Arizona federal workers and union leaders rallied in Phoenix on Friday to speak out against the Trump administration’s actions towards the federal workforce. Attendees are hoping lawmakers will successfully challenge the executive branch.
Those at the event expressed opposition towards Trump’s executive order eliminating collective bargaining for unions inside 18 federal agencies.
That order is affecting people like Tim Cox, who's worked in the U.S. Department of Labor's Phoenix Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) for 13 years. As an investigator, he enforces equal opportunity and affirmative action laws over federal contractors.
Cox said ongoing investigations of contractors have been halted, leaving many discrimination cases unresolved. That has meant potential victims without restitution.
“The last discrimination case I had took two years. From scheduling them to be reviewed, to finally resolving the discrimination and people getting checks, so you’re looking at years of work that just, essentially, went out the window," he said.
The OFCCP also enforces the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, which protect veterans and individuals with disabilities in the workplace.
The office’s workforce is expected to be cut extensively and its number of offices will be reduced from 55 to four.
Cox said his future as an employee remains uncertain as others like him have been left in the dark from leadership at the department.
Cox said the agency is waiting for further instructions and is answering questions from federal contractors about their obligations under remaining laws.
Democratic Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari said she’s helping overturn actions taken by the executive branch, but more executive orders could try to undermine her legislative efforts.
“This is something every American should be concerned about. It’s something we think about and are working on every single day: to plan for the worst case scenario where we do see a president that is willing to completely disregard the law," she said.
Dozens of lawsuits against the administration have been successful, leading to the reinstatement of federal workers. There are more than 38,000 federal workers in Arizona.
Democratic Congressman Greg Stanton said he's working with dozens of Democrats and six Republicans on legislation that would rescind the collective bargaining order.
"We need more Republicans to stand up for the role and responsibility of Congress," he said. "You don't work for Donald Trump, we're an independent branch of government."
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