The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), which represents about 600,000 members, has urged Congress to pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act (S. 2963 / H.R. 5657). The legislation would provide back pay to federal contract workers who have lost wages during the ongoing government shutdown.
The bipartisan bill was introduced by Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Representative Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). The legislation aims to secure compensation for thousands of federal contract workers who are furloughed or miss paychecks during a shutdown.
IAM International President Brian Bryant addressed lawmakers in a letter, stating: “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 IAM Union also criticized what it described as an unlawful threat from the Trump administration to withhold back pay from federal employees affected by the shutdown.
The union expressed solidarity with both federal and contract workers and called on legislators in both chambers to end the shutdown quickly and pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act so that working families do not face further hardship.
