Think Progress

Bush strips collective bargaining rights from federal employees.

Yesterday, President Bush issued an executive order “that denies collective bargaining rights to about 8,600 federal employees who work in law enforcement, intelligence and other agencies responsible for national security.” 900 of the employees affected were already represented by collective bargaining units. Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said that employees “had their collective bargaining rights stripped away for no justifiable reason.” For more on Bush’s last-minute regulations, orders, and proposed rule changes, check out ThinkProgress’ updated report: “Bush’s Backward Sprint To The Finish.”



29 Responses to “Bush strips collective bargaining rights from federal employees.”

  1. Zooey says:

  2. jpopphan says:

    Just add it to the long list of executive orders that Obama will have to reverse in January. Sheesh…. scorched earth or what?


  3. bratboy says:

    “no justifiable reason.”

    bush has had no “justifiable reason” for anything he’s done.
    This is so typical of the conservatives and their union-bashing. Utterly stupid.


  4. LibertyLover says:

    Can’t someone just hide his signing pen? I mean, honestly would he even look for it?


  5. hanshiro says:

    Bush is staying true to the evangelical base by turning the clock back on any advancement whatsoever. Leave it to the church-types to hamper science, personal growth, protections, authentic freedom, and information.

    Just as the church did (and continues to do), bush builds on emotional knee-jerk fact-free ignorance and scuttles actual accountability and fact-based policy.

    When the entirety of bush’s crimes comes out, I won’t be surprised if he implemented burning-at-the-stake, witch-dunking, (or maybe that’s more Palin’s bailiwick) and hairshirts. American inquisition, anyone?

    God, save us from your disciples…


  6. Zimzone says:

    This is also why the Big 3 are having trouble…Bushco wants the UAW busted before they’re ‘rewarded’.


  7. IgnoranceIsNotBliss says:

    Why is he so hell bent on bringing Americans to their knees? Is this all shits and giggles for him?


  8. jerseyboyblue says:

    Jeez…all the people who voted Republican got what they deserved.


  9. Dumb Fox the Average Golfer says:

    “that denies collective bargaining rights to about 8,600 federal employees who work in law enforcement, intelligence and other agencies responsible for national security.”

    Fascism, plain and simple.


  10. hivanh says:

    I was recently given a great quote: “WHen an inistution reaches maturity, it is time to burn down the building”. I hope (sorry about that) that Obama has a box of matches.

    We told Bush to take his toys and go home, and he said, “Not before I break them all”. This is real compassionate conservatism in action.


  11. hanshiro says:

    10. Dumb Fox the Average Golfer Says: Fascism, plain and simple.

    Throw in oligarchy. Or hegemony. Or just plain Corporatism.


  12. McWars says:

    Yank his god damn pension. He didn’t earn it.


  13. MapleStreet says:

    I remember long ago Bush declared that he wanted to do this.

    If it was so important, why didn’t he do it then than rather undercover ???

    As alluded to above, he’s already broken it and he’s still pounding away.


  14. Nevar says:

    Josh: “Mr. pResident sir? The Vice P. sent these up for you to sign…”
    George “Heh, now what? Doesn’t that little creep know I’m busy drawing up my legacy?”
    Josh: “It won’t take but a few minutes sir, just this small pile… got a pen? No? Just crayons?..Here, use mine… it’s red, your favorite color…”
    George: “Awright, what are they, anyways? You know I don’t like to read this stuff, reminds me of homework…”
    Josh: “Ummm, well, just stuff, like well, ummm, uhhh, like lease agreements, you know, for the condos in Paraguay, and the library construction, and paying the gardeners in Crawford, you know, just stuff like that….”


  15. McWars says:

    One more shit streak on the wall for Senator Government to clean up.


  16. Curlew says:

    And to think that upon taking office the Bushies made a big deal out of a bunch of letters on keyboards that were allegedly missing. (A story later shown to be a lie – like everything else in Bush’s residency).


  17. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    And on January 20, Obama will issue an Executive Order reversing this.

    I’ve been thinking about all the new regulations Bush has been putting into place the last month. Where does he get that power. It seems to me that he, by himself, is making laws and the constitution does not give him that power. Anyway, what is Obama going to do about all the new heinous regulations Bush has pushed through. I think the first thing he needs to do is to inform all of the management in all departments that they are to ignore any regulation that Bush has put into effect in the last 6 months. That will give him time to figure out how to undo all the regulations. If Bush, as President, can make those regulations, then Obama, as President, can unmake them.


  18. Leftside Annie says:

    Wow! Thanks, Chimpy!! What a great president you are!!!!

    NOT.


  19. shoeless says:

    IgnoranceIsNotBliss Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    Why is he so hell bent on bringing Americans to their knees? Is this all shits and giggles for him?

    I don’t know.

    Does Bush hate the American people because of his 23% approval rating?

    Or, does Bush have a 23% approval rating because he hates the American people?


  20. Bilbo Hussein Baggins says:

    I heard someone on MSNBC last night refer to what Bush was doing as making “laws”. Pretty dumb reporter if they think that a President has the power to make law. Even though issuing these orders isn’t making law, we need to do something to stop the President from having the ability to, essentially, make law without the consent of Congress. And while they are at it, do away with the ability to make “Executive Orders”. Then take away the Fed’s ability to spend our tax dollars without the consent of Congress. If all those things are done, then we may actually be a Democracy.


  21. hussein toasterhead says:

    Whoa whoa whoa – I think you all are missing the big story here.

    Are there really 8,600 federal employees left in the government? Who haven’t been privatized yet?

    I find this very difficult to believe.


  22. hussein toasterhead says:

    Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    I’ve been thinking about all the new regulations Bush has been putting into place the last month. Where does he get that power. It seems to me that he, by himself, is making laws and the constitution does not give him that power.

    December 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 am

    The duty to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” is listed in Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution. Executive Orders do have a place in government, in providing the detailed orders from the President to the heads of the Executive Branch agencies as to how the laws will be faithfully executed. They can not and should not be used to overwrite laws passed by Congress – only to decide how exactly each affected agency is to enforce the laws passed by Congress.

    Yes, it’s a system that’s ripe for abuse, but it’s the role of a non-impotent Congress and a powerful Judiciary to ensure that Executive Orders do not overstep their boundaries.


  23. bonzo 1958 says:

    Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    And on January 20, Obama will issue an Executive Order reversing this.

    I’ve been thinking about all the new regulations Bush has been putting into place the last month. Where does he get that power. It seems to me that he, by himself, is making laws and the constitution does not give him that power.

    Congressmen/women by not during their jobs for the last 8 years have begun a process of making themselves irrelevant to the running of the country. From war making, signing statements, refusal to answer subpoenas, etc. we’re seeing what happens when our Congress is in cahoots with the President to make money for themselves.

    In short, the last 2 Congresses have failed at their job and we still re-elected most of them!
    DISGUSTING isn’t it?


  24. tombaker says:

    A kidney punch for the little guy, and piles of billions for rich F’ers. That’s really the real America – aren’t we all just so proud of ourselves?


  25. barfly says:

    How perfectly Grinchy. There’s still time enough to close some orphanages and rest homes.

    How many people will Bush try to screw before Christmas?

    Perhaps we should start a Twelve Days of Christmas parody.

    On the third week of Christmas, Bush issued this decree…”


  26. markusmarkus says:

    LibertyLover Says: Can’t someone just hide his signing pen? I mean, honestly would he even look for it?

    He uses a crayon.


  27. judyinnm says:

    If one president can remove federal employees’ union rights by executive order, another president should be able to impose a “probation period” for those political appointees who only recently became regular government employees (in order to carry on the policies of the previous president); and then, fire them all.


  28. wiley says:

    Police? Intelligence? It could be an advantage for the GOP to piss them off, and for Obama to restore their bargaining rights. The GOP is cutting off its nose to spite its face.


  29. denizerdogan says:


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