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In every state and city, federal employees were furloughed without pay or were forced to work without pay since Oct. 1 because Congress and the administration failed to pass legislation that funds government operations. The anxiety has been devastating as they cut back on spending, ran up credit card debt, took out emergency loans, filed for unemployment, found temporary side jobs, stood in line for food assistance, skipped filling prescriptions and worried about the future. Federal employees should receive the six weeks of back pay they are owed immediately upon the reopening of the federal government, NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald said.

“This is an emergency for federal employees across the country, and they should not have to wait another minute longer for the paychecks they lost during the longest government shutdown in history,” Greenwald said. “We call on all federal agencies to process the back pay immediately after the funding bill is signed into law."

The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 says federal employees affected by the shutdown will receive their back pay at the “earliest date possible” after the government reopens, regardless of the next regular scheduled pay date.

“Federal employees are committed to public service and helping agencies meet the needs of the American people. It is time the government lives up to its commitment to them.” Greenwald said.

 NTEU represents employees in 38 federal agencies and offices.