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AFGE to Protest President Trump in Court and the Streets on #RedforFeds Day


WASHINGTON, July 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With oral arguments set to begin in AFGE v. Trump in exactly seven days, the nation's largest federal union is announcing #RedforFeds day on July 25 to protest President Trump's illegal, union-busting executive orders.

AFGE logo. (PRNewsFoto/American Federation of Government Employees)

"A little under two months ago, President Trump tried to sneak through three executive orders that undermine our democracy," said American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr. "These orders are a direct assault on our apolitical civil service system and are nothing but thinly veiled attempts at busting unions and rolling back workplace rights across the country," he added.

On Friday, May 25, the administration announced three executive orders that chip away at due process and collective bargaining rights for federal employees and impede employee representation at the job site. AFGE immediately called the orders "a direct assault on the legal rights and protections that Congress has specifically guaranteed to the 2 million public-sector employees across the country who work for the federal government."

Within three business days of issuance of the orders, AFGE filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. That suit has since been joined with several other unions, an amicus brief from Congressional leaders protesting the President's decision, as well as support from lawmakers speaking out and writing to Trump.

"We are thankful that so many elected officials have seen right through these orders for what they are, and appreciate them standing up to the President to try and stop them," said Cox. "We will be making Wednesday, July 25, a national day of action for us with planned events in more than 20 cities across the country ?  with the largest event happening right here in D.C."

AFGE will be hosting a rally in front of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Wednesday morning with hundreds of public servants protesting the administration's attempt to silence workers and remove their rights. In addition to the public protest, members of Congress are joining the fight on #RedforFeds day. In the House and Senate there will be a special order and morning business session respectively, where legislators will be offered the opportunity to speak out against the harmful orders and need for an apolitical civil service system.

"We want to look administration officials in the eye as they make their way into court so they can see how serious we are," said Cox. "We are mad as hell and we're thrilled that so many federal workers will be joining us in solidarity by rallying, wearing red, tweeting, and speaking out against these severe attacks on our livelihoods," he said.

To see which cities are hosting events and participating in #RedforFeds, visit www.afge.org/redforfeds and follow the hashtag on Twitter.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 700,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees



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