Durso & Stanton: President Trump attempted to eliminate collective bargaining for nearly a million workers

Joint Statement from John R. Durso, President, and Ryan Stanton, Executive Director, Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

Last night with the stroke of a pen President Trump attempted to eliminate collective bargaining for nearly a million workers.  He is anti-union, anti-worker, and anti-democracy. 

This is more than a policy dispute—it is a fundamental threat to the balance of power and the very principles that have safeguarded our republic since its founding. In his Farewell Address, President George Washington warned the nation of the dangers of political factions that place party loyalty above the public good, and of the creeping rise of despotism when checks and balances are ignored or dismantled.

The labor movement has always been a bulwark against the abuse of power. An attack on one, is an attack on all, and we do not take lightly any effort to circumvent the foundational rights enshrined in our Constitution—rights fought for by generations of working Americans. We will not be silent as the power of the executive is used to sow division, punish political opponents, and undermine the rule of law.