On Thursday, March 27, Convicted Felon Trump issued an Executive Order outlawing collective bargaining for nearly a million federal workers.  CF’s illegal action repeals union contracts for thousands of Maine workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the Togus VA Medical Center and many other federal workplaces according to a Maine AFL-CIO press release issued late yesterday afternoon.

This is an illegal and retalitory attack on workers and our unions.  When federal or public sector workers are attacked, private sector workers are next.  Sarah Bigney McCabe, of the Maine AFL-CIO, urges Mainers to call delegation members and ask them to stand up for federal workers’ collective bargaining rights.  MIA Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) Washington, DC phone number is:  202 – 224-2523.  Her local number is 207 622-8414.

“The Portsmouth Metal Trades Council stands in strong opportion to the executive order and memo from the Office of Personnel eliminating collective bargaining rights for a large portion of our federal workforce,” said Alana Schaeffer, President of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 788.  “For decades, collective bargaining has provided a structured and effective mechanism for federal employees to negotiate issues of workplace safety, effective training and working condidtions, as well as advocating for competitive wage with the private sector, ensuring a stable and motivated workforce.  The direct attack on dedicated public servants by stripping these rights is grossly undermining the essential role that labor unions play in advocating for employees and protecting them from unfair and inequitable treatment.”

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) issued the following statement yesterday afternoon as well: “President Trump’s Executive Order eliminating collective bargaining rights is a direct attack on the hardworking federal employes who keep our country functioning every day.  This move threatens thousands of workers in Maine………….and countless other federal workplaces across our state that depend on collective bargaining to secure fair pay, safe working conditions and a meaningfu voice on the job.  By dismantling these rights, President Trump is engaging in explicit union busting, threatenng the lives of families, weakening our communities and trampling on generations of hard-fought labor progress.

I call on everyone who claims to stand for working people to join me in unequivocally condeming this egregious overreach and to stand together in reversing this shameful attack on the labor movement.  Maine’s federal workers ——- and all workers —— deserve nothing less than our steadfast solidarity and support,” the  Congresswoman concluded her statement.