Federal Employee Union Sues Government Over Shutdown, Alleging Wage Violations

[Ray From Cleveland]

If Mexico is going to pay for it, why does he want our tax money?

Mexico funds it indirectly, for example:

While Trump’s team has not reached a consensus, leading proposals include adding a small percentage fee on money sent by individuals in the United States to recipients in Mexico.

Another is directing a surplus in revenue from a revised trade agreement with Mexico and Canada.

Great. Go do that and quit trying to take my tax money.

Why is it "your" tax money when spent on things you disapprove of, but not "our" tax money when it's spent on things we disapprove of?

It is our money, but it is specifically part MINE too.

Yeah, like mine was for the trillion dollars Commie Care program or mine was for the near trillion dollar Pork Bill.

 

[boedicca]

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

Workers expecting to be paid?

I doubt we would have a shutdown to begin with without the unionized permanent bureaucracy owning the Dem party.

 

[BULLDOG]

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

It was passed. Trump childishly refused to sign it.

That’s his job, he is entitled to veto any bill. So unless Dems can pass a veto proof bill, they have to compromise on something with Republicans and the President.

No. That's just his ability for now. His job is to do what's best for the country. Building a stupid wall is not what's best for the country

 

[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.

So we don't need TSA workers?

Apparently not....they should all go home now.

 

[harmonica]

lay those ungrateful bastards off!!
they should thank their lucky stars they have a job

 

[Ray From Cleveland]

They're on a paid vacation. They're not working and they will receive back pay when this is all over. As for my cushy job, yes I do quite well on my Social Security that I paid for and my part-time job that I work at. I'm very comfortable, not that it's any of your damn business and isn't part of this discussion, you little snotty punk.

Are you really this stupid or do you just pretend on the internet. The lawsuit is about those that are still going work and not being properly compensated for their work as was agreed upon in their employment contract.

Which is why we should get rid of unions in the government.

Because they are arguing that people should get paid for their work....how dare them.

I am anti-union as they come, but that is just stupid.

So who's not getting paid? They will all get paid; perhaps not timely, but will get paid.

I'm sure their debtors such as their landlords or mortgage companies have no problem with that.

If you are living check to check and have no backup money, then maybe you're too irresponsible to be working for the public. When you take a government job, you know things like this are bound to happen from time to time.

 

[saveliberty]

You think you're getting your SS check?

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid services are expected to continue without interruptions as all three programs fall under “mandatory spending.” That means funds for these programs have already been allocated and will not be affected by the annual appropriations process, so Social Security checks will still be issued.

Will Social Security checks be affected by possible partial government shutdown?

What a dumbass.

 

[rightwinger]

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?

Very true

That is why wages and benefits have declined

Government has grown, huh. The bigger government gets and the more expensive government gets, the less our wages are. Think.

The size of the government hasn’t grown in 50 years.....Think

 

[bodecea]

Make the filthy Democrats pay. They are the ones that won't fund the government.

 

[saveliberty]

Why would they, when Mexico's paying the $5B?

Managed to turn that into meme spam I see. At least a dozen posts so far..

 

[Ray From Cleveland]

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

It was passed. Trump childishly refused to sign it.

That’s his job, he is entitled to veto any bill. So unless Dems can pass a veto proof bill, they have to compromise on something with Republicans and the President.

No. That's just his ability for now. His job is to do what's best for the country. Building a stupid wall is not what's best for the country

Tell that to the deceased officers wife and kids in CA.

 

[rightwinger]

Which is why we should get rid of unions in the government.

Because they are arguing that people should get paid for their work....how dare them.

I am anti-union as they come, but that is just stupid.

So who's not getting paid? They will all get paid; perhaps not timely, but will get paid.

Once again...The lawsuit is about those that are still going work and not being properly compensated for their work as was agreed upon in their employment contract.

They want to ignore that fact, you know.

Write Chuck and Nancy and tell them to make a deal so people can get back to work, pus nose.

It is Trumps temper tantrum

Give me what I want or I will punish federal workers

Give him what he wants and what will he do next time he doesn’t get his way

 

[bodecea]

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.

My dear child.....you apparently are not aware that TSA isn't the same as Air Traffic Controllers. They are not. You are welcome.

 

[saveliberty]

No. That's just his ability for now. His job is to do what's best for the country. Building a stupid wall is not what's best for the country

81% of Americans want border security, we differ on how that is accomplished.

 

[Ray From Cleveland]

Because they are arguing that people should get paid for their work....how dare them.

I am anti-union as they come, but that is just stupid.

So who's not getting paid? They will all get paid; perhaps not timely, but will get paid.

Once again...The lawsuit is about those that are still going work and not being properly compensated for their work as was agreed upon in their employment contract.

They want to ignore that fact, you know.

Write Chuck and Nancy and tell them to make a deal so people can get back to work, pus nose.

It is Trumps temper tantrum

Give me what I want or I will punish federal workers

Give him what he wants and what will he do next time he doesn’t get his way

How is Trump punishing these federal workers and not the Senate Democrats?

 

[bodecea]

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.

Just playing your game, little boy.

 

[bodecea]

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]

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]

Because they are arguing that people should get paid for their work....how dare them.

I am anti-union as they come, but that is just stupid.

So who's not getting paid? They will all get paid; perhaps not timely, but will get paid.

Once again...The lawsuit is about those that are still going work and not being properly compensated for their work as was agreed upon in their employment contract.

They want to ignore that fact, you know.

Write Chuck and Nancy and tell them to make a deal so people can get back to work, pus nose.

It is Trumps temper tantrum

Give me what I want or I will punish federal workers

Give him what he wants and what will he do next time he doesn’t get his way

If the Dem leadership cared about government workers, they wouldn't be partying in places like Hawaii.

 

[Polishprince]

Sounds reasonable to me. What do you think?

I believe that the Court needs to order Chuck and Nancy to get the Wall built so these federal employees can be paid.

If they refuse to move it through, fine and jail those two.