Randi Weingarten AFT President | American Federation of Teachers
The AFL-CIO, alongside several unions representing diverse sectors, has initiated legal action against the Trump administration, challenging the reduction of resources at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The lawsuit, which accuses the administration of illegal acts under the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution, addresses the firing of FMCS personnel and the closure of its field offices.
FMCS, a key yet small federal agency, plays an essential role in labor relations by facilitating contract negotiations between labor and management. It is credited with generating significant economic savings annually. Recent downsizing has seen 93% of its staff placed on leave, reducing the mediation workforce drastically to just five mediators.
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler emphasized the agency's importance, saying, "FMCS is a little-known but critical government agency that works to bring labor and management together." She criticized the cuts, adding that they "make absolutely no economic sense and will cost taxpayers, consumers, businesses, and workers."
AFSCME President Lee Saunders noted the modest budget of the agency, highlighting its disproportionate economic benefits. "The agency’s meager $55 million budget...generates more than $500 million in annual savings for our economy," Saunders stated.
Randi Weingarten, President of the AFT, underscored the lawsuit's significance for broader labor rights, noting, "FMCS was created by Congress as a neutral arbiter to promote labor peace."
The legal challenge, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, calls for the preservation of FMCS's role in supporting labor negotiations. "The Trump administration has no legal right to eliminate FMCS through executive action," remarked United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew.
The unions, along with their local and affiliate branches, are advocating to maintain mediation services essential for resolving labor disputes and preventing strikes or lockouts. They argue that the administration's actions not only threaten federal workers but also the communities that rely on their services.
SEIU President April Verrett echoed these sentiments, stressing the impact on public service workers and the communities they support. "This isn’t just about protecting federal workers and their unions. It’s about protecting our communities," Verrett asserted.
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