The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), which represents 600,000 members in the aerospace, defense, and Service Contract Act sectors, has called on Congress to support legislation aimed at providing back pay for federal contract workers affected by the ongoing government shutdown.
The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act (S. 2963 / H.R. 5657) was introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). The proposed legislation would ensure that federal contract workers receive compensation for lost wages during the shutdown period.
In a letter to Congress, IAM Union International President Brian Bryant stated: “Through no fault of their own, many of these families faced the reality of missing payments on their mortgages, student loans, school tuition, car loans, health care premiums, daycare, interest fees, and so many other expenses. Today, they are looking down the barrel of a similar fate. Contract workers and their families should not suffer the consequences of a shutdown they had no hand in creating. Dedicated federal contract workers maintain the aircraft, vehicles and systems that keep our military mission-ready and our nation secure. Many live paycheck to paycheck and are among the first to feel the devastating impact of a government shutdown.”
The union also criticized what it described as an unlawful threat from the Trump administration regarding withholding back pay from federal workers affected by the shutdown.
IAM reiterated its support for all federal and contract workers, urging both chambers of Congress to act quickly to end the shutdown and pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act to ensure working families are not left without support.
