Federal Employees Back Bill to Support Public Sector Workers During Government Shutdowns; Public Hearing Tues. April 8

Metal Trades Council President Alana Schaeffer speaks in favor of LD 874 last week.

Union members will be testifying in support of legislation that would provide temporary financial support for state and federal employees during government shutdowns on Tuesday April 8 at 1pm before the the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee. LD 874 (Rep. Kristi Mathieson), An Act to Provide Relief to Federal Employees Affected by a Federal Shutdown, would protect federal and state employees by allowing them to apply for state-backed no-interest loans when they are furloughed or required to work without pay during a federal shutdown.

“When political dysfunction in Washington shuts down the government, it’s the workers who are made to suffer as they are furloughed or forced to work without pay,” said Alana Schaeffer, President of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 788 and President of the Metal Trades Council, an association of a dozen unions representing 3,000 employees across ten trades at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. “Workers and our families do not deserve to struggle to make house payments or pay bills because of political brinksmanship in Washington. Allowing federal and state employees to apply for no-interest loans when they are furloughed or required to work without pay during a government shutdown will provide support for these dedicated civil servants and their families.”

In 2018 and 2019, federal employees in Maine were furloughed and forced to work without pay during a 35-day federal government shutdown, the longest government shutdown in US history.

“We worked for 35 days without a paycheck. This was especially hard for younger and newer employers who had to scramble to pay rent and for other basic necessities. In fact, I had to loan money to a couple of our members for gas just so they could get back and forth to work,”said Transportation Security Administration Officer Bill Reiley of Alfred, a TSO at Portland Jetport and Regional Vice President of AFGE Local 2617. “When the third check didn’t arrive, people were very scared and didn’t know how long they would be able to keep working for nothing. You don’t want a bunch of employees stressed out when they're looking for guns, bombs and knives. LD 874 will ensure that the people who make our skies safe for travel, protect our national security and do other critical work for our nation are able to get by when politicians shut down our government.”