Pappas, NH and Maine Congressional Delegations in Calling for Federal Labor Relations Authority to Explain Refusal to Process Complaints at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a founding member and co-chair of the bipartisan Public Shipyard Caucus, joined the New Hampshire and Maine Congressional delegations in calling for the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to provide an explanation for its refusal to comply with recent court orders and process an Unfair Labor Practice charge (ULP) filed by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Metal Trades Council on behalf of its members. In their bipartisan, bicameral letter, the lawmakers note that FLRA cites President Trump’s Executive Order limiting the collective bargaining rights of federal employees as its reason for inaction despite a court order halting implementation of the policy. U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Susan Collins (ME), Maggie Hassan (NH), and Angus King (ME) and Representatives Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), and Jared Golden (D-ME-02) signed the letter.

The lawmakers wrote, in part: “We write today regarding the Federal Labor Relations Authority’s (FLRA) refusal to process Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges filed by members of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Metal Trades Council (MTC) on behalf of its members. The MTC has brought forward a ULP charge to the FLRA but has been informed that due to President Trump’s March 27, 2025, Executive Order 14251, limiting the right of certain federal employees to engage in collective bargaining, the FLRA would not process the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employee ULP case. However, recent court rulings have nullified portions of that order, and the FLRA should be acting in accordance with the court order.”

They continued: “Considering the Court’s injunction and the importance of this issue to our constituents, we respectfully request that the FLRA provide prompt clarification regarding its handling of ULP filings brought forward by unions representing workers under federal agencies impacted by President Trump’s March 27, 2025, Executive Order 14251.”

The lawmakers asked FLRA for responses to the following questions:

1. Is the Federal Labor Relations Authority refusing to process Unfair Labor Practice charges brought forward by unions representing federal workers?
2. Is the FLRA acting in accordance with the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia’s October 1st injunction in AFL-CIO v. Trump? What steps is the FLRA taking to ensure compliance with the injunction?
3. What is the status of the ULP charge brought forward by the Metal Trades Council at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard?
4. What is the legal basis for the FLRA’s refusal to process ULP charges in light of the court’s October 1st injunction?

A full copy of the letter can be read HERE.

Congressman Pappas is a founding member and co-chair of the bipartisan Public Shipyard Caucus and representative for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He leads the bipartisan Protecting Public Naval Shipyards Act, which would exempt the workforces of America’s four public shipyards, which are responsible for repairing and retrofitting the U.S. Navy's aircraft carriers and submarines, from recent hiring freezes and mass layoffs. During the conference process for the FY 2026 NDAA, Pappas successfully called on the leadership of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to include these provisions in their final bill text, which was signed into law on the evening of December 18, 2025.