Legislation introduced to restore collective bargaining

AFL-CIO urges every House member to stand with working people and reverse President Trump’s attack on federal workers’ rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 18, 2025) — The federal administration’s hostility to working people and organized labor has been a cornerstone of it’s early months, using broad sweeps of executive power to dismantle union rights and key agencies like the National Labor Relations Board. In response, a bipartisan duo of Congressmen have brought forward a simple bill to undo some of this harm and restore collective bargaining rights to federal workers.

The Protect America’s Workforce Act (H.R. 2550) is bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) and Jared Golden (ME-2) to nullify the executive order aimed at excluding federal workers from collective bargaining rights. That order, signed by President Trump in March, gutted collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, a unilateral denial of workers’ rights that amounts to the single greatest act of union-busting in U.S. history. 

“In his order, President Trump said that federal workers’ rights are incompatible with national security. He is wrong. said Rep. Golden in a statement announcing the legislation. “Throughout our history, unions have ensured workers got their fair share of this nation’s prosperity.”

Union rights are broadly supported in communities across the nation, with more than 70% of U.S. residents approving of unions, including nearly 90% of those under 30. Across the political spectrum, most people strongly support the freedom to have a union on the job.

The AFL-CIO is urging swift passage of the Act, saying, “we have the votes in Congress to overturn that order—and today, we’re calling on every House member to stand with working people and put their commitment in writing by bringing legislation to restore our rights to the floor for a vote.”

With a majority of House members already co-sponsoring the bill, including both Democrats and Republicans, advocates are pushing for a vote on the House floor without delay, using a procedural tool called a “discharge petition.” If every House member that has added their name as a cosponsor signs on, that will bring the bill forward for a vote, keep this essential legislation from getting mired in political games. 

The AFL-CIO is urging working people to call their Congressperson now — Republican or Democrat — and urge them to sign the discharge petition to bring the Protect America’s Workforce Act to the House floor for a vote as soon as possible.

TAKE A STAND: Use this action link from the AFL-CIO to call your representative and urge them to sign the discharge petition and pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act without delay.