AFSCME Demands Back Pay for Furloughed Federal Workers Amid Shutdown

AFSCME Calls for Assured Back Pay for Furloughed Federal Workers Amid Government Shutdown

In the wake of the recent government shutdown, AFSCME members have made an urgent appeal to ensure that federal employees receive back pay. The plea comes as uncertainty looms over potential pay withholdings once operations resume.

A coalition of unions, including AFSCME, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), and Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF), has addressed this issue in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The letter references the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, which explicitly mandates back pay for furloughed federal employees following a government shutdown. According to the law, every federal worker affected by such a funding lapse "shall be paid for the period of the lapse."

AFSCME President Lee Saunders emphasized the importance of adhering to this legal requirement in a press release, stating, “We are sending this letter to demand that the administration follow the law and pay federal workers the wages they are legally owed.” Saunders further criticized the administration for creating additional stress for federal employees, saying, "Federal workers have enough to worry about, from rising costs to daily attacks on the essential work they do."

The urgency of the unions' letter was heightened by the administration's announcement that it might consider withholding back pay once the government reopens. The shutdown began on Oct. 1 due to Congress's failure to pass a funding bill.

AFSCME members, many of whom are employed by federal agencies like the Department of Agriculture and the Federal Aviation Administration, have voiced their concerns about the ongoing attacks from the administration. Numerous employees are speaking out against these challenges.

Additionally, AFSCME is actively engaged in legal battles to prevent the administration from executing mass layoffs of furloughed workers during the shutdown. The union's efforts include a court fight aimed at blocking these threats.

Through their Get Organized campaign, AFSCME continues to rally support and urges others to join the cause. Their message is clear: it's time to support federal workers and ensure they receive the pay they are entitled to by law.