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More than 1 million federal contract workers went without pay during a 35-day government shutdown. The IAM has since been fighting to ensure federal contract workers impacted by the shutdown receive back pay.
Now a provision has been added to the House spending bill by the Appropriators that would provide up to $965 per week of back pay to federal contract workers affected by the shutdown. Reps. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) have filed a bipartisan amendment to increase the amount to $1,440 per week of back pay.
“The IAM gives our sincere thanks to U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) and U.S. Reps. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Chris Smith (R-NJ),” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Their strong push and support for federal contract worker back pay has been amazing.
“Federal contract workers are still digging themselves out of the financial hole created after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history,” said Martinez. “The Machinists Union proudly represents thousands of federal contractors who provide critical services to several government agencies from NASA to the FAA. Now our members, along with a million other federal contract workers, are one step closer to getting the back pay they deserve. “The IAM will continue to fight for all of the workers of federal contractors. They must receive the back pay they deserve.”
Congress will vote on the appropriations package later this month and then it will head over to the Senate for a vote.
The Machinists Union represents tens of thousands of government contract workers from NASA to the FAA, thousands of whom were impacted by the recent, needless shutdown. These men and women work side-by-side with federal workers performing jobs that are absolutely vital to the government and to the people of the United States.
