This can be a rush transcript. Copy might not be in its last type.
AMY GOODMAN: We start in the present day’s present with President Trump’s push to finish collective bargaining rights for federal employees which have helped to guide the resistance to cuts by billionaire Elon Musk’s so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity by signing up 1000’s of recent members becoming a member of protests and by submitting many lawsuits.
On Monday, the Nationwide Treasury Workers Union, which represents employees in 37 federal businesses, sued the Trump administration over an government order Trump signed Thursday night time that calls the unions hostile to his agenda and will block collective bargaining rights for almost half the federal workforce and overturn the flexibility of unions to symbolize them in negotiations or in court docket. Unions have referred to as Trump’s order the most important assault on the labor motion in U.S. historical past. The most important federal worker union, the American Federation of Authorities Workers, says it is going to additionally problem the order in court docket.
This comes after a federal decide not too long ago dominated in favor of AFGE and its allies in one other case, ordering the Trump administration to reinstate federal probationary employees fired at six businesses.
In the meantime, one other spherical of layoffs for federal employees is underway this morning, this time for as many as 10,000 employees on the Well being and Human Companies Division.
For extra, we go on to Washington, D.C., the place we’re joined by Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Authorities Workers.
To say the least, Everett Kelley, your union is below assault. Speak about President Trump’s government order and the way you’re combating again.
EVERETT KELLEY: OK, nicely, to begin with, thanks for having me right here in the present day.
You already know, as you understand, this government order makes use of nationwide safety for his or her actions. Nevertheless, we all know that is simply pretext, not justification, as a result of there’s no method that you just’ve had staff, corresponding to nurses and docs and scientists, you understand, in a collective bargaining settlement for many years, and swiftly now they don’t seem to be capable of be in an settlement. You already know, that’s strictly pretextual and has nothing to do with nationwide safety. And —
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Everett —
EVERETT KELLEY: — that is the factor that — go forward, Juan.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: No, no. Go forward.
EVERETT KELLEY: You already know, I used to be simply going to say that is nothing however retaliation towards our union for standing up for its members. However that is our job. That is what we must always do, is get up for our members, as a result of, you understand, it’s been confirmed that what this administration is making an attempt to do to federal staff is prohibited. And we’ll proceed to combat for the membership. We are going to proceed to combat for America. And we’ll proceed to combat for democracy. That’s our job. And we’re outraged by this.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: May you speak about to what extent is that this historic, these assaults on federal employees? How does this examine to what different administrations have completed previously by way of the federal workforce?
EVERETT KELLEY: You already know, once more, that is — you understand, this workforce was below the primary Trump administration. He didn’t suppose that there was a necessity at the moment, if you had a pandemic occurring, if you had disaster on the planet — you understand, he didn’t suppose there was a necessity to position these staff below this nationwide safety risk. And that’s precisely what it’s. It’s designed to silence employees. It’s designed to make it possible for staff hold their head down and don’t say something, don’t maintain anybody accountable. As a result of for many years these staff have been below contract, it’s by no means been an issue. Like I stated, even below the Trump first administration, it wasn’t an issue.
And swiftly, it’s an issue. Why? As a result of we’ve been successful in court docket, we’ve been difficult this administration, and we’ll proceed to problem this administration. What they don’t perceive is that this. AFGE is right here to symbolize the members. We will likely be right here. We was right here earlier than this administration got here on board. We’ll be right here after it leaves. That’s the factor that they hadn’t understood about AFGE.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Properly, since 1978, with the Civil Service Reform Act, all federal workplaces are thought-about open outlets, which implies the employees usually are not required to pay union dues. Are you able to speak about what’s been occurring in latest months by way of federal staff deciding to pay up union dues?
EVERETT KELLEY: Properly, you understand, and that’s true. You already know, that is an open store. Nobody is required to pay union dues. When folks be a part of this union, they voluntarily be a part of. And over the previous few months, folks have been noticing the assault on federal staff. They’re realizing the necessity for a union, and persons are becoming a member of this union. I imply, it’s been large quantities of staff which have determined, “You already know what? I wish to be part of this union,” as a result of they see that the union is standing there, you understand, in the way in which — matter of reality, you understand, I simply consider this, that if we don’t stand, the very democracy of this nation will quickly be gone. And folks understand that. Workers understand that. And so they’re now saying, “You already know what? I wish to be part of this union, as a result of this union is standing for America.”
AMY GOODMAN: Everett Kelley, I’m questioning if you happen to can reply to the federal decide ruling in favor of your union, the AFGE, ordering the Trump administration to reinstate federal probationary employees. Are you able to clarify what sort of union safety probationary employees have? And let’s be clear, there’s totally different sorts of probationary employees. You’ve bought the employees who’ve perhaps simply come on board within the final yr or two, and also you’ve bought the longtime employees who get a promotion, and so then they’re in a interval of probation. So, they could possibly be there for 20 years, they get elevated, and all of the sudden they’re fired.
EVERETT KELLEY: Yeah, you understand, that is unprecedented. To start with, you understand, to be a probationary worker is rather like you stated. You already know, it could possibly be an individual that simply had been doing such a tremendous job that they bought a promotion, they usually’ve been on that promotion for 90 days, or they’ve been on that promotion for a yr. And, you understand, this administration has are available and stated, “Since you’re a probationary worker, you’re fired.” Proper? However that is the factor they should perceive: They’re not on probation; they’re on a probationary appointment.
And this administration was fallacious. The court docket admits that they had been fallacious. The court docket confirmed that they was fallacious. And, you understand, we’re going to proceed to make it possible for we level out these irregularities and these unlawful actions that this administration has taken towards federal staff. These probationary staff was very weak, as a result of plenty of them have only a few rights. This administration knew that, and they also got here after them. However AFGE stood up for them. AFGE goes to proceed to face up for any worker that’s wrongfully terminated.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: I wished to ask you — DOGE and the Trump administration have pushed this reasoning for his or her aggressive dismantling of federal providers: The federal authorities is simply too huge. Are you able to speak about this concern, that they declare that there’s too many individuals working, particularly for the reason that largest employer is the Protection Division by way of civilian staff?
EVERETT KELLEY: OK, once more, you understand, it’s simply pretextual. It’s a method of turning folks’s consideration away from the true concern, as a result of if you have a look at the information, the inhabitants has exploded since 1970, however the federal workforce is similar in the present day because it was in 1970, within the ’70s. So, that’s simply pretextual. That’s not true.
And definitely, you understand, this workforce is required. The providers that’s supplies to the American folks, these are the people who try this. These are the employees. These are nurses that present the providers for the veterans that want help. These are the people who present the providers for the meals inspection, to make it possible for the meals we eat is protected; the air we breathe, in EPA, is protected. These are the people who make it possible for the general public fly safely. That’s below assault.
You already know, so that is simply pretextual. It isn’t that the federal government is simply too giant. You already know, these are folks which are making an attempt to take over the federal government and provides contracts to their billionaire buddies. That’s the true concern right here.
AMY GOODMAN: Everett Kelley, as we start to wrap up, there are protests at each degree. You’ve bought, as we converse, New Jersey Senator Booker on the ground of the Senate filibustering. You’ve bought lawsuits like yours and people all around the nation. And also you’ve bought folks within the streets. You’re going to be talking on the April fifth mass mobilization on Saturday on the “Arms Off” rally organized by Indivisible, the place I believe across the nation there are going to be one thing like 800 rallies protesting Trump and Elon Musk’s, what they’re calling an influence seize. Are you able to speak about — give us a bit preview about what you’re going to say.
EVERETT KELLEY: Properly, to begin with, you understand, we wish to level out the information. You already know, we would like the American folks to know that what’s occurring right here just isn’t what’s being stated by the administration. What’s occurring is that there’s a energy seize, as a result of that is about energy. That is about an administration desirous to have their method whatever the rule of legislation, you understand. And it’s so stuffed with lawlessness, and we try to level that out to the American folks.
We’re additionally making an attempt to make the purpose that, you understand, if you happen to proceed to achieve and seize the federal workforce and disallow them to do their job, it’s going to have an effect on the providers that they offered to the American folks. As a result of, you understand, the American — the federal workforce do their job so nicely, in my view, that many instances they’re unnoticed. When a veteran will get the providers that she or he wants, you understand, that veteran employee that’s doing that work is unnoticed. When the meals that we eat is inspected and persons are not getting sick by that, that meals inspector’s job is admittedly unnoticed. When the America fly safely, you understand, the employees at TSA, it’s actually unnoticed. When the air we breathe is nice, that work is admittedly unnoticed. So, they’re doing their job, they usually’re doing it successfully. However the minute that they don’t seem to be capable of do their job and they’re downsizing these positions, then the American persons are going to really feel that. And it’s going to be harmful and detrimental to the well being and well-being of People.
You already know, in order that’s why we’re making this rally identified. That’s why we’re asking folks to take part nationwide. Such as you stated, we’re over 800 of those occasions. And I recognize Indivisible for doing what they’re doing to carry some consciousness to what’s occurring throughout this nation.
AMY GOODMAN: Everett Kelley, we wish to thanks very a lot for being with us, president of the American Federation of Authorities Workers, the biggest authorities employee union within the nation.
