Behind the Scenes: House Passage of the Protect America's Workforce Act

On December 11, the House voted 231-195 to approve the Protect America's Workforce Act (H.R. 2550). H.R. 2550 would rescind the executive order issued earlier this year that stripped millions of federal workers of their right to union representation. The House's passage of the bill is a major win for federal employees and the right to collective bargaining. But here's what you didn't see on CSPAN: NTEU members and leaders worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this happen. 

It all started at our Legislative Conference in March, where we invited long-time ally Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) to speak. Fitzpatrick, a leader in the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, started and ended his year championing federal employees. After the Legislative Conference, Fitzpatrick teamed up with Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) to build momentum for H.R. 2550 across party lines. 

Then came the critical moment: a discharge petition to force the House to vote on the bill. Thanks to strategic meetings organized by NTEU and our partners in the Federal Postal Coalition, which includes over 38 Labor unions and Federal employee advocacy groups, and thanks to YOU, our members, who wrote letters, made calls, and met with lawmakers. Five Republicans signed the petition, breaking ranks with their leadership and ensuring the bill got a vote.

When the vote came, every Democrat supported the bill, and 20 Republicans stood with us to protect federal employees’ rights. These Republican lawmakers, including Fitzpatrick, Don Bacon, Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota and Rob Bresnahan who signed the discharge petition, showed real courage in bucking their party to do what’s right.

This victory is proof of what we can accomplish together. Your advocacy mattered. Your voice mattered. And because of it, federal employees are one step closer to restoring our rights to negotiate for fair working conditions. This fight is not over yet this bill is going to the Senate, and we need you to push for its passage again! Click here to urge your Senators to support this critical legislation!

Full list of Republicans who supported H.R.2550:  Don Bacon (NE 2) • Mike Bost (IL 12) • Rob Bresnahan (PA 8) • Gabe Evans (CO 8) • Brian Fitzpatrick (PA 1) • Andrew Garbarino (NY 2) • Dave Joyce (OH 14) • Tom Kean Jr. (NJ 7) • Nick LaLota (NY 1) • Mike Lawler (NY 17) • Nicole Malliotakis (NY 11) • Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA 2) • Zach Nunn (IA 3) • Chris Smith (NJ 4) • Pete Stauber (MN 8) • Mike Turner (OH 10) • David Valadao (CA 22) • Jeff Van Drew (NJ 2) • Derrick Van Orden (WI 3)

Florida Congressman and Allies Stand Up for Federal Employees and Unions

A series of anti-worker, anti-union bills were on the agenda in one of the last hearings of the year of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. During the debate, one of the Republican members complained that he and his GOP colleagues don’t earn more political support from federal employees, eliciting powerful responses from Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and several other Democrats on the Committee.

 “You put forth bills like this, and then you have a president like Donald Trump slashing away their collective bargaining, making it so they have job insecurity and financial strain,” Frost said. “That might be one of the reasons why many federal workers aren’t super jazzed about this administration. So, it’s not confusing to me why a group of mostly working-class people are not jazzed about what this administration is doing to their own lives and their own livelihood.”

Rep. Frost has made a habit of calling out his colleagues across the aisle for attacking federal employees and their unions in bad faith. It’s a reflex from years of supporting and defending the nonpartisan civil service. Rep. Frost and his congressional office have been true partners with NTEU, routinely seeking NTEU’s policy expertise and input from his federal employee constituents.

THANK YOU for Making NTEU Strong

This year, NTEU members sent over 60,000 emails and letters to Congress through NTEU’s Action Center. You rallied together, met with your members of Congress in their districts and even brought your family and friends into the fight—working together to protect our union rights, pay, benefits, and jobs.

Your grassroots power made all the difference. Lawmakers paid attention because you spoke up. You showed what federal families can do when we stand together.

But the fight isn’t over. Next year, we will take this fight to the ballot box. We’ll raise our issues on the campaign trail and make sure candidates know where we stand.

NTEU is strong because of YOU. Let’s keep building on the great work we are doing together. Because together, we win!

The Political Insider provides NTEU members with critical information about how various lawmakers and candidates stand on issues related to federal employees. Members of Congress and the president have influence over many aspects of federal employees’ working lives and NTEU believes that our members should be aware of who supports us and who does not.