The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) reiterates its support for workers’ rights to unionize and engage in collective bargaining, opposing recent attacks particularly targeting public sector workers. On March 7, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security canceled the collective bargaining agreement for Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Security Officers, affecting over 47,000 TSA agents represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). These actions are currently being challenged in court.
An executive order signed on March 27, 2025, further restricted collective bargaining for federal employees, citing national security concerns. This directive impacts over a million federal workers, extending the national security exception beyond its traditional bounds, and is also subject to legal challenge.
The Federal Workforce Freedom Act, introduced in the Senate, aims to eliminate collective bargaining rights for federal employees but faces challenges in becoming law. States such as Utah have enacted laws prohibiting collective bargaining for public sector workers, joining North Carolina and South Carolina in this stance.
In response to these developments, some congressional members are advocating for the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which would enshrine collective bargaining rights for federal employees into law, supported by a bipartisan coalition and federal unions.
ILWU emphasizes the significance of defending collective bargaining rights as a key component of labor movement efforts, particularly amid ongoing challenges.
