This comment will be buried but I have questions as to how this can actually happen. 'm a union member, executive board member of a union and past president of a union. The big issues I see here would be the fact that the workers are working under valid CBA's ... In those CBA's which the workers voted to accept they the workers have to deal with the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute which basically says "it is an unfair labor practice for labor unions to call or participate in a strike or a work stoppage that interferes with the operation of a federal agency."

But looking further into a specific CBA of the Border Patrol in this case their CBA follows 5 U.S. Code § 2301 - Merit system principles which says the following.... Equal pay should be provided for work of equal value, with appropriate consideration of both national and local rates paid by employers in the private sector, and appropriate incentives and recognition should be provided for excellence in performance.

(4)

All employees should maintain high standards of integrity, conduct, and concern for the public interest.

(5)

The Federal work force should be used efficiently and effectively.

(6)

Employees should be retained on the basis of the adequacy of their performance, inadequate performance should be corrected, and employeesshould be separated who cannot or will not improve their performance to meet required standards.

(7)

Employees should be provided effective education and training in cases in which such education and training would result in better organizational and individual performance.

(8)Employees should be—

(A)

protected against arbitrary action, personal favoritism, or coercion for partisan political purposes, and

(B)

prohibited from using their official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a nomination for election.

(9)Employees should be protected against reprisal for the lawful disclosure of information which the employeesreasonably believe evidences—

(A)

a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or

(B)

mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.

(c)In administering the provisions of this chapter—

(1)

with respect to any agency (as defined in section 2302(a)(2)(C

So my question is this..... If you take the Border Patrol in this scenario and the Border Patrol goes on strike or refuses to work because they believe that what is currently taking place between both parties of the government affects their employment, pay, living conditions etc etc. Is the Border Patrol technically able to "strike or refuse to work their shifts" if the government isn't following their own statutes?