The White House issued a decree that deprives NASA employees and a number of other agencies of the right to trade union protection. The document was signed by Donald Trump. Now NASA employees can no longer officially unite and conduct collective negotiations. The administration explained the decision by the fact that the activities of NASA are related to national security.
The decree states that the agency is developing technologies that are important for US defense – from satellites and communication systems to engines. Although NASA is traditionally considered a civil space agency, now it has fallen into the list of exceptions.
About half of the NASA employees, consisting in the unions of IFPTE and AFGE, falls under the blow. The IFPTE leader Matt BIGGS said that the authorities are using “far -fetched justification” and that the organization “will continue to fight for the rights of workers in courts and in Congress.”
