The Federal Labor Relations Authority, which hears federal
labor-management disputes, has blocked the Department of
Agriculture from prohibiting union representation for import
inspectors.
The agency declared that import inspectors were no longer eligible
for union representation because of national security needs last
year, but the FLRA for the Chicago region denied that claim and
the agency then appealed to the full FLRA board which upheld the
lower body’s decision.
“Union representation provides the public with an insurance
policy for accountability in their government,” said AFGE National
President John Gage in response to the decision.
Gage said it was probably the first decision ensuring union
representation rights to workers when the reason given for removing
that was national security.
