Court Decision to Allow Union Busting at DOD

In "a major setback" for federal workers, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned a lower court decision concerning collective bargaining rights at the Department of Defense (DoD) Friday morning. "The decision will allow the government to eliminate any meaningful collective bargaining rights for DoD employees," said AFSCME Council 26 Executive Director Carl Goldman. "This is a major setback for all federal workers and has serious implications for all of us."  At risk are pay and benefits for federal workers and basic protections on the worksite for federal whistleblowers. Meanwhile, President Bush is threatening to veto attempts by Congress to protect worker rights at both the DoD and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The House of Representatives recently passed legislation to support collective bargaining in DoD and stop the department's attempts to eliminate real due process rights. The House also repealed the DHS personnel system, which two federal courts found to be illegal.  The DHS personnel system would give officials virtually unlimited power over workers and yank whistle-blower protections and workers' right to bargain. 2005 Department of Defense workers rally, photo by Chris Garlock
- includes reporting by Press Associates