Justice for Alex & How to Be a Fighting Union

Start: 2026-01-25 16:00:00 UTC Eastern Standard Time (US & Canada) (GMT-05:00)

End: 2026-01-25 18:00:00 UTC Eastern Standard Time (US & Canada) (GMT-05:00)

Event Type: Virtual
A virtual link will be communicated before the event.

We are devastated and angry over the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the VA. Alex was a caregiver, a public servant, and a member of his union and community who believed in showing up - at work and in the streets to lawfully protest.

Today, during our “How The Be A Fighting Union” workshop, we will hear from a nurse at Alex's VA facility and a fellow union member of Alex’s. We'll be holding space for our broken hearts.

We cannot separate this despicable violence and assault on immigrants and people of color from the Trump Administration’s attacks on public services, civil servants, and the systems, like the VA, that veterans and families rely on every day.

We'll be sharing resources for Locals to bring their members together to process this moment and take action together for Alex and for freedom. That will require engaging and organizing our coworkers, so we'll still be holding the tracks below as planned.

In peace and solidarity,

The Federal Unionists Network


How to Be a Fighting Union
A hands-on organizing workshop for federal unionists

In 2025, federal unionists came together to fight back against assaults on our workforce, our Agencies, and our democracy. The stronger and more prepared we are, the less we will need to scramble and risk disorganization when the next crisis hits.

Join the Federal Unionists Network on Sunday, January 25 from 4-6 pm ET for a 2-hour, interactive workshop designed to help unionists build the structures and skills needed to face political attacks, funding cuts, and workplace challenges with courage.

We’ll start the workshop with some examples by FUNers who have built active committees in their locals to be able to effectively fight. Participants will then choose a focused track to strengthen their Local or Chapter.

Workshop tracks include:

  • Organizing Committees: Build or strengthen the core team that equips members to take action together.

  • Legislative Committees: Build or strengthen the core team that coordinates effective advocacy to Congress and other politicians and electeds.

  • Membership & Dues Drives: Stand up a campaign to organize more coworkers into active union membership.

Who should attend:

  • Union officers and stewards

  • Rank-and-file members ready to step up

  • Former federal employees who want to keep organizing

This workshop is about moving from defense to preparedness and power. A fighting union is built in advance—committee by committee, member by member.

Come ready to organize.