NASA Ames Union Response to Executive Order 14343

Keith’s note: the following email was sent by the president of President AFEU/IFPTE local 30 at NASA Ames to employees: “Hello Everyone, On August 28, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14343, titled, “Further Exclusions from The Federal Labor-Management Relations Program” (EO 14343). This is notification that NASA intends to fully implement this Executive Order which excludes the agency from the Federal Service Labor Management Statute.” More below.

NASA’s implementation of EO 14343 will include:

• No longer recognizing the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) as exclusive representatives for any group of NASA employees.
• The termination, abrogation, or repudiation of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with labor unions.
• Stopping NASA’s collection of union dues on behalf of labor unions.
• Reclaiming any agency space, furniture, equipment (e.g., computers, phones), and other resources that have been provided to labor unions for representational activities.
• Ceasing the processing of existing grievances filed under collective bargaining agreements.
• Withdrawing from any scheduled arbitrations and disregarding any newly filed grievances.
• Ceasing and withdrawing from any current negotiations with labor unions.
• Prohibiting union representatives from using taxpayer-funded union time.
• Implementing any new management-initiated changes without delay.
• Ceasing union representatives’ participation in formal discussions and Weingarten meetings.
• Ceasing the processing of union requests for information.
• Informing the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) that NASA unions no longer have standing to file a charge or to ask the FLRA to issue a complaint.
• During NASA’s implementation of EO 14343, stakeholders will be notified as appropriate.
  Local unions will receive notification from Center leadership regarding the implementation of EO 14343.

AFEU/IFPTE Response

• We will fight this EO with every available legal, political and administrative avenue. We will be conferring with IFPTE and AFGE leadership and legislative allies next week in Washington DC.
• NASA is being added to a lawsuit challenging the wholesale rescinding of union contracts.
• AFEU Officers will continue to provide representative duties. We will continue to advocate for employee rights whether or not we are given specific permission to do so. Note: all representative activities are being performed on the AFEU officer’s personal time.
• We will be moving forward with the transition to E-Dues. Instructions will be sent out via a separate email.
• Communications will be conducted exclusively through personal emails. Please update your personal emails. Send updates to [email protected] and [email protected]. For non-members, please update your personal email to receive AFEU communications. Update here.
  Legislative Response

Congresswoman Lofgren Statement

For Immediate Release
September 11, 2025

Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren Blasts Trump Administration for Cruel Union Busting

(Washington, DC) – Today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that it will join several other agencies in terminating contracts with labor unions.

“The president’s union busting stinks,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “These unions have been working hard to protect their members as Trump continues to target dedicated civil servants through illegal firings, coercions to resign, intimidation tactics, and more. Trump finds that inconvenient, so he’s getting rid of the unions that get in his way.”

Congressman Sherman and Senator Warren Right to Unionize Act

(NASA will be named in the bill)

September 4, 2025
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brad Sherman and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) today reintroduced the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act, legislation that would strike down so-called “right-to-work” laws across the country.

“‘Right-to-work’ really means ‘right-to-work-for-less.’ These laws are designed to weaken unions and drive down wages,” said Congressman Sherman. “In the name of economic competition, one state after another has adopted these anti-worker statutes, triggering a race to the bottom. That’s why I am once again joining forces with Senator Warren to put forward the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act, which repeals these anti-union laws. I’ve introduced this measure every session of Congress since 2008 because the need to stand up for America’s workers has never gone away. Senator Warren has been a fearless advocate for working people her entire career, and I’m proud to partner with her to fight back against attacks on labor and rebuild the middle class.”

“Building a strong economy means empowering workers, not silencing them with so-called ‘right-to-work’ laws that strip them of their power and weaken unions,” said Senator Warren. “While the Trump administration continues to threaten our economy by attacking our workers, we’re stepping up to defend worker’s rights to negotiate better benefits and wages.”

Data shows the harm caused by these laws. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures from 2022, workers in “right-to-work” states earned on average $10,149 less per year than workers in states where unions can bargain fairly.

The bill currently has 15 original cosponsors in the House, with more expected in the coming weeks. Congressman Sherman has consistently earned a 100 percent rating from the AFL-CIO for his record of supporting working families.

Before his passing, the late AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka underscored the importance of this legislation, noting: “With the introduction of legislation banning so-called ‘right-to-work’ laws, Congressman Sherman and Senator Warren have once again demonstrated their strong commitment to working families. ‘Right-to-work’ laws undermine the economy and weaken workers’ ability to bargain for better working conditions, which translates into lower pay and fewer benefits for everyone.”

The roots of these state laws trace back to Section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act, enacted in 1947 over President Truman’s veto. That provision allowed states to bar unions from collecting dues from employees who still benefit from union contracts. Since then, 27 states have enacted such measures, often citing competitive pressure from neighboring states. Michigan and Wisconsin, for example, claimed they were forced to adopt “right-to-work” to retain jobs.

The Sherman–Warren bill would repeal Section 14(b), finally ending the “race to the bottom” by restoring the full right of workers nationwide to organize and bargain collectively.

JOIN AFEU!

It is even more critical that Bargaining Unit Members join AFEU so we can continue to fight for your rights. To join, please send a email to [email protected] and [email protected] using a personal email. We will send you instructions on how to join AFEU separately from NASA.

The fight is just beginning. Stay strong!

In Solidarity,

Jonas Dino
President
AFEU/IFPTE local 30