The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is urging the U.S. Senate to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act (H.R. 2550, S. 2837), following its recent bipartisan approval in the House of Representatives by a vote of 231-195.
The legislation aims to restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees who lost those rights under a recent executive order, which affected about 75 percent of the federal workforce. The bill was introduced in the House by Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), while Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) sponsored the companion legislation in the Senate, which currently has 48 cosponsors, including two Republicans.
In a letter addressed to Senators, IAM International President Brian Bryant stated: “The IAM is a strong advocate for workers’ rights and firmly believes this EO is blatantly illegal. This EO is an assault on the rights and job security for federal workers caring for our veterans, keeping our military ready, adjudicating passport applications, caring for our public lands, and performing countless other essential public services.”
IAM maintains that the executive order undermines collective bargaining rights that have historically contributed to workplace protections and efficient public service delivery. The union represents thousands of federal employees nationwide through its affiliate, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), which covers approximately 110,000 federal workers.
According to IAM, momentum from the bipartisan House vote signals growing support for reversing what it calls an unjust removal of these workplace rights. The organization continues to call on Senators to approve the Protect America’s Workforce Act in order to provide stability and fairness for federal employees.
