Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent actions of the Trump administration impacting federal workers, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and what the labor movement is doing in response.
The AFL-CIO, along with several other unions and government watch groups, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for demanding access to Department of Labor (DOL) systems containing sensitive data on workplace investigations. Redmond explained that this action threatens the integrity of ongoing investigations, particularly those involving companies like Tesla, which has been found to have higher injury rates than the rest of the automobile industry. The unions successfully obtained a temporary restraining order to block the DOL from handing over this information.
Redmond then addressed the Trump administration's attempt to push out federal workers through a So-Called "deferred resignation" program. This program, which Redmond described as illegal, promises to pay workers until September without proper appropriation of funds. The AFL-CIO is working to protect federal employees from these threats and harassment, with plans for mass demonstrations.
Despite these challenges, Redmond shared positive news about the growth of the labor movement. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), with its 2 million members, has reaffiliated with the AFL-CIO. Redmond added that the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) and the Professional Hockey Players Association (PHPA) have joined the AFL-CIO's Sports Council. These affiliations bring the total number of AFL-CIO-represented workers to approximately 15 million, strengthening the labor movement's ability to fight for workers' rights and social justice.
To hear more about the AFL-CIO's efforts to protect workers and strengthen the labor movement, listen to the full episode with Redmond above.