Constitutional Law

Executive Oder Yanks Scores of Federal Workers From Collective Bargaining

A new executive order stripping hundreds of federal workers of rights obtained through collective bargain drew sharp rebukes from Congress and unions. The White House claimed the order was justified because the workers excluded from collective bargaining  at departments, such as Justice, Energy, Homeland Security and Transportation are involved in “functions that are vital to the our national security.”

The National Treasury Employees Union blasted the Bush administration for issuing the last-minute order. NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley said in a press release that the order is “a gratuitous slap in the face that makes these employees feel both betrayed and insulted.” NTEU said more than 1,500 employees at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) lost rights they have “enjoyed for more than 30 years without incident or negative impact on the public.” The collective bargaining rules cover work hours, promotion, and scheduling. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) slammed the White House action, saying it amounted “to a power grab by the executive branch to undermine the rights of federal employees and workers throughout the country.”

Full post as published by ACS Blog on December 04, 2008 (boomark / email).