The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), 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 bill 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 legislation is intended to provide financial relief to thousands of federal contract workers who face furloughs and missed paychecks during the shutdown period.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant addressed lawmakers in a letter, 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. 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 Union 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 reiterated its support for all federal and contract workers and called on lawmakers in both chambers to act quickly to end the shutdown and pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act.
