December 10, 2025
Dear Representative,
On behalf of our affiliated unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers who build, operate, and maintain our nation’s transportation networks, the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), urges you to vote “NO” on H. Res. 936, the House rule to advance S. 1071 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26 NDAA). Conference negotiators removed Section 1110, the bipartisan House provision that would have restored collective bargaining rights for the Department of Defense’s (DOD) civilian workforce, and the Rules Committee reported a closed rule for S. 1071, prohibiting members from amending the bill to restore Section 1110.
The dedicated individuals working at the DOD perform a variety of essential functions that uphold our national security interests and keep Americans safe at home. These workers are stationed at military installations across the country, where they maintain and repair military equipment for our servicemen and women. This workforce includes aircraft mechanics, maintenance workers for submarines and ships, and personnel who oversee the upkeep and overhauling of naval vessels at shipyard facilities. Their responsibilities include maintaining a wide range of equipment, including ships, weapons systems, aircraft, helicopters, and Humvees. This workforce also includes civilian mariners who work aboard Military Sealift Command vessels and who operate and maintain both government-owned and privately-owned ships for national defense. The men and women who crew these ships provide vital support to the U.S. Navy and to American troops deployed around the world by transporting fuel, food, ammunition, and cargo whenever and wherever needed by the Department of Defense. Additionally, this workforce includes men and women who work on dredging vessels for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who maintain our ports and waterways.
Federal workers already sacrifice many rights that private-sector employees enjoy, including the ability to negotiate wages and benefits and the fundamental right to strike. We firmly believe that all employees deserve the right to collectively bargain. These rights are essential for effectively addressing workplace conflicts, improving employee retention and productivity, and boosting morale. The bipartisan agreement to restore these rights, which was agreed to by House Armed Services Committee members, deserves an opportunity to be voted on by the full House. The rule as reported denies that opportunity. The House should reject this procedural move to undermine federal worker rights until the collective bargaining language is restored to the underlying legislation, or until a rule allowing for an amendment vote on the House-drafted language is allowed.
We urge you to stand with working people and vote “NO” on H. Res. 936, the House rule to advance FY26 NDAA.
For any questions or further information, please contact Lianne Endo at LianneE@ttd.org.
Sincerely,
Greg Regan, President
Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO