Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act of 2025

This bill sets national minimum standards for union rights for state and local government workers. It says workers and some supervisors can form a union, choose a representative, and negotiate as a group over pay, hours, and working conditions, and take other group actions like filing joint legal claims. Public employers must recognize a union chosen by a majority, bargain with it, and put agreements in writing. The bill also requires a neutral way to end bargaining deadlocks that leads to a binding decision, lets workers choose paycheck deductions for union dues until they cancel, and bans practices that block workers from using these rights.

If a state already provides these rights, state law stays in charge. If not, the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) will set and enforce these minimum standards in that state. The FLRA will review each state’s laws within 180 days and issue rules within one year; states that fall short become subject to federal rules starting about two years after enactment or after the first regular state legislative session ends, whichever is later . The FLRA can run union elections, define bargaining units, investigate complaints, and enforce orders in federal court. If the FLRA does not act after a charge is filed, a party may sue a named state administrator in federal court after certain time limits . During emergencies, strikes, lockouts, or other actions that would disrupt emergency or public safety services by emergency responders or law enforcement are not allowed, and state strike laws for these workers still apply. Existing bargaining units and contracts remain valid.

Key points

• Who is affected: Most state and local government workers, including some supervisors; public employers like states, cities, school districts, and agencies. Special strike rules apply to emergency responders and law enforcement .
• What changes: Basic rights to organize and negotiate as a group; majority-union recognition and written contracts; neutral, binding impasse resolution; optional paycheck dues deductions; protections against interference; federal backstop if a state falls short; and limits on strikes that would disrupt emergency or public safety services. Existing agreements are kept in place .
• When: FLRA checks each state within 180 days and issues rules within one year; federal standards apply in under-compliant states starting roughly two years after enactment or after the next regular state legislative session ends. A party may go to federal court if FLRA does not act after a charge and waiting period .

The bill also respects certain state choices: it does not override state or local rules that meet or exceed these rights, such as requiring a city council to approve contracts or allowing union recognition by signed cards. If a state falls short only for some workers, federal rules apply only to those groups. It also allows states to exclude their militia or National Guard, to let workers represent themselves, and to exempt very small localities if notified, and it does not require bargaining over pensions .