Federal employees across various agencies are planning a walkout on Tuesday, protesting against the U.
S. policy decisions in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group, Hamas.
The move has sparked controversy, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) calling for the dismissal of any employee participating in the protest.
In a statement, Johnson expressed his disapproval, stating, "Any government worker who walks off the job to protest US support for our ally Israel is ignoring their responsibility and abusing the trust of taxpayers. They deserve to be fired."
The protest, organized by Feds United for Peace, encourages federal employees to "stay home from work on Tuesday." The group has advised protestors to inform their supervisors of their absence on January 16, suggesting they could describe it as a personal day if they preferred not to disclose their participation in the Day of Mourning.
Feds United for Peace, in their posts, clarified that they had consulted with lawyers who confirmed that this method of protest does not infringe upon federal law.
One of the organizers explained the motivation behind the walkout, stating, "The walkout grew out of a collective desire to do what we could to influence the Biden administrations policy on this issue." They further added, "What you're seeing with this effort is something very unusual, and that is for dissent to be manifested via a physical act."
The organizers, speaking to Al-Monitor, emphasized that the protest was not a strike but a day of mourning. "The purpose is to provide space for ourselves to mourn and heal. We serve the American people every day and do so with conviction and pride," they said.
However, questions have been raised online about the legality of the walkout, with some wondering if it could be a violation of the Hatch Act. This act prohibits federal employees from participating in politically partisan activities while on duty. The organizers' advice to employees to "stay home" could potentially be a legal loophole to avoid contravening the Hatch Act.
Login