(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) have sued the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) over the unlawful termination of hundreds of Union contracts.

The lawsuit alleges Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s April 9th memo canceling virtually all Civilian Workforce Collective Bargaining Agreements violates the Administrative Procedure Act.

 AFGE National President Everett Kelley said: "The Department of Defense's termination of AFGE contracts, carried out under Pete Hegseth's unlawful directive, is an insult to the hard-working Men and Women who serve our military. I am proud to stand with AFGE's Affiliates fighting for their rights. In many cases, the Affiliates have had contracts in place for more than fifty years before they were unlawfully terminated. As we celebrate our Nation's (250th) anniversary, we should not be attacking those who help us protect our freedoms. In attacking DOD Civilian Employees, the Administration is attacking Veterans, Military Families and the workers our Warfighters rely on every day. This not only makes America less safe, it is antithetical to our values as a Nation."

NFFE National President Randy Erwin said: “For decades, workers at the Department of Defense have had the right to Unionize and employees exercising that right has never been detrimental to U.S. National Security. The Trump Administration unilaterally and illegally stripping Collective Bargaining Rights from DOD Workers only serves to weaken morale, harm recruitment and retention, and reduce accountability - jeopardizing our National Security and the critical mission of the Agency. NFFE Locals are proud to join their AFGE Brothers and Sisters in challenging the cancellation of their Collective Bargaining Agreements and we are confident the rule of law will prevail.”

For More On This Labor News Report, Go To: Unions sue DoD over termination of collective bargaining agreements | Federal News Network

Photograph Courtesy Of The National AFL-CIO.