Trump's Firing of NLRB Member: A Blow to Workers' Rights and the Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) has strongly condemned President Trump's firing of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Member Gwynne Wilcox, an unprecedented and unlawful attack on workers' rights in the United States. Wilcox was removed despite her Senate-confirmed term extending until 2028, leaving the NLRB without a quorum and paralyzing its ability to enforce labor laws. This action is an egregious violation of federal law and will be challenged in court.

The NLRB is a lifeline for workers seeking justice in cases of unfair labor practices when employers violate the National Labor Relations Act. Without a functioning Board, countless workers will be left without legal recourse, and their cases buried in an ever-growing backlog. This action by the administration directly threatens entertainment workers, whose freedom to organize, negotiate fair contracts, and hold employers accountable with protections under Federal law depends on a fully operational NLRB.

IATSE General Counsel Samantha Dulaney said, "This brazen dismissal of Gwynne Wilcox is a clear attack on workers’ rights and a dangerous precedent for independent federal agencies. The NLRB exists to protect workers from exploitation and ensure fair treatment in the workplace. By dismantling its ability to enforce our nation’s labor laws, the Trump administration has put the rights of every private-sector worker at risk. This decision does not reflect strength—it reflects contempt for America’s workforce."

The firing of Wilcox is compounded by additional actions aimed at undermining the NLRB’s mission, including an email from the Office of Personnel Management encouraging federal employees to consider “deferred resignation.” These tactics signal a broader effort to weaken the enforcement of labor laws and hollow out agencies designed to serve the public good.

Workers deserve a government that respects their rights and enforces laws designed to protect them. IATSE will continue to fight for entertainment workers’ rights and communicate on how the actions of the second Trump administration affect them.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees or IATSE (full name: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada), is a labor union representing over 170,000 technicians, artisans and craftspersons in the entertainment industry, including live events, motion picture and television production, broadcast, and trade shows in the United States and Canada.