NTEU Legal Roundup — Week of June 30-July 4
Here is your weekly update on NTEU-related litigation challenging the administration's attacks on federal employees and the fight NTEU is bringing to defend our members from these attacks.
Mass Firings of Probationary Employees & RIFs
NTEU's Challenge to Mass Firings & RIFs
Case name: NTEU et al. v. Trump et al.
Court: DC District Court
STATUS: NTEU's motion to amend the complaint was granted on June 6, challenging additional RIFs and probationary firings. Briefing scheduled through August.
AFGE’s Challenge to Mass Firings
Case name: AFGE, AFL-CIO et al. v. OPM et al.
Court(s): Northern District of California; 9th Circuit Court of Appeals; Supreme Court
UPDATE: There have been two preliminary injunctions granted by the district court in this case. The first injunction was stayed by the Supreme Court. Shortly after, the district court granted a second injunction on behalf of different plaintiffs (including the unions). Both preliminary injunctions were appealed and then consolidated for briefing in the appeals court. On June 5, AFGE filed a motion for summary judgment in the district court, and the hearing is set for Aug. 28. On June 20, AFGE filed a response to the government’s appeal. On July 3, the government filed a cross-motion for summary judgment.
AFGE’s Challenge to RIFs
Case name: AFGE, AFL-CIO et al. v. Trump et al.
Court(s): Northern District of California; 9th Circuit Court of Appeals; Supreme Court
STATUS: On June 13, the district court clarified that the State Department’s planned layoffs are blocked by the preliminary injunction. Previously, the appeals court denied the government’s petition for an administrative stay to the preliminary injunction while the appeal is pending, which means RIFs at multiple federal agencies, including several represented by NTEU, remain blocked.
States’ Challenge to Mass Firings
Case name: State of Maryland et al. v. USDA et al.
Court(s): District of Maryland, 4th Circuit Court of Appeals
STATUS: Briefing on the merits of the preliminary injunction (currently stayed) has concluded. Awaiting a decision from the appeals court.
States’ Challenge to Mass Firings at HHS
Case name: State of New York et al. v. HHS et al.
Court: District of Rhode Island
UPDATE: On July 1, the court granted the states’ request for a preliminary injunction to block firings at HHS, and also preemptively denied the government’s request to stay the injunction.
Mass Exclusions Executive Order
As of today, the executive order removing about a dozen federal agencies from coverage of the labor statute is in effect, including at agencies represented by NTEU. As we continue to fight the President’s unlawful action, dues withholding may continue to start and stop. Your membership will not be terminated while litigation continues and we fight to restore dues withholding.
NTEU’s Challenge to Barg. Unit Exclusions
Case name: NTEU v. Trump et al.
Court: DC District Court, DC Circuit Court of Appeals
UPDATE: On June 9, NTEU filed a motion for summary judgment asking the district court to find the executive order stripping union rights from certain agency bargaining units is unlawful. The government responded on June 23. On July 7, NTEU filed a brief in support of our motion. Regarding the preliminary injunction that is stayed, NTEU filed a petition for rehearing with the full DC Circuit. On July 2, NTEU provided the appeals court with additional information supporting the request for a rehearing.
Treasury's Request to Void IRS Contract
Case name: Dept. of Treasury v. NTEU Ch. 73
Court: Eastern District of Kentucky
STATUS: The judge granted NTEU’s motion for summary judgment, ruling that the Treasury Dept. did not have standing to bring the case.
Government's Challenge to AFGE Contracts in Texas
Case name: Dept. of Defense et al. v. AFGE District 10 et al.
Court: Western District of Texas
STATUS: Hearing on AFGE’s motion to dismiss was held June 10. Awaiting decision.
AFGE’s Challenge to Barg. Unit Exclusions
Case name: AFGE, AFL-CIO et al. v. Trump et al.
Court: Northern District of California, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
UPDATE: On June 24, the judge granted AFGE’s request for a limited preliminary injunction of the executive order stripping union rights from certain agency bargaining units. Although it doesn’t directly impact NTEU members and contracts, it is yet one more decision in favor of federal employee unions. The government appealed the injunction on June 26 and on July 1, asked for an emergency stay of the injunction.
AFSA’s Challenge to Barg. Unit Exclusions
Case name: American Foreign Service Association v. Trump et al.
Court: DC District Court, DC Circuit Court of Appeals
STATUS: On June 17, a judge ruled in favor of AFSA and left in place a preliminary injunction that maintained the collective bargaining rights for foreign service employees. However, on June 20, the appeals court granted the government’s request to stay the injunction pending appeal.
AFGE’s Challenge to Exclusion of TSA Barg. Unit
Case name: AFGE v. Noem
Court: Western District of Washington
STATUS: On June 17, AFGE filed its opposition to the government’s motion to dismiss the case. On June 24, the government filed its support for the motion to dismiss. The preliminary injunction keeping the Transportation Security Administration bargaining unit remains in place.
FEA’s Challenge to Barg. Unit Exclusions
Case name: Federal Education Association et al v. Trump et al.
Court: DC District Court
UPDATE: On July 2, FEA (which represents teachers) filed a motion for a preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of the executive order stripping union rights from certain agency bargaining units. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Aug. 4.
Civil Service Protection
NTEU’s Challenge to Schedule Policy/Career
Case name: NTEU v. Trump et al.
Court: DC District Court
STATUS: NTEU filed a lawsuit on Jan. 20 challenging the executive order to reclassify federal employees and remove their due process rights. On June 26, the parties agreed to pause the case until OPM has published the final rule, with an agreement that no federal employees would be reclassified before then.
CFPB Dismantling
NTEU’s Challenge to Firings at CFPB
Case name: NTEU et al. v. Vought
Court: DC District Court, DC Circuit Court of Appeals
STATUS: Government’s appeal of the preliminary injunction -- which blocks mass layoffs at CFPB -- is pending before the court.
FMCS Dismantling
AFT’s Challenge to Dismantling FMCS
Case name: AFT, AFL-CIO et al. v. FMCS
Court: Southern District of New York
UPDATE: On June 13, the unions filed a motion for summary judgment asking the court to decide on the merits if the dismantling of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is unlawful. The government filed a motion to dismiss on July 3.
States’ Challenge to Dismantling FMCS
Case name: State of Rhode Island et al. v. Trump et al.
Court: District of Rhode Island, 1st Circuit Court of Appeals
STATUS: The appeals court earlier denied the government’s motion for an administrative stay, which maintains the pause in the executive order to strip the FMCS to bare minimum staffing. On June 9, the states filed a response opposing the government’s request to stay the preliminary injunction based on the merits. More briefs due in late July.
For more detailed information on these and other cases, see On the Docket.