{"id":15814,"date":"2021-11-16T01:06:58","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T01:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/11\/16\/unions-seek-bargaining-rights-for-national-guard-members\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:55:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:55:00","slug":"unions-seek-bargaining-rights-for-national-guard-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2021\/11\/16\/unions-seek-bargaining-rights-for-national-guard-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Unions seek bargaining rights for National Guard members"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

HARTFORD, Conn. \u2014 Labor unions filed a lawsuit Monday seeking collective bargaining rights for Connecticut National Guard<\/a> members on active state duty ordered by the governor, saying they should be entitled to organize the same way as civilian state employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 1978 federal law makes it a criminal felony for members of the armed forces, including the National Guard, to join or attempt to form a labor organization. But the statute only applies to service members when they are on active federal duty ordered by U.S. military officials, according to the Veterans Legal Services Clinic at Yale Law School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The clinic is representing four Connecticut state employees unions that filed the lawsuit against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice. The lawsuit seeks confirmation that the law does not prevent National Guard members from unionizing while on active state duty and that they would not face criminal charges for doing so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maj. David Pytlik, a spokesperson for the Connecticut National Guard, declined to comment on the lawsuit\u2019s claims, but said in a statement that the Guard has no \u201cbearing on the court\u2019s interpretation of Federal law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The office of Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont and the Justice Department declined to comment on the suit, which was filed in federal court in Connecticut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we\u2019re on state active duty, we are proud to help our home state respond to natural disasters, public health crises, and other emergencies,\u201d Christopher Albani, a former member of the 103rd Civil Engineer Squadron in East Granby, Connecticut, said in a statement. \u201cWe just wish we had the same opportunity to join together as do the civilian state employees alongside whom we work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Connecticut National Guard has been called to state duty<\/a> several times over the past two years. Members have helped with cleanup efforts after major storms, aided police in response to protests and served during the state\u2019s response to the coronavirus, including setting up field hospitals and distributing supplies during the early days of the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\t