HHS Moves to Revoke Collective Bargaining Rights for Thousands of Employees, Union Calls Action “Illegal”
WASHINGTON D.C. – In a sweeping action impacting thousands of federal employees, the U.S. Department of Health and human Services (HHS) has initiated steps to dismantle collective bargaining rights for numerous agency staff. The move,confirmed by HHS officials Friday,involves the cessation of union recognition and the reclaiming of resources previously allocated to union activities.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has strongly condemned the action,labeling it “illegal” and a direct assault on the rights of federal workers. This latest development represents a continuation of the Trump governance’s broader effort to curtail collective bargaining across federal agencies, following similar actions at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Earlier this year, an appeals court permitted the administration to proceed with implementing President Trump’s executive order aimed at stripping collective bargaining rights from perhaps hundreds of thousands of federal employees, pending the outcome of ongoing legal challenges.
“This action ensures that HHS resources and personnel are fully focused on safeguarding the health and security of the American people,” stated HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon.
However, the AFGE argues that robust union contracts enhance an agency’s ability to respond effectively to public health crises. They contend that strong unions foster a stable, experienced, and well-supported workforce – crucial elements for agencies like the centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Strong union contracts do not hinder strong responses to public health emergencies. Rather, they help make agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a stable, experienced and supported workforce.
The timing of this decision has raised concerns among some CDC employees,who point to the union’s vital role in providing data and advocacy during recent agency-wide layoffs and in the aftermath of the August 8th shooting at the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters. Following the attack, the union has actively campaigned for improvements to the agency’s emergency alert system and overall security protocols.
Beyond the CDC, the HHS action extends to several other key agencies, including:
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
The full scope of the impact on these agencies and their employees remains to be seen as the legal battle over the administration’s executive order continues. This move signals a critically important shift in the relationship between HHS and its workforce, potentially reshaping the landscape of federal employee rights and protections.
Related: CDC attacker likely attempted to enter campus days before shooting
Mike Stobbe, World-Today-News.com
