The biggest federal employees’ union this week threw its assist behind a Republican authorities funding bill, ratcheting up stress on Democrats.
However lots of the prime labor unions informed ABC Information that they proceed to again the technique taken up by Democrats, breaking with the American Federation of Authorities Workers (AFGE), which represents tons of of 1000’s of federal employees losing out on pay and staring down the threat of layoffs.
Many labor unions, a key bloc throughout the Democratic Celebration, assist the push for an extension of Obamacare subsidies and stay wanting to struggle a president they view as an adversary of employees, some labor analysts and union officers mentioned.
Jaime Contreras, an govt vice chairman on the 185,000-member Service Workers Worldwide Union Native 32BJ, mentioned he sympathized with the challenges confronted by federal employees however he disagreed with AFGE’s method.
“They need to do what they need to do for his or her members,” Contreras informed ABC Information.
However, he added: “It is a false selection for my part to say we have to quit reasonably priced healthcare for thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of People in an effort to deliver federal employees again to work.”
SEIU 32BJ represents about 2,400 federal contractors who work as safety officers, food-services employees and different workers, which means they run the danger of lacking out on backpay when the federal government reopens, Contreras mentioned.
“These employees are bearing the brunt of this shutdown,” Contreras mentioned, later including: “We’re urging our Democratic buddies to carry the road.”
The stay-the-course method maintained by key labor organizations has probably eased the stress confronted by Democratic lawmakers within the aftermath of the AFGE announcement, some labor analysts informed ABC Information.
“The federal unions aren’t the most important gamers,” Nelson Lichtenstein, a labor professor on the College of California, Santa Barbara, informed ABC Information.
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, who leads the nation’s largest labor federation, made up of unions representing almost 15 million members, faulted President Donald Trump for what she considers an try to divide employees.
“As federal employees miss paychecks and line up at meals banks, President Trump is extra centered on pitting employees towards one another than ending the shutdown,” Shuler informed ABC Information in an announcement. “It is time to fund the federal government, repair the well being care disaster, and put working folks first.”
Talking on the White Home on Thursday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed Democrats for the deadlock, saying whereas most employees may have the ability to miss one paycheck, “none of them can get by two paychecks.”
“If Democrats do not get their act collectively in a short time, you are going to see big issues,” Duffy mentioned.
The Nationwide Training Affiliation (NEA), the nation’s largest labor union representing nearly 3 million members, stands by an announcement earlier this month that helps addressing healthcare and authorities funding, an NEA official informed ABC Information.
United Steelworkers Worldwide President David McCall informed ABC Information he helps an answer “each prioritizing reasonably priced well being care and funding the important companies our authorities gives.”
Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO president, speaks throughout a information convention to oppose a “union-busting govt order by President Donald Trump,” that eradicated collective bargaining rights for federal employees, within the Capitol Customer Cente, July 17, 2025.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name through Getty Pictures
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers and the United Meals and Business Employees referred ABC Information to earlier statements voicing related sentiment.
“The Trump administration is placing big, big stress on the federal unions,” John Logan, a professor of U.S. labor historical past at San Francisco State College, informed ABC Information. “Massive components of the remainder of the labor motion are crying out for the Democrats to struggle towards the Trump administration and never quit.”
“Regardless of these cracks — that are comprehensible — the labor motion is pretty united in its place on the shutdown,” Logan added.
AFGE didn’t reply to ABC Information’ request for remark.
The union drew headlines on Monday when its president, Everett Kelley, referred to as for a “clear persevering with decision,” a place in step with Republicans who’ve declined to barter with Democrats over healthcare and different matters till after lawmakers vote to reopen the federal government.
“Each political events have made their level, and nonetheless there isn’t any clear finish in sight,” Kelley mentioned in an announcement. “In the present day I am making mine: it is time to move a clear persevering with decision and finish this shutdown at this time.”
To make sure, a minimum of one main union has sided with AFGE. Teamsters President Sean O’Brien has urged lawmakers to move a clear persevering with decision, reiterating his place on Thursday in remarks made alongside prime Trump administration officers on the White Home.
“Don’t put working folks in the midst of an issue. They shouldn’t be in there,” mentioned O’Brien, who final 12 months turned the primary Teamsters union president to talk at a Republican Nationwide Conference.
The Teamsters didn’t reply to ABC Information’ request for remark.
For his half, Trump on Thursday evening called on Senate Republicans to eradicate the filibuster to move the Republican funding invoice and reopen the federal government.
“It’s now time for the Republicans to play their ‘TRUMP CARD,’ and go for what is named the Nuclear Choice — Eliminate the Filibuster, and do away with it, NOW!” Trump posted.
The federal government shutdown, which entered its thirtieth day on Friday, seems unlikely to finish anytime quickly. Senate Democrats have voted 13 occasions to reject a Republican funding invoice, and the higher chamber is out on recess till subsequent week.
