On Sept. 2, the General Services Administration published a direct final rule amending the Federal Management Regulation to revise the ban on soliciting employees of contractors in GSA-controlled buildings so that union organizers can access these workers. The rule is effective immediately while open to a 60-day comment period that ends Nov. 1. These revisions will grant union organizers access to federal property with the intent to educate employees of private sector contractors working in these federal government facilities about the benefits of organizing, collective bargaining and union membership. The federal property must be under the direct control of GSA (including leased property) or property for which federal agencies are acting under a delegation of authority from GSA.

Granting union organizers access to interact with the employees of federal contractors working at GSA-controlled properties was a SWACCA-supported recommendation of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment. The task force is hoping it will facilitate union organizing among employees of federal construction contractors and subcontractors at most federal properties.