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Dear IAM Family,
Once again, our nation’s federal employees and federal contract workers are facing the threat of a government shutdown on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. And once again, hardworking men and women, many of them proud IAM and NFFE-IAM members, are being treated as pawns in a political game.
The IAM strongly urges a bipartisan funding solution, negotiated in good faith between Democrats and Republicans, to prevent a shutdown. A shutdown is unjust, cruel, and devastating to working families and we will never stand by while our members are used as leverage for political gain. The IAM also strongly condemns the White House’s threat to use a shutdown as a means to justify illegally firing scores of federal workers.
The IAM and our affiliate, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), represent more than 110,000 federal workers nationwide. We know firsthand the sacrifices our members make and we know the hardship that comes when a paycheck stops.
Government shutdowns are devastating. Over 1 million federal contract workers went without pay during the 35-day government shutdown in early 2019, including thousands of furloughed IAM members.
That’s why the IAM is working with allies in Congress to pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act, led by Sens. Tina Smith, Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, Chris Van Hollen, and Angela Alsobrooks. This legislation would finally ensure that contract workers are compensated for the wages they lose during a shutdown.
What Members Can Do Now
In addition to preparing personal finances to cover bills and other expenses a here’s what you can do to stay strong and prepared:
Additional resources:
We will not allow reckless elected officials to gamble with the livelihoods of the men and women who keep this country running. We are stronger when we work together.
In solidarity,
Brian Bryant
IAM Union International President
