The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), representing 600,000 members, has urged Congress to pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act (S. 2963 / H.R. 5657). The proposed legislation aims to guarantee back pay for federal contract workers who have lost wages due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The legislation was introduced by a group of lawmakers, including Representative Ayanna Pressley, Senator Tina Smith, Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Representative Donald Norcross, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick. The bill seeks to address the financial hardships faced by federal contract workers who are furloughed or miss paychecks during government shutdowns.
In a letter addressed to both the House and Senate, IAM International President Brian Bryant stated: “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 also criticized what it described as an unlawful threat from the Trump administration regarding withholding back pay from federal employees affected by the shutdown.
The union reiterated its support for all federal and contract workers and called on legislators in both chambers to end the shutdown promptly and pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act.
