UNIONS DEALT BLOWS FROM WHITE HOUSE, CONGRESS, AND SUPREME COURT
It has been a tumultuous couple of months. In recent days, labor organizations have been negatively impacted by actions of the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court. It should be crystal clear to you by now that elections have consequences.
- President Trump issued an Executive Order forming a Task Force charged with evaluating the finances of the U.S. Postal Service, including pricing, policies, and workforce costs.
- The Trump Administration released its budget for Fiscal Year 2018. Called “A New Foundation for American Greatness,” the budget proposes what can only be called catastrophic reductions in spending in dozens of important federal programs such as the pension benefits currently enjoyed by all federal and postal employees, including career mail handlers.
- The White House continued its attack on union workers by issuing three Executive Orders entitled: (1) Promoting Accountability and Streamlining Removal Procedures Consistent with Merit System Principles; (2) Ensuring Transparency, Accountability, and Efficiency in Taxpayer Funded Union Time Use; and (3) Developing Efficient, Effective, and Cost-Reducing Approaches to Federal Sector Collective Bargaining.
- On June 27, 2017, the Supreme Court by a vote of 5-4 issued a ruling in the case of Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 that will undermine the collective power of labor organizations.
