DPE Honors Public Servants' Dedication During Public Service Recognition Week, Urges Congress to Pass Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2026—Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning issued the following statement in celebration of Public Service Recognition Week.

"Public servants are the backbone of American life. They inspect our food, staff our VA hospitals, and maintain the infrastructure that keeps communities running. During Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), we thank public sector employees at all levels of government for their vital contributions across the country.

Representing over four million professional and technical union members, DPE knows firsthand what public servants give — and what they're up against. Federal workers are enduring mass layoffs, reductions in force, and sustained attacks on civil service protections, while state and local workers are grappling with budget constraints and growing uncertainty. Yet through it all, public servants continue to show up and carry out their work with integrity, honesty, and a deep commitment to service.

That dedication deserves more than recognition — it demands action. Through the Coalition for Professional Integrity, we've urged Congress to advance policies that strengthen union rights, civil service protections, and whistleblower safeguards for federal workers.

We also call for the passage of the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which would extend collective bargaining rights to all public sector employees and give them a real voice in their workplaces. Public servants cannot do their jobs effectively without adequate resources, protections, and staffing — and Congress has the power to act.

We're grateful for public servants and stand with them — not just this week, but until the protections they've earned are secured."

About DPE 

The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) is a coalition of 24 unions representing over four million professional and technical union members. DPE affiliate unions represent professionals in over 300 occupations in education and healthcare; science, engineering, and technology; legal, business, and management; media, entertainment, and the arts; and public administration.