DC Judges Want a Union, Now!

IFPTE is working with a number of D.C. Administrative Law Judges in forming a union but are facing an unprecedented anti-union campaign.

The Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) of the District of Columbia’s Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) are seeking to form a union with IFPTE. Their goals are to ensure the integrity of the valuable service they provide to the citizens of the District, as well as partner with management to resolve issues that impede the organizational goals of their agency.



Though the ALJs filed to form a union back in late July of 2012, they are still waiting for a decision. This delay is due to the Chief Judge of OAH, who is engaging in an unprecedented anti-union campaign. Beyond employing classic union deterrence tactics such as delaying a union vote in order to burnout support, she is also using tax payer dollars to retain a private law firm specializing in union-busting activity to represent OAH. Even more troubling, she is seeking additional authority to hire non-ALJs that would do the same work as the ALJs, but would not have the same judicial independence or qualifications, thereby undermined the agency’s mission.



IFPTE and the ALJs have met with numerous D.C. public officials, but many fail to understand the seriousness of this unprecedented anti-union campaign that is being engaged by a lone political appointee. Even more troubling, the D.C. Mayor actually has the authority to voluntarily recognize these ALJs as a union, but has chosen instead to write a non-binding legal brief to support of our efforts to the D.C. agency that is supposed to certify bargaining units within the District.



Related News

11.08.13 - D.C. Administrative Law Judge Organizing Gets Boost from Ruling

03.31.13 - Group of D.C. government judges seeks to organize for first time (Washington Post)

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