Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, is preparing to lay off more than half of its staff following a series of aggressive measures by the Trump administration to curb collective bargaining rights. This dramatic downsizing, first reported by the Associated Press, highlights the escalating battle between the federal government and public sector unions.
Currently employing 355 staff members, AFGE plans to reduce its workforce to approximately 150 employees. The impending layoffs affecting organizers, national representatives, support staff, and others could happen as soon as June, according to a union spokesperson.
Now, you might be wondering, what led to this significant cutback? Let’s dive deeper into the situation.
In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stripping many federal employees of their collective bargaining rights across over a dozen federal agencies. AFGE, which represents more than 800,000 government workers, reported that around 660,000 of its members were impacted by the order.
The administration defended its move as a measure to bolster national security. However, a White House fact sheet revealed another motive: weakening unions that were viewed as obstructing Trump’s policy agenda. It specifically called out AFGE for “widely filing grievances” to block various initiatives.
One of the most devastating blows to the union’s financial stability came from the Office of Personnel Management’s directive to cease payroll deductions for union dues. Since most union funding relied on these automatic deductions, the consequences were swift and severe. For example, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the second-largest federal workers’ union, reported a loss of $2 million in dues revenue and warned that it might soon become unsustainable.
In an attempt to counteract these financial strains, AFGE has been urging its members to enroll in an E-Dues system, allowing them to submit dues payments directly. Although this effort has seen some success, the majority of members were still reliant on payroll deductions, exacerbating the union’s financial challenges.
Despite the setbacks, AFGE remains steadfast in its mission. In a bold statement, the union declared,
"The President’s elimination of elective membership dues and the resulting layoffs are a setback, but they are not the end of AFGE not by a long shot. We will not be deterred, silenced, or intimidated into submission."
Adding to the complexity, a federal judge recently paused parts of Trump’s executive order in a lawsuit brought by NTEU. However, the ruling does not significantly impact AFGE’s layoff plans, as it does not cover a substantial portion of AFGE’s affected members.
It’s important to note that even as AFGE has experienced a surge in new memberships since Trump assumed office, the broader trend of shrinking federal employment with over 100,000 government jobs eliminated and more cuts anticipated has eroded its base.
Throughout this tumultuous period, AFGE has consistently taken legal action against the Trump administration's policies and has organized nationwide protests to defend federal workers' rights.
This article shows how a combination of political strategies and administrative decisions has forced AFGE into a major transformation. While the layoffs mark a significant challenge, AFGE’s resilience and commitment to protecting the rights of federal employees signal that its fight is far from over. Moving forward, it will be crucial to see how unions adapt to this new landscape and continue advocating for federal workers across the nation.
