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WASHINGTON, DC — Hundreds of federal workers, union leaders, and allies are expected to gather Wednesday at Upper Senate Park to urge the U.S. Senate to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act (PAWA), legislation that would restore collective bargaining rights stripped from more than one million federal employees under the Trump administration.
The rally, titled “Rally for America’s Workforce: PAWA to the People,” comes one month after the U.S. House passed PAWA with bipartisan support, increasing pressure on the Senate to act. Labor leaders and federal workers say the bill is urgently needed to reverse what they describe as the largest act of union-busting in U.S. history.
In March 2025, the Trump administration revoked collective bargaining rights for approximately 85 percent of the unionized federal workforce, affecting workers across agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, Food and Drug Administration, and NASA. PAWA would void the executive actions behind those changes, reinstate legally binding collective bargaining agreements, protect federal workers from retaliation, and allow federal workers to advocate for greater safety and security and for the people they serve.
The event is organized by the Federal Unionists Network (FUN) and sponsored by: AFSCME, AFSA, SEIU, AFT, AFGE, NEA, NTEU, NNU, IFPTE, NFFE, AFGE District 14, 50501, the Washington Metropolitan Council, AFL-CIO, the Coalition of Labor Union Women of Washington DC, Common Defense, Free DC, DC Jobs with Justice and more.
Scheduled speakers include Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Congressional Labor Caucus co-chairs Reps. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), and Mark Pocan (D-Wis.). Invitations are pending for Sens. Bernie Sanders, Tim Kaine, and Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Jared Golden.
“Every day our patriotic, merit-based civil servants provide essential services to the American people – and their collective bargaining rights are critical to protecting them from unfair labor practices as they carry out that important work,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Trump wants to strip them of these rights so he can continue to gut the federal workforce and easily replace them with political cronies who will do his bidding without regard for the law. He wants federal employees to be hired based on who they know, not what they know. I’ll keep fighting to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act to stop this lawless power grab – and protect the integrity of our federal workforce and the services they provide.”
“Congress granted collective bargaining rights for federal employees decades ago, and they have been upheld for years by the administrations of both parties. Now thousands of workers have had those rights taken away. Federal workers are absolutely essential to keeping our country running, and the Protect America’s Workforce Act will restore their hard-fought rights and empower workers to speak up without retaliation. When our workforce is better off, the very fabric of our country is stronger. We must stand in solidarity to get PAWA across the finish line,” said Congresswoman Dingell.
National union leaders expected to attend include Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees; Randy Erwin, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees; Matt Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; and Irma Westmoreland, RN, secretary-treasurer of National Nurses United.
“Federal employees serve our nation and the American people in countless ways – protecting the flying public, caring for veterans, processing Social Security benefits, safeguarding the food we eat and the air we breathe, and so much more," said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. "The Protect America’s Workforce Act would restore collective bargaining rights to more than a million federal workers – helping to ensure a safe, productive, and collaborative workplace for the public servants who keep our government running.”
“National Nurses United is proud to stand with this broad coalition fighting for federal workers and their right to collectively bargain,” said Irma Westmoreland, RN, secretary-treasurer of National Nurses United. “As VA nurses, collective bargaining is our strongest tool to advocate for safe staffing and timely, quality care for our veteran patients. We are urging the Senate to act now.”
“The union busting executive order signed by President Trump is the biggest attack on working people that we have ever seen in this country,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “It has proven to be detrimental to federal workers and the essential services they provide to the American people every day. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle understand that if this bill is not passed into law, their constituents will continue to suffer the consequences. Collective bargaining in the federal sector is not a threat to national security. It never has been, and it never will be. We have more than 60 years of union representation among federal workers, under both Republicans and Democrats, that proves it. Congress must pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act and restore union rights for over one million civil servants.”
Local union leaders and rank‑and‑file federal workers will be sharing personal stories, including: Ashaki Robinson, president of AFGE Local 476 and a social science analyst at HUD; James Jones, a member of AFGE Local 446, a National Parks Service worker and veteran; Monica Gorman, a member of IFPTE Local 29 and an operations research analyst at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; and Witold Skwierczynski, AFGE Council 220 president emeritus and a former Social Security Administration employee.
Federal workers participating in the rally say collective bargaining protections are critical for preventing waste, abuse, and retaliation inside federal agencies.
“Collective bargaining in the federal sector protects taxpayers and workers alike when agency heads waste money, act illegally, or abuse their power,” said James Jones, a National Park Service worker, veteran, and member of AFGE Local 446. “These protections allow federal workers to blow the whistle without fear. Restoring union rights is about accountability and democracy.”
Labor leaders warn that continued erosion of federal union rights threatens both workers and the public services they provide.
“Federal workers have been targeted by the most aggressive union-busting agenda in modern U.S. history,” said Matt Biggs, president of IFPTE. “The Senate has a clear opportunity to follow the House’s bipartisan lead and restore collective bargaining rights for over one million workers.”
Organizers say Wednesday’s rally is part of a larger national campaign to push PAWA across the finish line, with additional actions planned if the Senate does not move forward.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY:
Press availability with speakers and federal workers will follow the event.
Contact: Anna Bakalis | anna.bakalis@federalunionists.net
The Federal Unionists Network (FUN), is a program of Branch4, a national movement of federal workers and allies working in coalition to defend public services and rebuild government for a more democratic, equitable, and just country.
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