The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), which represents about 600,000 members, has called on Congress to pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act (S. 2963 / H.R. 5657). This bipartisan 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 U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), along with several other lawmakers, including 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 bill is intended to address the financial impact on thousands of federal contract workers who are furloughed and miss paychecks during government shutdowns.
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 has also criticized the Trump administration for what it described as an unlawful threat to withhold back pay from federal workers affected by the shutdown.
The union has called for swift action from lawmakers in both the House and Senate to end the government shutdown and pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act, emphasizing the need to protect working families from financial hardship.
