The Patent Office Professional Association (POPA) has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, claiming the agency unlawfully blocked a union representative from speaking at a town hall in March. POPA says the meeting involved workplace policies, giving the union the right to participate under federal labor law. The union also announced separate grievances over new return-to-office rules and suspended training programs.
See "Patent Examiner Union Accuses Agency of Violating Labor Law", Aruni Soni, Bloomberg Law, April 30, 2025