Federal Employee Union Sues Government Over Shutdown, Alleging Wage Violations

[longknife]

Government is no place for unions.

FDR Said that decades ago!

 

[longknife]

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?

There is no express wall building power. Government should not be shut down over that.

It's called National Security, a primary constitutional purpose of the presidency and all those who swear the oath of allegiance to the United States of America.

 

[rightwinger]

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

 

[rightwinger]

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

 

[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.

 

[BS Filter]

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?

 

[Ray From Cleveland]

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

I've seen similar things happen several times in my life. The company is going through a lawsuit, bankruptcy, or something that interferes with the income of a company. You then have the choice to work and wait for backpay or find another job.

Government workers are not special.

 

[Ray From Cleveland]

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.

 

[Ray From Cleveland]

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?

 

[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.

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.

 

[rightwinger]

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

 

[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?

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

 

[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?

 

[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.

 

[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.

Unions are needed more today than ever

Since the demise of unions, worker pay and benefits have been stagnant

 

[rightwinger]

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!

 

[Moonglow]

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.

I agree get rid of the FAA planes can fly themselves.

 

[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.

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.

Unions are needed more today than ever

Since the demise of unions, worker pay and benefits have been stagnant

Propaganda. YOU are responsible for what you're paid. If you don't like your pay, then YOU are responsible to do something about it. Find another job. Educate yourself to make yourself more valuable. Take some responsibility for yourself.

 

[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.

 

[rightwinger]

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