Today, thousands of federal workers’ jobs are on the line, due to the government shutdown.
We urge you to continue to stand with our brothers and sisters in AFGE, and to keep reading our weekly updates so that we can continue to inform our community of these attacks, giving everyone the opportunity to join us in speaking out. Together, we will ensure that all working people are heard!
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In the midst of the government Shutdown, Trump said he has Terminated the Hudson Tunnel Project Funding
In a decision that will destroy prospects for as many as 72,000 good paying union jobs in New Jersey and New York, hurt our economy, and impact the public who relies on quality transportation every day, Trump said that he has canceled the Hudson River Tunnel Project.
Our endorsed labor candidate Mikie Sherrill vowed Thursday, that if elected governor, she would fight President Donald Trump’s “termination” of the $16 billion Gateway Hudson River Rail Tunnel project in court, as reported by NJ.com.
Work for the tunnel has already began at five sites in New York State and New Jersey. The purpose of the project is to construct a new tunnel connecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan, creating necessary infrastructure improvements after the current tunnels which are 115 years old, were damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Everyday, thousands of passengers rely on Amtrak and NJ Transit trains for public transportation.
Government Shutdown Update
It’s now 21 days into the federal government shutdown, and federal workers are increasingly stretched thin as many continue to work without pay. Both furloughed employees, and certain essential staffers, will not be paid while the shutdown continues. When asked if federal workers would receive backpay, Trump suggested that the administration would deny back pay to furloughed federal workers, despite signing a measure into law known as the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act that ensures back pay during a government shutdown. Last Wednesday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the administration from firing workers during the shutdown, stating that the human cost “cannot be tolerated”, as reported by AP News.
Last week, union leaders such as AFGE President Everett Kelley rallied blocks from the capitol building, calling for congressional leaders to come to an agreement for the sake of working people.
“This isn’t about one party or the other. It’s about real people,” said President Kelley. ““The correction officer worrying about his next paycheck. The TSA officer who still shows up to work because he or she loves their country, even though they’re not getting paid. No American should ever have to choose between serving their country and feeding their family,” Kelley said.
President of the Air Line Pilots Association, Capt. Jason Ambrosi Urges Congress to Take Steps to End the Government Shutdown
The government shutdown, not only places undue strain on government employees who are forced to work with out pay, but the safety of the public.
Concerns have been raised as to how the stress placed on the federal workforce can lead to compromised public safety, especially in regards to workers who are already working in a high stress environment, such as airline pilots.
Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, (ALPA), released the following statement today urging Congress to take the necessary steps to reopen the government, which first shut down on October 1:
“It is time for our leaders to come to the table in good faith to make a deal that will reopen the government. Airline pilots stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters at NATCA and with all the federal workers who are continuing to work without a paycheck during this shutdown.
“The job of keeping aviation safe and secure is tough on an easy day, but forcing them to do it without pay undermines the safety and security of our entire system. We are at a critical moment in aviation safety, and we need our leaders to be focused on the necessary infrastructure and staffing improvements,” said Capt. Ambrosi.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 43 U.S. and Canadian airlines.
Federal Workers at the Center for Disease Control and the Department of Education Wait to Hear if they Will Return to Work
More than 600 workers at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are waiting to hear if the will return to work, after a federal judge has temporarily blocked their terminations, as reported by NBC News. Recently, 1,300 employees at the CDC were told they had been let go, as a result of the shutdown. Later, 700 of them were told that they had received the notices in error. On Wednesday, the judge’s order prevented the Trump administration from firing additional workers during the government shutdown, and enforcing the terminations carried out in the week before.
The staffers impacted managed the agency’s chronic disease programs, and worked on a key survey measuring the health and nutrition of the U.S. population.
The employees in the Special Education division in the Department of Education are also in a similar position with the department’s decision to lay off almost all employees in the department under the direction of the Trump administration. The judge’s ruling has also temporarily blocked the terminations of these employees who oversee the implementation of special education programs in public schools.
The government shutdown has already cost working people too much. It’s time to stop the Trump shutdown and fix the healthcare crisis. The administration needs to get to work, not play political games. Our jobs and healthcare are on the line. Our message to the Trump administration is clear: quit threatening federal workers’ jobs, fund the government, fix the mounting health care crisis and put working people first.
We urge you to make a call or send an email to Leader Thune and Speaker Johnson.
Call Leader Thune and Speaker Johnson at: 844-896-5059.
Click here to send an email.