The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) have responded to the recent end of the federal government shutdown by urging Congress to provide full back pay for all affected workers, including both federal employees and contractors.
In a joint statement, the organizations said, “While we are extremely disappointed that the GOP did not negotiate a deal that prevents a healthcare crisis, nor does it restore draconian cuts to Medicaid, our top priority has and will always will be to protect our members who do vitally important work for the federal government — both as federal employees and federal contractors. We are encouraged by the reopening of the government and strongly urge Congress to do its jobs and provide back pay for all workers — federal employees and contractors — who were furloughed during this manufactured shutdown.”
The IAM Union represents more than 115,000 federal workers along with over 30,000 Service Contract Act workers. According to their statement, these individuals have faced financial and emotional challenges due to the political stalemate that led to the shutdown. The unions highlighted the essential roles performed by these workers in areas such as military support, public land management, veteran care, and delivery of critical government services across communities.
They added: “These hardworking public servants perform critical duties every day: supporting our military, protecting our public lands and natural resources, caring for our veterans, and ensuring that essential government services reach every community in America. They deserve stability, respect, and timely pay for their labor.”
The statement further emphasized that contract workers should receive full back pay without delay. It noted that during previous shutdowns over a million federal contract workers went unpaid. “The lack of back pay for federal contract workers shows a lack of respect for the work they do to help keep our nation safe,” the statement read.
The unions called on lawmakers and administration officials to collaborate on providing back pay while also working toward measures that would prevent future shutdowns. “We urge Congress and the administration to work together to provide backpay to all federal workers and contractors while taking measures to prevent future shutdowns. The American people deserve a government that works as hard and as faithfully as they do. No family should ever again be forced to choose between paying bills and serving their country.”
Concluding their remarks, IAM Union and NFFE-IAM reaffirmed their commitment: “The IAM and NFFE-IAM will continue to stand with our members and fight to ensure their voices are heard, their pay is protected, and their work is respected.”
