The Trump administration is asking a District of Columbia federal judge to cancel an upcoming hearing over a bid to block an executive order ending the collective bargaining rights of two unions representing employees at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the National Weather Service.
Citing the ongoing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday asked the court to vacate the Nov. 14 oral argument date, which would cover a preliminary injunction motion from the National Weather Service Employees Organization and the Patent Office Professional Association.
The government's Friday motion, which came hours after U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman set the hearing date, says the timing "is highly prejudicial to the government," given the shutdown. The government said it only has so many litigation resources — a situation that "pertains to both Department of Justice attorneys as well as agency subject matter experts who will need to be consulted."
POPA News Feed
“These employees have lost the ability to bargain collectively at a time when it matters the most, as the Administration continues to make significant, ongoing changes to employees’ working conditions and employment.” –POPA/NWSEO motion
Judge Paul L Friedman has overruled the Trump Administration's objection to the jurisdiction for the case challanging the executive order that dismantled POPA's bargaining rights.
The Trump administration has asked for two cases from labor unions that represent employees of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and other agencies challenging an executive order that ended their collective bargaining rights to be reassigned to different judges, saying the cases in D.C. federal court are unrelated to other suits challenging the order.