Weekly Labor Roundup - March 18, 2025
A Republican bill introduced into the Senate threatens the existence of federal employee labor unions and their collective bargaining agreements. The Federal Workforce Freedom Act would ban federal employees from organizing or joining labor unions and forbid federal agencies from engaging in collective bargaining with unions representing federal employees.
The Trump Administration continues to attack the federal workforce and the Office of Personnel Management has instructed agencies to disregard collective bargaining agreements when it comes to reduction in force procedures. Not only has Trump ordered a rescission of his predecessor’s executive orders, like a $15 minimum wage for federal contractors, he has also ordered the closure of government agencies, like the U.S. Agency for Global Media and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Governor Moore signed labor agreements between the State of Maryland and several first responder state employee unions. The BWI Airport Professional Firefighters-International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1742, the Fraternal Order of the Police Lodge 34 - Maryland Transportation Authority Police, and the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance have brand new memoranda of agreements with the state.
Following the signing of a bill stripping public employee collective bargaining rights, a coalition of labor unions in Utah have filed a referendum to repeal HB267. The Protect Utah Workers Coalition is gathering signatures in support of collective bargaining rights for public employees. They have until mid-April to collect over 140,000 signatures.
The United Football Players Association has announced the filing of unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board. The charges include retaliation against players for protected union activity, surveillance of protected union activity and other charges. There is still no collective bargaining agreement in place two weeks before the start of the season.
