April 1, 2020
Dear Senator,
On behalf of more than 600,000 active and retired members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), I strongly urge you to co-sponsor the ‘‘Protecting Collective Bargaining and Official Time for Federal Workers Act’’ (S. 3583) introduced by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD). President Trump has unfairly used Executive Orders and an official memorandum to dismantle federal unions and remove collective bargaining rights from federal employees.
S.3583 revokes the three Executive Orders and one memorandum that have dangerously weakened laws designed to protect federal employees and their rights on the job. Federal workers are the backbone of the federal government and are needed to accomplish federal operations, legislation, and administrative duties. The Executive Orders and the presidential memorandum targeting these employees have only prevented and stifled workers from accomplishing their government missions and serving the public. We need these federal workers now more than ever, and what we do not need are obstacles like the Executive Orders or memorandums hindering the work for Americans.
Collective bargaining rights are the law and they assist in running a smooth operation in federal agencies. Federal workers are without question, essential to public service and national security, having a collective voice on the job assists managers and employees in working cooperatively when issues arise.
This legislation is a companion bill to H.R. 6246, introduced by Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA, 6th) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA, 1st). To sign on as a cosponsor, please contact Gray Maxwell at Gray_Maxwell@cardin.senate.gov or Juan Urcia juan_urcia@cardin.senate.gov in Senator Cardin’s office.
For more information, please contact the Machinists Legislative Director Hasan Solomon at (301) 967-4575 or hsolomon@iamaw.org.
Thank you,
Robert Martinez, Jr.
International President