AFT condemns Trump’s executive order restricting federal workers' collective bargaining rights

AFT President Randi Weingarten has voiced her opposition following President Donald Trump's issuance of an executive order aimed at terminating collective bargaining rights for federal employees. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which represents a significant number of employees in Department of Defense schools and Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, views the executive order as an affront to federal workers' rights, dressed under national security concerns.

Weingarten argues, "This illegal executive order, ripped from the pages of Project 2025, is blatant retaliation for federal workers standing up to Elon Musk’s chaos and harm on behalf of all Americans." According to Weingarten, the directive is less about security and more about stifling dissent within the ranks of federal employees.

The criticism extends to highlighting the roles of federal workers affected by the order. These employees, many of whom are veterans, play crucial roles in education and healthcare, serving in Department of Defense schools and VA hospitals. In defense of these workers, Weingarten stated, "These are the workers, a third of them veterans, who keep the country running."

Weingarten sees the administration’s move as an attempt to suppress union activities that don't align with the president’s agenda: "The administration is trying to send a message that unless you please the president, unions will not be tolerated." She reinforces the AFT's commitment to support federal employees through various avenues, emphasizing their role in maintaining a balance and advocating for the rights and dignity of working people.

Weingarten concluded by affirming the AFT’s resolve: "And that’s what the AFT’s 1.8 million members will continue to do: fight in the streets, in the courts and in Congress, to uphold both the law and the right of all workers to advocate for their collective interests and America’s future."

The AFT statement serves as a call to action for its members and the broader labor community to resist efforts perceived as undermining federal workers' rights.