<p>WASHINGTON - A federal judge Friday ruled against the Department of Homeland Security in a labor dispute over proposed workplace rules that would reduce the power of labor unions at the department, which has 160,000 employees.</p>
<p>U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer said the department's proposal falls short because it leaves open avenues to unilaterally disavow lawful contracts. One provision embraced by DHS, the judge noted, says that homeland security managers may "take whatever other actions may be necessary to carry out the department's mission."</p>
