John,
Since the Trump shutdown began on October 1st, federal workers have either been off the job or working without pay. Today is the 15th of the month―and while many working people are getting their paychecks, most federal workers are facing a month without pay.
Instead of negotiating an end to the shutdown, Donald Trump and his administration have double-downed on their vindictive efforts to fire thousands of federal workers, and even pledged to renege on a law he signed to guarantee backpay to workers after a shutdown. Trump thinks there’s a path to political victory through punishing the workers who keep Social Security running, who ensure that children with disabilities have access to public schools, who keep security lines at airports moving, and who ensure food assistance programs such as WIC reach families in need.
The people who are working at Social Security offices, still making sure seniors’ checks go out on time, won’t get their own check this week. But their bills didn’t stop. Their rent is still due, and they still have families who need to eat. We need solidarity, not charity.
Our friends at The Labor Force are distributing grocery cards to federal workers during this shutdown. Can you pitch in to buy a load of groceries this week?
If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your secure donation will go through immediately, split between The Labor Force and Coalition on Human Needs:
Yesterday, I joined several federal workers at a press conference talking about what’s at stake in the shutdown.1 Federal employees are not bargaining chips. They are veterans, caregivers, law enforcement officers, and neighbors who serve their country and fellow Americans every day. They deserve stability and respect, not pink slips and political games.
Can you split a donation between the Coalition on Human Needs and The Labor Force and help federal workers who are missing their paycheck this week?
In solidarity,
Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs
1 End the Shutdown, Government Employee Union and Advocacy Organizations Telling Congress To Get Back to Work
