The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is urging the U.S. Senate to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act, following its recent bipartisan approval in the House of Representatives.
The bill, identified as H.R. 2550 in the House and S. 2837 in the Senate, passed the House with a vote of 231-195. If enacted, it would restore collective bargaining rights to federal workers affected by a recent executive order that removed these rights from about 75 percent of the federal workforce.
The legislation was introduced in the House by Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). In the Senate, Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced a companion bill that currently has 48 cosponsors, including two Republicans.
In a letter addressed to senators, IAM International President Brian Bryant stated: “The IAM is a strong advocate for workers’ rights and firmly believes this EO is blatantly illegal. This EO is an assault on the rights and job security for federal workers caring for our veterans, keeping our military ready, adjudicating passport applications, caring for our public lands, and performing countless other essential public services.”
IAM maintains that the executive order undermines collective bargaining rights and could negatively impact workplace protections as well as efficient delivery of public services. The union represents thousands of federal employees nationwide through affiliates such as the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), which covers approximately 110,000 federal workers.
IAM leadership views the bipartisan House vote as evidence of increasing support for reversing what it calls an unjust removal of collective bargaining rights. The organization continues to call on senators to move quickly to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act to protect fairness and stability within the federal workforce.
