Senators Collins, Shaheen Lead Maine and New Hampshire Congressional Delegations in Calling for Federal Labor Relations Authority to Explain Refusal to Process Complaints at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) are leading the Maine and New Hampshire Congressional delegations in calling for the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to provide an explanation for its refusal to comply with recent court orders and process an Unfair Labor Practice charge (ULP) filed by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) Metal Trades Council on behalf of its members. In their bipartisan, bicameral letter, the lawmakers note that FLRA cites President Trump’s Executive Order limiting the collective bargaining rights of federal employees as its reason for inaction despite a court order halting implementation of the policy. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Jared Golden (D-ME-02), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), and Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02) cosigned the letter. “We write today regarding the Federal Labor Relations Authority’s (FLRA) refusal to process Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges filed by members of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Metal Trades Council (MTC) on behalf of its members,” the lawmakers wrote. “The MTC has brought forward a ULP charge to the FLRA but has been informed that due to President Trump’s March 27, 2025, Executive Order 14251, limiting the right of certain federal employees to engage in collective bargaining, the FLRA would not process the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employee ULP case. However, recent court rulings have nullified portions of that order, and the FLRA should be acting in accordance with the court order.” “Considering the Court’s injunction and the importance of this issue to our constituents, we respectfully request that the FLRA provide prompt clarification regarding its handling of ULP filings brought forward by unions representing workers under federal agencies impacted by President Trump’s March 27, 2025, Executive Order 14251,” they continued. The lawmakers asked FLRA for responses to the following questions: Is the Federal Labor Relations Authority refusing to process Unfair Labor Practice charges brought forward by unions representing federal workers? Is the FLRA acting in accordance with the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia’s October 1st injunction in AFL-CIO v. Trump? What steps is the FLRA taking to ensure compliance with the injunction? What is the status of the ULP charge brought forward by the Metal Trades Council at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard? What is the legal basis for the FLRA’s refusal to process ULP charges in light of the court’s October 1st injunction? Click here to read the complete letter. Since 2018, Senator Collins has secured funding that has enabled Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to complete 22 modernization projects totaling $713 million and to install 80 new pieces of industrial equipment totaling $236 million through the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP). This work includes the $265 million Dry Dock #1 Super Flood Basin, which expanded submarine docking windows from 36 days a year to 360 days a year; the $110 million Paint, Blast, and Rubber Facility; and the $98 million B178 Waterfront Production Facility. The shipyard is also building the $2.46 billion Multi-Mission Dry Dock #1 expansion, modernizing utilities, and adding new dry-dock resiliency improvements to support Virginia-class submarine maintenance and boost long-term capacity and readiness for the Navy’s submarine fleet. ###