Federal Employee Union Sues Government Over Shutdown, Alleging Wage Violations

[BS Filter]

HOLIDAY HELL FOR UNPAID TSA AGENTS

Officers are worried about how they’ll pay rent or feed their families if the crisis drags on.

Transportation Security Administration employees, who are staffing airports at one of the busiest travel times of the year, are dealing with low morale, frustration at Washington and uncertainty over how they’ll pay rent or feed their families if the government shutdown drags on.

The shutdown is making the already stressful task of securing airports over the holidays even more difficult and demoralizing, TSA officers told HuffPost, all on the condition of anonymity, fearing repercussions at their jobs.

Although Trump has said that federal workers want him to hold out in shutdown negotiations until he gets his way, the TSA employees who talked with HuffPost had a very different message.

“While Congress and Mr. Trump get to stay home, enjoy their personal time with their families, and still get paid, we have to struggle and suffer,” a Transportation Security Officer told HuffPost in an email. The officer, a single mother, now worries how she’ll take care of her kids if the shutdown drags on.

“Most of us live paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford to be unpaid and still go to work for long. It is not fair,” she said.

“To say morale is low is an understatement. People on both sides of the political argument are infuriated at this,” another TSA officer said. “We feel completely and utterly unappreciated.”

TSA Workers Vent Anger At Shutdown As They Work Without Pay Over Holidays

Sad at any time - but especially during the Christmas holidays.

TSA does not deserve to get paid as they do not provide a worthwhile service so it is poetic justice they are not receiving a paycheck

I was kind of hoping that the TSA workers would go "no pay, no work" and we could have had the pleasure of tiny trump shutting down the airports during the holiday season. I'm sure the trumpanzees would have LOVED him for that.

You obviously don't remember what happened the last time air traffic controllers took on Reagan. You must have still been crapping in your diaper.

 

[bodecea]

Takes a long time to get a lawsuit through the courts...........good luck. Your going to need it.

They know that already. The union is just pissed they are not getting their cut for a while. Unions don't care about people, unions care about money. That's why outside of government, they are pretty much a thing of the past.

Yeah...bad unions...bad bad unions. Let's all go back to the days of child labor, 6 day weeks, 60+ hours a week, no health care, no safety rules, etc. Yay for the Right!

 

[bodecea]

Takes a long time to get a lawsuit through the courts...........good luck. Your going to need it.

They know that already. The union is just pissed they are not getting their cut for a while. Unions don't care about people, unions care about money. That's why outside of government, they are pretty much a thing of the past.

Unions were needed once upon a time, but their day is over because of labor laws. Once something has outlived its purpose it becomes corrupted.

"The 2nd Amendment was needed once upon a time, but it's day is over." See? We can all play that game.

 

[rightwinger]

Blame the Democrats, if they had helped pass a 2019 budget, none of this would be happening.

Nope...tiny trump owns this....in his own words...he owns this.

He owns standing up to the Democrats lack of concern over border security.

Yea...that is about right

We have many, many better things we could spend our money on

 

[bodecea]

So did this union, or any union sue the government every time it was shutdown, or just Trumps government???

Exactly. Instead of going to court, why doesn't the precious union go to the Senate Democrats and tell them to pass the bill with the wall money?

That would be giving Trump a victory, and they can't do that. All they can do is cry, threaten, and repeat and rinse.

So you admit that tiny trump owns this shutdown. That's what he said.....just like he said that Mexico would pay for the Wall.

 

[rightwinger]

Takes a long time to get a lawsuit through the courts...........good luck. Your going to need it.

They know that already. The union is just pissed they are not getting their cut for a while. Unions don't care about people, unions care about money. That's why outside of government, they are pretty much a thing of the past.

Unions were needed once upon a time, but their day is over because of labor laws. Once something has outlived its purpose it becomes corrupted.

"The 2nd Amendment was needed once upon a time, but it's day is over." See? We can all play that game.

Yes, those well regulated militias were necessary for a free state

 

[bodecea]

I don't really care about these federal workers. They are parasites off those of us who work in the private sector and don't have all the protections they do.

Protections?

In the private sector.......what if your employer said that since he is having a fight with his wife, you are expected to work without pay until his wife does what he wants?
Would you refuse to work?

Federal workers do not have the right to strike

That's a good thing. Talk about "holding someone hostage". Hypocrite.

Who is being held hostage for the Great Wall of Trump?

Hint: It ain’t Mexico

Democrats have said Trump is holding the American people and government workers hostage because he demands money for the wall. If that's true, then pay the 5 billion and set the captives free.

Mexico is paying for the Wall...your beef is with Mexico not yet giving us the 5 billion.

 

[rightwinger]

Takes a long time to get a lawsuit through the courts...........good luck. Your going to need it.

They know that already. The union is just pissed they are not getting their cut for a while. Unions don't care about people, unions care about money. That's why outside of government, they are pretty much a thing of the past.

Yeah...bad unions...bad bad unions. Let's all go back to the days of child labor, 6 day weeks, 60+ hours a week, no health care, no safety rules, etc. Yay for the Right!

Unions are pure evil

Imagine expecting workers to be paid

 

[BS Filter]

The union said employees can’t be forced to work without pay.

A union representing federal workers sued the government Monday over the partial shutdown, saying it was illegal to have hundreds of thousands of employees work without pay during the funding lapse.

The American Federation of Government Employees filed the lawsuit on the shutdown’s 10th day, with no signs of an imminent resolution between Congress and the White House. The union said withholding the pay of workers who continue to clock in during the shutdown runs afoul of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Great Depression-era law establishing a minimum wage and overtime pay.

“This is not an acceptable way for any employer, let alone the U.S. government, to treat its employees,” Heidi Burakiewicz, a lawyer representing the workers, said in a statement. “These employees still need to pay childcare expenses, buy gas, and incur other expenses to go to work every day and yet, they are not getting paid. It is a blatant violation.”

Some 380,000 federal employees have been furloughed during the shutdown, meaning they are out of a job until lawmakers reach a funding agreement. But another 420,000 are continuing to work in “essential” capacities such as in law enforcement, but are not being paid.

After previous shutdowns, Congress has passed legislation to retroactively pay furloughed employees and those who worked through the closures. But in the meantime, all those workers have bills to pay. Those who don’t have deep enough savings will face some hard choices if the shutdown continues to grind on.

AFGE previously sued the government under the same claims after the 2013 shutdown, which lasted 16 days. A judge later ruled that around 25,000 workers were owed double pay due to damages.

More: Federal Employee Union Sues Government Over Shutdown, Alleging Wage Violations

Sounds reasonable to me. What do you think?

Controlling who and what enters a community is the most basic function of good governance.


Only an enemy of the community could be against that.

Lefties are children. The Democrat party is daddy and big government is the mommy.

The right wing alleges to be for free markets and less government; but Government solves all problems for the right wing.

Takes a long time to get a lawsuit through the courts...........good luck. Your going to need it.

They know that already. The union is just pissed they are not getting their cut for a while. Unions don't care about people, unions care about money. That's why outside of government, they are pretty much a thing of the past.

Unions were needed once upon a time, but their day is over because of labor laws. Once something has outlived its purpose it becomes corrupted.

"The 2nd Amendment was needed once upon a time, but it's day is over." See? We can all play that game.

And the first amendment, huh. You'd like to get rid of the entire Constitution. Go ahead and admit it.

 

[BS Filter]

I don't really care about these federal workers. They are parasites off those of us who work in the private sector and don't have all the protections they do.

Protections?

In the private sector.......what if your employer said that since he is having a fight with his wife, you are expected to work without pay until his wife does what he wants?
Would you refuse to work?

Federal workers do not have the right to strike

That's a good thing. Talk about "holding someone hostage". Hypocrite.

Who is being held hostage for the Great Wall of Trump?

Hint: It ain’t Mexico

Democrats have said Trump is holding the American people and government workers hostage because he demands money for the wall. If that's true, then pay the 5 billion and set the captives free.

Mexico is paying for the Wall...your beef is with Mexico not yet giving us the 5 billion.

Keep beating that tired drum.

 

[bodecea]

So did this union, or any union sue the government every time it was shutdown, or just Trumps government???

Exactly. Instead of going to court, why doesn't the precious union go to the Senate Democrats and tell them to pass the bill with the wall money?

Why don’t they go to the Republicans and tell them to stop using their workers as hostages

Do what we demand or the Federal Workers get it!

Why don't democrats pay for the wall? Tell democrats to stop using workers as hostages.

Mexico is paying for the Wall...tiny trump has said that enough times. Haven't you been paying attention?

 

[BS Filter]

Takes a long time to get a lawsuit through the courts...........good luck. Your going to need it.

They know that already. The union is just pissed they are not getting their cut for a while. Unions don't care about people, unions care about money. That's why outside of government, they are pretty much a thing of the past.

Yeah...bad unions...bad bad unions. Let's all go back to the days of child labor, 6 day weeks, 60+ hours a week, no health care, no safety rules, etc. Yay for the Right!

Unions are pure evil

Imagine expecting workers to be paid

More working people without unions than with. You think people without a union don't work for a living?

 

[bodecea]

Government is no place for unions.

FDR Said that decades ago!

It seems they need someone to stand up for their rights
It is clear, Congress won’t do it

What right are you referring to?

The right to get paid for your labor

They aren't being denied that right. In fact, they're getting a paid vacation.

Oh...they are being paid right now? I'm sure those they pay monthly bills to are relieved.

 

[BS Filter]

So did this union, or any union sue the government every time it was shutdown, or just Trumps government???

Exactly. Instead of going to court, why doesn't the precious union go to the Senate Democrats and tell them to pass the bill with the wall money?

Why don’t they go to the Republicans and tell them to stop using their workers as hostages

Do what we demand or the Federal Workers get it!

Why don't democrats pay for the wall? Tell democrats to stop using workers as hostages.

Mexico is paying for the Wall...tiny trump has said that enough times. Haven't you been paying attention?

They will after it's built. Mexico will pay for it with the money we save on their illegals coming in.

 

[bodecea]

So did this union, or any union sue the government every time it was shutdown, or just Trumps government???

Exactly. Instead of going to court, why doesn't the precious union go to the Senate Democrats and tell them to pass the bill with the wall money?

Why don’t they go to the Republicans and tell them to stop using their workers as hostages

Do what we demand or the Federal Workers get it!

Why don't democrats pay for the wall? Tell democrats to stop using workers as hostages.

It wasn’t the Democrats who offered a wall and said.....don’t worry, Mexico will pay for it

Looks like Republicans are demanding Federal Workers pay for it

No, we're demanding taxpayers pay for it since it's taxpayers that will benefit the most from it.

Nope...tiny trump said over and over and over again that Mexico will pay for the Wall. When do you think they'll hand over the check for that?

 

[BS Filter]

FDR Said that decades ago!

It seems they need someone to stand up for their rights
It is clear, Congress won’t do it

What right are you referring to?

The right to get paid for your labor

They aren't being denied that right. In fact, they're getting a paid vacation.

Oh...they are being paid right now? I'm sure those they pay monthly bills to are relieved.

Oh, that's a shame. Nancy and Chuck can put 'em back to work tomorrow. Not Trump's problem.

 

[bodecea]

So did this union, or any union sue the government every time it was shutdown, or just Trumps government???

Exactly. Instead of going to court, why doesn't the precious union go to the Senate Democrats and tell them to pass the bill with the wall money?

Why don’t they go to the Republicans and tell them to stop using their workers as hostages

Do what we demand or the Federal Workers get it!

Why don't democrats pay for the wall? Tell democrats to stop using workers as hostages.

It wasn’t the Democrats who offered a wall and said.....don’t worry, Mexico will pay for it

Looks like Republicans are demanding Federal Workers pay for it

That's just plain idiocy. Taxpayers are more than willing to pay for the wall. You know that. Chuck and Nancy can end this today.

Taxpayers don't have to pay for the Wall...Mexico is paying for it.

 

[BS Filter]

Exactly. Instead of going to court, why doesn't the precious union go to the Senate Democrats and tell them to pass the bill with the wall money?

Why don’t they go to the Republicans and tell them to stop using their workers as hostages

Do what we demand or the Federal Workers get it!

Why don't democrats pay for the wall? Tell democrats to stop using workers as hostages.

It wasn’t the Democrats who offered a wall and said.....don’t worry, Mexico will pay for it

Looks like Republicans are demanding Federal Workers pay for it

No, we're demanding taxpayers pay for it since it's taxpayers that will benefit the most from it.

Nope...tiny trump said over and over and over again that Mexico will pay for the Wall. When do you think they'll hand over the check for that?

The money we save will more than pay for the wall.

 

[Correll]

The union said employees can’t be forced to work without pay.

A union representing federal workers sued the government Monday over the partial shutdown, saying it was illegal to have hundreds of thousands of employees work without pay during the funding lapse.

The American Federation of Government Employees filed the lawsuit on the shutdown’s 10th day, with no signs of an imminent resolution between Congress and the White House. The union said withholding the pay of workers who continue to clock in during the shutdown runs afoul of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Great Depression-era law establishing a minimum wage and overtime pay.

“This is not an acceptable way for any employer, let alone the U.S. government, to treat its employees,” Heidi Burakiewicz, a lawyer representing the workers, said in a statement. “These employees still need to pay childcare expenses, buy gas, and incur other expenses to go to work every day and yet, they are not getting paid. It is a blatant violation.”

Some 380,000 federal employees have been furloughed during the shutdown, meaning they are out of a job until lawmakers reach a funding agreement. But another 420,000 are continuing to work in “essential” capacities such as in law enforcement, but are not being paid.

After previous shutdowns, Congress has passed legislation to retroactively pay furloughed employees and those who worked through the closures. But in the meantime, all those workers have bills to pay. Those who don’t have deep enough savings will face some hard choices if the shutdown continues to grind on.

AFGE previously sued the government under the same claims after the 2013 shutdown, which lasted 16 days. A judge later ruled that around 25,000 workers were owed double pay due to damages.

More: Federal Employee Union Sues Government Over Shutdown, Alleging Wage Violations

Sounds reasonable to me. What do you think?

Controlling who and what enters a community is the most basic function of good governance.


Only an enemy of the community could be against that.

there is no express wall building clause.

Don't care. Your loyalty lies with the invaders, and not your fellow citizens.

 

[boedicca]

Yet another example of FDR being absolutely correct with his opinion that government employees should not be unionized.