Standing Up for Public Sector Employees' Right to Organize

Video Description

U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Donald Norcross (D-NJ) will join the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to announce the reintroduction of the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act. Attendees in addition to Senator Hirono and Representative Norcross include Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA); Lee Saunders, President of AFSCME; Liz Shuler, President of AFL-CIO; Margaret Cook, Vice President of CWA - Public, Healthcare & Education Workers; Eliana Holgate, Children’s Instructor & Research Specialist at Howard County Library Elkridge Branch, AFSCME Council 3 member; Sally Murek, Paraeducator Manager at Montgomery County Public Schools (SEIU Local 500 member); and Eyklipse Baca, Library Assistant at Denver Public Library (CWA Local 7799 member). The  Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act aims to guarantee the right of public sector employees to organize, act concertedly, and bargain collectively in states that currently do not afford these basic protections. Last month, President Trump issued an executive order ending collective bargaining for federal workers in agencies with national security missions, such as the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security. This move further erodes workers' rights and seeks to silence unions.