Government Union Wants Workers Fired for Supporting 'Duck Dynasty'

Jun 13, 2014 01:03 PM EDT

Phil Robertson
The ''Duck Dynasty'' patriarch is known for his outspoken Christian beliefs (AP)

A union representing federal employees at Eglin Air Force base in Florida wants two senior management officials to be fired for supporting the AMC show "Duck Dynasty."

Fox News reports that Alan Cooper, the executive vice president of the local chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees, said his organization was upset when they saw decals on the management official's personal trucks supporting Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson.

"The BUE (bargaining union employee) was clearly offended and disgusted that a senior management official would display the decal on their pod," read an email Cooper wrote.

One of the officials reportedly also displayed the "I Support Phil" decals in his office last month and offered them to subordinates.

"We took offense," Cooper stated. "These two particular individuals have a great amount of influence over individuals who may be gay, who may be African-American - and we have a concern they should not be in a position to exert that influence when it comes to promotions."

In an email that was sent to union members, Cooper said the Duck Dynasty decal may be a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He hopes the two civilian managers at the Air Force base will soon be removed from their positions.

"Phil Robertson has made disparaging remarks against a vast array of people, which created a firestorm in the media in the recent past," Cooper wrote.

"I don't know how long these individuals harbored these views-could they have impacted employment opportunities for folks that have been disparaged by the likes of a Phil Robertson," he said.

Last year, Robertson made headlines after expressing his opposition to homosexuality to GQ magazine.

"Don't be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers - they won't inherit the kingdom of God. Don't deceive yourself. It's not right," the Duck Dynasty patriarch stated.

"We never, ever judge someone on who's going to heaven, hell. That's the Almighty's job. We just love 'em, give 'em the good news about Jesus - whether they're homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort 'em out later, you see what I'm saying?"

After conservative Christians took to social media to protest Phil Robertson's suspension and launched online campaigns in support of the Duck Dynasty's star, Robertson was reinstated.

On his part, one of the individuals mentioned by the government union stated that he rejects the accusations that he was a racist or homophobe because he supports Duck Dynasty.

"My intent was not to offend anybody," the individual told Todd Starnes of Charisma News. "My intent was to support the show and to show support for his Christian values."

He was dismayed to discover that the union workers had taken photographs of his truck and his license plate and emailed the images to other union members and hundreds of other personnel.

"I see the email that went out accusing me and my boss of being racist," he said. "That couldn't be farther from the truth."

"I'm pro-family," he said. "I'm pro-life. I don't have a problem with anybody who doesn't agree with me."

He said he has absolutely no plans to remove the decal from his truck.

"I'm not taking it off," he said. "If they want to make me retire early that's what I'll do. But I'm not backing down."