AFL-CIO's Calemine on White House union-busting and NLRB crisis

Jody Calemine, the AFL-CIO's Director of Advocacy, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss attacks on federal unions, the crisis at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and proposed legislation affecting workers' rights.

Calamine emphasized the administration's stance against federal unions, citing an Executive Order that stripped collective bargaining rights from nearly 1 million federal employees. This action, deemed unlawful and unconstitutional, targeted unions for "fighting back" against personnel decisions and program cuts. In response, a bipartisan bill, H.R. 2550 (Protecting America's Workforce Act), was introduced to reverse the Executive Order and restore collective bargaining rights. Calamine said the bill has majority support in the House, including seven Republicans, signaling broader backing for unions and collective bargaining rights.

He then delved into the NLRB crisis following Trump's firing of Board Member Gwynne Wilcox. Calamine explained that this action has left the NLRB non-functional at the board level, lacking a quorum to decide cases. He expressed concern over the Supreme Court's decision not to enjoin Wilcox's firing, signaling a potential ruling that could allow presidents to fire NLRB members at will, threatening the agency's independence and workers' rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

Calamine also spoke about proposed legislation that could significantly impact workers' rights and regulatory processes. He highlighted attempts to preempt state and local regulation of artificial intelligence for a decade, potentially leaving workers vulnerable to displacement. Additionally, he discussed efforts to empower Congress to approve regulations before they take effect, which could impede worker protection measures.

For more insights on the AFL-CIO's fight against union-busting and efforts to protect workers' rights, listen to the full episode.