More than 85 years ago, a small group of federal employees joined together to improve their working conditions. Those federal employees—and the many who followed—fought tirelessly for the dignity and respect they deserved in the workplace. And in 1978, Congress recognized their efforts with the passage of the federal labor statute. That statute affirms federal employees’ right to organize, bargain collectively and participate in labor organizations like NTEU.

Now, almost 50 years later, this administration wants to take your rights back.

Last week, the President issued an executive order that strips the collective bargaining rights of approximately 2/3 of the bargaining unit employees that NTEU represents. With a single stroke of his pen, the President excluded nearly a dozen federal departments and agencies from the labor statute claiming, “national security concerns”. Many of these agencies have been represented by NTEU for decades. And no President has ever attempted to eliminate entire agencies from coverage of the labor statute—let alone six agencies.

Like our predecessors, we will fight for employees’ right to join a union and to bargain collectively! This Monday, mere days after the President’s executive order, NTEU filed a lawsuit challenging the broad exclusions of agencies where NTEU represents employees. We argue that the President violated both the statute and Congress’s intent in issuing the statute by using a narrow national security exemption to exclude 2/3 of federal employees from the statute’s coverage.

Today, we filed a request for emergency relief asking the court to stop implementation of the executive order. This request will be briefed and argued before the district court. We will keep you informed about its status.

We stand strong together as we continue the fight against this administration’s unlawful actions. Together in solidarity, we will prevail!