A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump cancelling the collective bargaining rights for most federal workers.
US District Judge Paul Friedman has blocked the Trump administration from implementing the order following a lawsuit from the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents around 160,000 federal employees.
The union in its lawsuit alleges that the order violates federal workers’ rights of labor and is unconstitutional, adding that if the order is granted, it will lose two-thirds of its membership and half of its membership fees.
The order exempts more than 12 agencies from requirements to negotiate with unions, including the Legal Department, State, Defense, Treasury Department, Veteran Affairs and the Health and Welfare Department.
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A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked an executive order from President Donald Trump cancelling the collective bargaining rights for most federal workers. (Get McNamee/Getty Images)
This will affect around 75% of the nearly one million federal workers represented by unions, expanding existing rules that exempt national security agencies such as the FBI and CIA from collective bargaining requirements.
The U.S. Treasury also filed a lawsuit against the NTEU following an order that would invalidate collective bargaining contracts involving IRS employees.
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The order is part of the administration’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government by disciplining and dismissing workers and making it easier to change working conditions.
The U.S. Treasury also filed a lawsuit against the NTEU following an order that would invalidate collective bargaining contracts involving IRS employees. (Release (Photo: Michel du Cille/The Washington Post by Getty Images)
The temporary injunction will remain in force until the outcome of the NTEU lawsuit.
Friedman said he will issue an opinion explaining his ruling in the coming days.
IRS (Internal Revenue Service) Head Office Building in Washington, DC (Getty Images)
He also gave lawyers to both sides in a week to suggest how the case should proceed.
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Fox News Digital reached the White House for comment.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to the report.
