The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), representing 600,000 members, is urging Congress to pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act (S. 2963 / H.R. 5657). This legislation aims to provide back pay to federal contract workers who have lost wages during the ongoing government shutdown.
The bipartisan bill was introduced after the recent federal government shutdown by U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), along with 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 designed to address the financial challenges faced by thousands of federal contract workers who experience furloughs and missed paychecks during such events.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant addressed lawmakers, 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.”
Alongside advocating for swift passage of the act, the IAM Union has also criticized what it describes as an unlawful threat from the Trump administration to withhold back pay from federal workers affected by the shutdown.
The IAM continues to support all federal and contract workers and has called on both chambers of Congress to act quickly to end the shutdown and approve the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act to protect working families from financial hardship.
