Overhaul of Government Labor Rules Is Blocked
A federal judge has blocked the Bush administration’s plans to overhaul personnel and pay rules at the Department of Homeland Security, saying the government-wide change of labor rules failed to protect workers’ right to bargain collectively.
The decision Friday by U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer is a victory for the National Treasury Employees Union and other labor groups. They argued that the proposal, which was set to go into effect Monday, would have stripped their bargaining rights on issues such as assigning employees and technology use.
Justice Department lawyers have said the new rules were necessary to give the agency more flexibility in responding to terrorist threats.
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