Fed unions take lead in resistance to Trump’s presidential power grab
"President Donald Trump overwhelmed federal workers with shock and fear immediately upon taking office," wrote the Washington Post on Friday. "Now those feelings have turned to anger and activism — with federal employees leading actions over working conditions, and also more broadly against Trump’s aggressive presidential power grab that has generated a constitutional crisis alarm. Instead of pushing parochial compensation concerns, today federal employees are keenly focused on stopping Trump’s unprecedented power heist." How federal unions are fighting back in this moment »
Federal workers are uniting across agency and union lines
"[W]hat these guys are trying to do is obliterate the federal government as a model employer, which will lower the working conditions and the working standards for every working-class person. And then they will try to tell you that there’s no other alternative, because they won’t have the federal government standing there in opposition to what they’re saying." Colin Smalley of FUN talks to Jacobin »
VA nurses are in short supply. "Deferred resignation" could make things worse.
The Trump administration’s deferred resignation offer come amid longstanding staffing shortages, deemed severe at more than half of all facilities. “We’re already facing a staffing crisis in our hospitals,” said Irma Westmoreland, a registered nurse with National Nurses United. “We cannot afford to lose any more staff.” Read more »
Maryland shares resources and information for impacted workers
Maryland's new Public Servants Resource Website is a hub for programs and resources — such as information on unemployment insurance, job search and career support, legal resources and an index of key rules and regulations that govern the federal employment process. Maryland has the second highest concentration of federal employees in the nation behind Washington, DC, according to a news release. See the resources »
Workers at five D.C. restaurants attempt to unionize, fighting for “rights, respect, and benefits”
“[The workers] understand that the only way to change that is with a union, by coming together with their coworkers and bargaining collectively for a contract that guarantees them all the rights, respect, and benefits that come with the Local 25 contract,” said Benji Cannon, director of communications at UNITE HERE Local 25. Read more »
Upcoming Events
Today at 10 AM: Building the Resistance
Today at 10 AM, tune in to WPFW 89.3 FM to hear Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO President Sam Epps and Chris Dols, President of IFPTE Local 98 and member of the Federal Unionists Network (FUN), discuss how we build the resistance in this moment. Listen at WPFWfm.org.
Wednesday: February Meeting of DC COPE
The Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO's Committee on Political Education (COPE) for the District of Columbia meets monthly on Zoom. The next meeting will take place this Wednesday, February 19 from 3:00-5:00 PM. Members of our Affiliated unions are invited to join us for this week's DC COPE meeting.
Thursday: February Meeting of the Prince George's and Montgomery County COPE
The Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO's Committee on Political Education (COPE) for Prince George's and Montgomery Counties meets monthly on Zoom. The next meeting will take place this Thursday, February 20 from 3:00-5:00 PM. Members of our Affiliated unions are invited to join this week's meeting of the Prince George's + Montgomery County COPE.
Save the Date! Labor Night at the Nationals will take place Saturday, June 14, 2025
Mark your calendar for this annual tradition! The Community Services Agency's Labor Night at the Nationals will take place this year on Saturday, June 14, 2025. We'll catch the 4:05 PM game and raise funds for union families in our region. Group ticketing information to follow.
Get your tickets for Evening with Labor 2025
Evening with Labor is the largest celebration of the DC region’s labor movement, and this year's event will take place on Saturday, April 26 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC. Tickets and sponsorships for this year's event are now open! Get your tickets or become a sponsor of this year's event.