The Environmental Safety Company (EPA) has unilaterally dissolved a collective bargaining settlement with members of the union that represents its employees, the union stated Friday.
“The Trump administration and EPA’s illegal and authoritarian transfer to unilaterally strip EPA employees of their collective bargaining settlement and office rights is nothing wanting an assault on our democracy, the rule of legislation, and the lives of working individuals in America,” stated Justin Chen, president of the American Federation of Authorities Staff Council 238, which represents 8,000 EPA staffers, in a written assertion.
“Once you strip the rights of EPA employees, you weaken the EPA’s potential to do its job and guarantee Individuals can drink clear water and breathe clear air – and that’s precisely what [President] Trump, [EPA Administrator Lee] Zeldin, and their billionaire supporters need,” Chen added.
He additionally stated the union would combat the choice, saying “AFGE Council 238 is united in our combat to defend our rights, our company’s mission, and to guard the way forward for our nation and planet. We are going to see the administration in courtroom.”
“EPA is working to diligently implement President Trump’s Govt Orders with respect to AFGE, together with ‘Exclusions from Federal Labor-Administration Relations Packages,’ in compliance with the legislation.” an EPA spokesperson informed The Hill on Friday.
The EPA’s obvious transfer comes after a similar decision on the Division of Veterans Affairs this week. Each actions come after a federal courtroom sided with the Trump administration on whether or not it might probably rescind such contracts.
It additionally comes amid a broader effort to focus on the federal workforce, with hundreds of individuals throughout the federal government being fired.
Up to date at 6:40 p.m. EDT