As a Parent, Caregiver, Former Service Industry Worker, Pressley Has Been a Consistent and Strident Champion for Workers and Organized Labor

Earlier This Year, Pressley Condemned Trump’s Attack on Unions and Collective Bargaining Rights for Federal Workers

BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a longstanding champion for workers and organized labor, issued the following statement slamming the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for terminating the collective bargaining agreements for most VA bargaining unit employees. As a parent, caregiver, and former service industry worker, Congresswoman Pressley has consistently advocated for policies that bolster workers’ rights and strengthen labor unions.

“Yesterday’s brazen decision by the Trump Administration to put union-busting before the hard-working VA staff and the veterans they serve is devastating and shameful. Unilaterally terminating collectively bargained contracts for more than 330,000 workers nationwide—most of whom are represented by the American Federation of Government Employees, and close to 4,000 employees in VA Boston alone, is part of this administration’s continued assault on dedicated public servants and a total disregard for the health and well-being of the veterans and families that rely on services they provide.

“Donald Trump and VA Secretary Doug Collins may believe they can silence the workers who have called out this administration’s hollow promises to our veterans, but we will fight this dangerous and blatant attack on the nurses, doctors, benefits specialists, housekeepers, electricians, painters, food service workers, mental health clinicians, janitors and other hardworking people caring for the veterans this administration uses as a prop. I call on the Trump Administration to immediately reverse this decision.”

Earlier this year, Pressley condemned Trump’s executive order to end collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees.

Rep. Pressley has been a committed voice for federal workers pushing back against the Trump Administration’s efforts to decimate federal agencies. In a House Oversight Committee hearing in March, Rep. Pressley slammed Republicans for attempting to gut federal unions and weaken worker protections.

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