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NEA Press Release

President Trump ousts NLRB board member, general counsel

NEA President: The voices of workers will be silenced as NLRB cases grind to a halt
By: Staci Maiers
Published: January 28, 2025
This article originally appeared on NEA.org

WASHINGTON—President Donald J. Trump fired National Labor Relations Board Member Gwynne Wilcox, late Monday night, according to news reports. He also fired NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, a strong advocate for unionization who undertook an aggressive approach in enforcing workers’ rights.

The following statement can be attributed to Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest labor union representing 3 million workers: 

“Hardworking Americans, of every race and from every place in this country, deserve to have their voices heard and their rights on the job protected. Anyone who is not a CEO or billionaire donor should be deeply alarmed by President Trump’s unlawful and unprecedented decision to remove a member of the National Labor Relations Board. This stunt is a gross abuse of power that undermines the very foundation of workers’ rights and protections in this country. 

“By ousting experienced and dedicated NLRB personnel, Trump is silencing the voices of workers who rely on the board to protect their rights, secure fair treatment, and advocate for just conditions in their workplaces. The Trump administration wasted no time betraying campaign promises to support the rights of working people and their unions. NLRB’s rulings on important worker rights and organizing cases will grind to a halt. Trump is giving a gift to his donors, and we are all paying the price. Every member of Congress has an obligation to tell President Trump that they will not tolerate this kind of imperial declaration.”

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