Ahead of Labor Day, Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a coalition of states filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The brief supports unions representing government employees, according to the Oregon Department of Justice.
A former Trump Administration executive order aimed to limit the collective bargaining powers of federal employees, citing national security concerns. The American Federation of Government Employees challenged the order, saying it violates their First Amendment rights, and won a preliminary injunction from the district court. The Administration is now appealing. Rayfield said, "The right to engage in union activity is protected by the First Amendment," as reported by the Oregon Department of Justice.
A multistate coalition is supporting the district court’s preliminary injunction in AFGE v. Trump, No. 25-4014 (CA9), saying that national security claims cannot override constitutional rights. Oregon and other states argue the executive order is about power, not policy. Rayfield said, "Unions help ensure economic opportunity and empower working Americans," noting that the case affects workers’ rights. The Ninth Circuit is reviewing the case as it considers the balance between national security and individual liberties, as stated by the Oregon Department of Justice.
