The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union has now released a statement [SEE HERE] saying both sides have proved their point, and it is now time to end the federal government shutdown and pass a short-term continuing resolution (CR).
This move will put significant pressure on the Leftists and Democrats to stop their federal government shutdown. The AFGE represents 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers. The position by the AFGE carries with it a cultural component in alignment with the DC membership makeup.
In approximately one week SNAP benefits will be at risk, and collectively the interests of the AFGE and the AME (African Methodist Episcopal Church) come into alignment. The change in position is not coincidental.
WASHINGTON — The country’s largest union representing federal workers is calling for lawmakers to pass a short-term spending measure to immediately end the government shutdown, urging Democrats to abandon their current position and join Republicans in supporting a stopgap solution.
“Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,” American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley wrote in a statement first shared with NBC News. “It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship.”
The statement could increase pressure on Democrats to budge from their stance. Senate Democrats have insisted that they won’t vote to reopen the government without a commitment from Republicans and President Donald Trump on extending health care subsidies through the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Without them, health insurance premiums on Obamacare markets will skyrocket for many individuals and families. (more)
I still oppose government unions. They are anathema to taxpayers and republics.
Workers can’t bargain collectively because they are are paid by tax payers?
im a freaking taxpayer and a union teacher.
The animosity against unions is a bit hard to fathom as it’s said here.
My union brothers and sisters make solid wages in plumbing and power.
Their union supported wages and benefits allow them to purchase homes and raise kids.
WTF?
Peop,e here don’t want skilled labor to make money and raise families?
Labor unions foment those conditions.
I love this treehouse and am happy to argue with those here who think unions are bad for the country.
God bless you all and peace be with you.
Think about the question you just asked. A government cannot be held to a bargain agreement. The government is only held accountable in ways described under the Constitution. The Constitution does not allow the powers defined within to be limited or controlled in any other way.
Collective agreements? No. Not ever under the U.S. Constitution. What do you call it when people in government conspire against POTUS? Isn’t the power to strike or to undermine a president what you’re talking about? When their orders come from the president, they should be followed and if they cannot follow them, they should resign. But if instead they act subversively against the government there is a name for it which cannot be justified as “collective bargaining.”
Public workers’ unions are scandalous.
You have the union on one side of the table negotiating with a politician who wants their vote on the other.
The private sector taxpayer isn’t even in the room.
The AFL/CIO came out against public sector unions a long time ago.
Unions in the US got started in the 1930’s because of egregious abuses by large industrial employers.
The problem is that unions evolved into corrupt organizations straitjacketing US manufacturing with rigid underperforming wherever they took hold.
Now a unionized plant is corrupted by the union on both sides: Corporate management and employees. A hostile negative environment.
In the federal government unions help prevent wrongdoing by protecting employees from abusive managers. However as with industry this is also corrupted by certain employees.
The dollar has lost 96% of its value since unions were codified into law. Coincidence? Perhaps.
I’m retired and spent my last 21 working years as a “union” member. I have lived the before and after and I have nothing good to say about them.
Perfectly said. I’m in the same boat.
Imagine if cops, teachers, firemen, bureaucrats could all go on strike.
The union sits down with the politicians to settle the strike, who represents the taxpayers at the negotiating table?
Nurses used to do it.
No unions! Sorry sucker!
Lessons from history, mafia, jimmy Hoffa, etc? Didn’t learn from this?
They are a threat to the Constitution.
Trump should permanently sever employment of as many government employees as he can. They are all Democrats. Virtually all of Washington D.C. voted for HRC. Go full scorched earth!! Cut them all loose.
The Evil Hunchback Cockroach Schumer knows that the blacks will start chimping out and looting, um. er, uh, I mean “peacefully protesting” once SNAP/EBT runs out. He’s counting on it.
How many hundreds of thousands of government employees?
DEMON-CRATS
“TURN OUT THE LIGHTS THE PARTY IS OVER !”