The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), which represents 600,000 members in aerospace, defense, and service contract sectors, has urged Congress to support legislation that would provide back pay for federal contract workers affected by the ongoing government shutdown.
The bipartisan Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act (S. 2963 / H.R. 5657) was introduced by U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), with support from 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 bill aims to secure back pay for thousands of federal contract workers who are furloughed or miss paychecks during a government shutdown.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant addressed lawmakers in both chambers, 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,” Bryant wrote. “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 also criticized what it described as an unlawful threat from the Trump administration to withhold back pay from federal workers affected by the shutdown.
The union expressed solidarity with all federal and contract workers and called on lawmakers to end the shutdown and pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act.
