Tom Spiggle, labor and employment law attorney and founder of The Spiggle Law Firm, discussed the Trump administration's attacks on federal workers, legal challenges to union rights and the Supreme Court's role in these disputes.
The administration's aggressive moves against federal employee unions have sparked numerous legal battles. Spiggle highlighted the termination of collective bargaining agreements for over 45,000 Transportation Safety Administration workers as a prime example. While a recent court ruling temporarily blocked this action, the ultimate fate of these agreements remains uncertain as cases make their way through the courts.
Spiggle expressed concern about the U.S. Supreme Court's potential rulings on these issues, noting a recent 6-3 decision allowing Trump to remove heads of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Merit Systems Protection Board without cause. Spiggle said this decision signals a potentially worker-unfriendly stance from the court. However, he suggested the court might draw the line at due process violations, potentially reining in some of the administration's more extreme actions.
Finally, Spiggle addressed the administration's use of buyouts to reduce the federal workforce. While some employees took these offers, Spiggle warned of potential risks. He said these risks include agencies going back on the agreements or running out of funds to honor them. Spiggle advised workers to carefully consider their personal circumstances before accepting buyouts.
Listen to the full episode above to hear more from Spiggle on the legal challenges facing federal workers under the Trump administration.