Public employees face suspension, confronting criticism from labor unions, in the wake of attending a diversity training course.
Keeping up with the controversial doings at the Department of Education
Here's a lowdown on what's going on! Over 50 staffers from the U.S. Department of Education are currently on paid leave, courtesy of attending a diversity training during President Trump's reign. Sounds familiar? Well, it was all encouraged by then-Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
In the news: The U.S. is funneling nearly $275 million for the maintenance of F-16 fighters, destined for Ukraine. Quite a different story, huh?
Union bigwig, Sheria Smith, from Local 252 of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), revealed that the suspensions took place last Friday, and the number might increase as more deets surface. This union represents hundreds of Department of Education workers.
Suspensions aren't just limited to public admin specialists and loan managers, but they've also targeted civil rights lawyers, special education workers, and program management analysts. Sounds like a fishy trap, doesn't it? And guess what? They're fearing that this could be a clever move by the administration to shrink the workforce, helping Trump inch closer to his goal of axing the Department of Education!
Fascinating, right? Here's another nugget: The suspensions have been sent an email stating they'll keep receiving their full salary and benefits, but they won't be allowed to work or show up at their jobs.email access is restricted too. Smith explains, "It's a trap 'cause they encouraged us to attend these trainings (...) and they might be using them as a criterion to boot us."
And it doesn't end here: According to Smith and AFGE spokesperson Brittany Holder, potentially hundreds of public workers attended the "Change Agent for Diversity" course, proposed by the Department of Education for 400 employees in 2019. And guess what? Another 14 folks from the Department of Energy have also been suspended due to Trump's order against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Talk about a wave of suspensions, eh?
For more information, it's alleged that Trump's orders against DEI programs have led to a slew of legal challenges, with claims that the administration is punishing employees for their political views, which seemingly violates First Amendment rights.
So, there you have it! Quite a stir caused by these diversity trainings. It's a strange world, folks!
Related Topics
Unions Donald Trump Betsy DeVos Sheria Smith Department of Education American Federation of Government Employees United States Diversity Work suspensions Public Administration EUROPAPRESS
- Sheria Smith, a union leader at Local 252 of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), spoke about the work suspensions, suggesting they could be a tactic to downsize the Department of Education workforce under President Trump's administration.
- Not only public administration specialists and loan managers, but civil rights lawyers, special education workers, and program management analysts are also subject to these suspensions, raising concerns of a trap to eliminate certain employee groups.
- The suspensions are coinciding with an order from President Trump against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, leading to possible legal challenges and allegations of violation of First Amendment rights.
- The U.S. Department of Education brought on 50 staffers on paid leave for attending diversity trainings during President Trump's term, encouraged by then-Secretary Betsy DeVos.
- The Department of Energy has also suspended 14 employees as a result of Trump's Order against DEI programs, following a similar pattern to the work suspensions at the Department of Education.
- In an email, the staffers on leave were informed they would continue to receive their full salary and benefits, but they wouldn't be able to work or access their jobs during the suspension period.
- Union representative Brittany Holder hinted that hundreds of public employees may have attended the "Change Agent for Diversity" course proposed by the Department of Education in 2019, further expanding the scope of these controversial suspensions.
