Government Executive

Federal employee unions sought to balance reassuring members that they will fight the return of measures undermining feds’ civil service protections with asserting their commitment to nonpartisan service.

Labor groups expressing a willingness to work with an incoming president’s administration is nothing new—officials typically want to try to develop a relationship before becoming adversarial toward management. But after Trump’s first term was marked by numerous efforts to reduce labor power at federal agencies, leaders of employee groups acknowledge that the chances of a cooperative relationship are slim.

“Despite President-elect Trump’s track record with federal employees and unions, the National Treasury Employees Union will make every effort to work in good faith with his upcoming administration,” said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald. “However, we are fully prepared to work with our allies in Congress and use all the tools we have to fight any and all actions taken by his administration that would harm frontline federal workers, our ability to represent them or their ability to serve the American people.”