US health department moves to strip thousands of employees of collective bargaining rights

Union decries effort as illegal as department confirms it is ending its recognition of unions for some employees

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has moved to strip thousands of federal health agency employees of their collective bargaining rights, according to a union that called the effort illegal.

HHS officials confirmed Friday that the department is ending its recognition of unions for a number of employees and reclaiming office space and equipment that had been used for union activities.