Washington lawmakers recently agreed on a spending package to avoid another government shutdown. The spending package includes a 1.9 percent pay raise for federal employees. It does not include back pay for more than 1 million federal contract workers, like many IAM members who work alongside federal employees from NASA to the FAA.
“The rejection of federal contract worker back pay by the GOP leadership in this funding deal is outrageous and unfair,” said Machinists Union International President Bob Martinez. “We urge Republican and Democratic leadership to quickly pass legislation to secure back pay for the federal contract workers. This shutdown created hardship for more than 1 million hardworking, dedicated federal contract workers through no fault of their own. It was a 35-day disaster that created extreme stress for federal contract workers and continues to put their financial well-being at risk. We need Congress to act now.
“Our members proudly provide critical services to government agencies from NASA to the FAA. I want to thank our friend Congressman Donald Norcross, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Tina Smith, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley for stepping up for working families in this effort.”
The fight is not over.
We will keep fighting for #BackPayNOW for federal contract workers. https://t.co/x77x7of3ur
— Machinists Union (@MachinistsUnion) February 14, 2019
The IAM continues to support the bipartisan Fairness for Federal Contractors Act of 2019, introduced by U.S. Reps. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), which would provide federal contractors with back pay after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The legislation would instruct federal agencies to work with federal contractors to ensure that up to $1,400 of back pay is granted to all impacted contract workers.
Call our hotline at 1-888-894-1028 to be connected to your member of Congress. Ask them to co-sponsor the Fairness for Federal Contractors Act of 2019 (HR 824).
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Source:: iMail