Union Sues Trump Over New Rules Making It Easier To Fire Federal Workers

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 9: A.F.G.E. union members cheer as they and Congressional leadership hold a rally for wage increases on February, 09, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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A public employees union is suing the Trump administration over new rules that make it easier to fire federal workers, claiming the rules violate employees’ right to freedom of association and exceed the president’s constitutional authority.

The executive orders, unveiled just before Memorial Day weekend, limit workers’ right union representation when challenging terminations, suspensions, demotions, or other adverse employment actions.

The Trump administration claims the rule changes will help agencies rid themselves of misbehaving and underperforming workers, and will save taxpayers at least $100 million each year. But the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents hundreds of thousands of federal employees around the country, says the move requires congressional sign-off.

“This president seems to think he is above the law, and we are not going to stand by while he tries to shred workers’ rights,” AFGE’s President J. David Cox Sr. said in a statement. “This is a democracy, not a dictatorship. No president should be able to undo a law he doesn’t like through administrative fiat.”

Read the full complaint here:

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