Bureau of Prisons union seeks contempt ruling over failed bargaining reinstatement

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has filed a motion asking a federal judge to hold the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in contempt. The union alleges that agency leadership is defying a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Vernon Oliver, which ordered the immediate reinstatement of collective bargaining agreements.

The legal dispute follows the termination of union contracts by BOP Director William Marshall in September 2025. While the administration cited national security grounds via executive orders, Judge Oliver ruled that the agency likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The judge noted that Marshall had publicly stated his decision was based on the fact that AFGE was not the “kind of union” he supported.

Union officials report that wardens at multiple facilities are being instructed to maintain the status quo rather than restoring union access to office space or official time. The motion includes allegations that employees have been denied union representation during disciplinary proceedings, with one instance involving an employee being told, “There ain’t no union,” prior to their termination.