, to End nearly All of its Contracts with Federal Unions.

The EPA said in a Statement last week, that it was working to Implement a March Executive Order from Trump saying that Collective Bargaining Requirements No Longer Applied to many Federal Agencies, citing Exclusions based on National Security. The moves to Terminate Union Contracts, which affect Thousands of Federal Employees, come after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit this month, lifted a Preliminary Injunction Blocking Trump’s Executive Order.

“Make no mistake, this move isn’t about government efficiency or national security. It’s about Silencing Workers and Clearing the way for more Deregulation,” said Justin Chen, President of AFGE Council 238, which Represents more than 8,000 EPA Workers Nationally, in a Statement after the Notices went out.

VA Secretary Douglas A. Collins (R) attacked Unions as being Harmful to Veterans’ Care and Protecting Inefficient Workers. Most of Veterans Affairs’ 400,000 Workers are also represented by the AFGE, which Has Sued the Trump Administration for Staffing Cuts. Everett Kelley, AFGE’s National President, said the Decision was “another clear example of retaliation.”

The Center for American Progress (CAP) Analyzed Federal Employment Data in May, and found that Ending Bargaining Agreements at more than a Dozen Federal Agencies would affect 4 out of 5 Federal Workers. The Group pointed out that many of the Workers losing Union Representation have nothing to do with National Security.

In Interviews, several Federal Workers lamented the Curtailing of Union Activities, tying it to a Broader Erosion of Checks and Balances in American Democracy, and Predicted additional Agreement Cancellations would follow. The Loss of Union Protections is “just another way to make life miserable for the employees who are left,” a FEMA Staff Member said.

One Employee at USCIS said that Morale was already Low at His Workplace, but that the Union Decision drove it Lower. He said He Complained to His Family, many of whom are former Government Union Members. The Advice He got back, He said, was to move on and find a Job Outside of Government.

“I feel like the rug just got pulled from under us,” the Employee said. “I joined USCIS and the union for workers’ rights, but this administration wants to erode all that.” Another Employee, who Works for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said He is Bracing for further Erosion of Union Rights across Government. “We’ll see more and more now with VA and EPA being the first,” He said.

Still, Others vowed to Fight, including Nicole Cantello, an EPA Worker who Serves as President of that Agency’s Union, AFGE Local 704. “This isn’t the first time they’ve tried to bust our union,” Cantello said. “And just like before, we’ll fight them at every step.”










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