Sen. Hirono Stands Up to Trump’s Attacks on Federal Workforce

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono spoke on the Senate floor to denounce the Trump administration’s attacks on the federal workforce and highlight the important role of federal workers in Hawai‘i.

From Sen. Hirono’s remarks:

“Over the past year and a half, Donald Trump and his administration have launched a concerted attack on federal workers and the unions that fight on their behalf. There appear to be no lengths to which Donald Trump and the anti-union, moneyed interests who support him will go to attack and try to eviscerate protections for working people.

“Donald Trump and the Republican Party obviously do not recognize the service and commitment of our more than two million federal workers. But in Hawai‘i, and indeed, across the nation, we see the impact of their hard work every day. These dedicated public servants have been working around the clock for months to support the Puna community. These workers deserve our respect, appreciation, and unwavering support for their service. They certainly don’t deserve the contempt and animosity that Donald Trump and his administration have directed at them.”

Earlier in the day, Sen. Hirono joined hundreds of union members outside the Federal Courthouse in Washington, D.C. at a rally to protest several executive orders that undermine federal workers’ fundamental civil service protections.

Sen. Hirono and members of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. Courtesy photo.

Sen.Hirono is a steadfast and persistent advocate for public sector workers and the unions that represent them.

Last month, Sen. Hirono introduced the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, legislation that would guarantee the right of public employees to organize, act concertedly, and bargain collectively in states that currently do not afford these basic protections.

Last year, Sen. Hirono led 14 Senate Democrats in unveiling their “Five Fights for Federal Employees” —a proposal to protect current and retired government workers from ideologically motivated attacks from Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration.