Virginia Republicans don’t back effort to restore union rights for federal workers

Two vulnerable Republicans use pro-worker rhetoric, but have yet to support legislation aimed at empowering federal workers.

Virginia Democrats in Congress are part of a legislative effort to restore bargaining rights for over a million federal workers, but Virginia Republicans have yet to sign on despite their claims of being pro-worker. 

Virginia’s US Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, last week joined other members of the Senate to introduce legislation that would repeal executive orders by President Donald Trump that, among other things, took away collective bargaining rights from over a million federal workers. The two-page bill is called the Protect America’s Workforce Act. 

Since Trump’s inauguration in January, his administration has repeatedly attacked the rights and job security of federal workers. As part of his assault on labor, Trump in March ordered that most federal workers lose their collective bargaining rights on the pretext their jobs were tied to national security.   

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CRSA) allows the president to limit collective bargaining agreements if there is a national security concern. But, Democrats in the Senate and a coalition of unions argue, Trump was wrong to use CRSA to classify two-thirds of the federal workforce as having national security missions to cancel valid union contracts. Agencies that have had their union contracts terminated include the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture. 

“The labor movement looks forward to working with senators to stop the senseless assault on workers who provide essential government services to communities across America,” AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler said in a statement. “The labor movement stands united behind this bill.”

According to a release published by Kaine and Warner, federal employee unions don’t negotiate pay or benefits, but collective bargaining agreements protect federal workers from retaliation, discrimination, and illegal firings, while also providing resources for whistleblowers and veterans. 

The House version of the Protect America’s Workforce Act was introduced in April, but has yet to be voted on. House Democrats are pushing to force a floor vote, but to do so they need the majority of the House to sign what’s known as a discharge petition. As of Thursday afternoon, three Republicans had signed the petition and it needed just two more signatures to force a vote. 

All six Virginia House Democrats have signed the petition to force a vote on the bill, but not a single Virginia House Republican has joined them. 

That’s despite rhetoric from GOP House members claiming to support workers in Virginia. 

In March, US Rep. Jen Kiggans from Virginia’s 2nd congressional district in Hampton Roads touted a letter she sent to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth aimed at “advocating for veterans who are federal workers at risk of losing their jobs.” 

This past Labor Day, Kiggans posted a message on X thanking “all the hardworking Americans” who made “the greatest nation in the world!” 

US Rep. Rob Wittman from Virginia’s 1st congressional district, which includes Williamsburg, Tappahannock and Richmond suburbs, has similarly publicly celebrated workers while stopping short of supporting them with his signature on this petition. 

In an April interview with Channel 12 in Richmond, Wittman said that Trump’s federal cuts should be done in a way that’s mindful of the impact they have on federal workers. And as a candidate in 2022, Wittman called for “an agenda that is pro-worker.” 

Both Kiggans and Wittman are up for re-election next year and are being targeted by Democrats.

The offices of Kiggans and Wittman did not respond to requests for comment.  

Meanwhile, Trump’s attacks on public sector workers appear unlikely to let up anytime soon. 

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the White House directed federal agencies to make plans to “permanently reduce their workforce” in the event of a government shutdown. Republicans have until the end of the month to reach a deal with Democrats to keep the government funded.