The lowest-paid shutdown workers aren't getting back pay

[Ringo84]

Let's this be a lesson how much a problem, being a dependent on the federal government can be, it can literally starve you if there a shutdown that goes a while, the best thing to do is transfer many of these agencies and workforces into the private sector.

Yeah! Why have a federal workforce? All those people are just leeches on the system!
Ringo

 

[Orthodoxjay1]

Yeah! Why have a federal workforce? All those people are just leeches on the system!
Ringo

You once again misunderstand me. I am saying that if these jobs were privatized or partly privatized, and these folks could be contracted on there skills, then the pain would be less with a shutdown. Being dependent on the state, also means to expect to deal with inconveniences such as shutdowns, and as the national debt rises, we will have more shutdowns in the coming years, save, invest, prepare, moonlight in the market place, for example a secret service agent skills are very prized after for private security in clubs or by certain people.

 

[Hank77]

Let's this be a lesson how much a problem, being a dependent on the federal government can be, it can literally starve you if there a shutdown that goes a while, the best thing to do is transfer many of these agencies and workforces into the private sector.

Thousands of the people who were not paid and may not be paid work in the private sector.

 

[Hank77]

Let's this be a lesson how much a problem, being a dependent on the federal government can be, it can literally starve you if there a shutdown that goes a while, the best thing to do is transfer many of these agencies and workforces into the private sector.

The border fence is being built by private contractors being paid by the US government. Should people not work for these contractors?

Customs and Border Protection awarded two contracts worth a total of $312 million to SLSCO Ltd. of Galveston, Texas, to build the barriers.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/new...trumps-border-barriers-built-2019/2389940002/

 

[PloverWing]

Let's this be a lesson how much a problem, being a dependent on the federal government can be, it can literally starve you if there a shutdown that goes a while, the best thing to do is transfer many of these agencies and workforces into the private sector.

As it happens, I was listening to a radio piece about contract workers on the way to work this morning, before tulc posted. Apparently, it's become common in the private sector, as well, to use contractors for the jobs that aren't part of a company's main mission -- cleaning staff, food service, etc. It makes a kind of sense to specialize that way: We're a widget manufacturer, not a cleaning company, so instead of hiring cleaning staff directly, we'll focus on making widgets, and we'll hire a cleaning company to do our cleaning. But it makes it hard for the cleaning workers to unionize, and the workers are more vulnerable than they used to be.

I don't have a link, alas (I was driving down the road, after all), but the conversation was similar to this NPR series: The Rise Of The Contract Workers

I hadn't even thought of how many contract workers would be affected by the government shutdown, and that they might not get their back pay.

Next time there's a government shutdown, I propose that the president and all the members of Congress be issued a toilet plunger and a mop, and be required to do all their own janitorial work until they come to a settlement.

 

[Ringo84]

Privatization of the federal workforce. What could possibly go wrong?
Ringo

 

[PloverWing]

The border fence is being built by private contractors being paid by the US government. Should people not work for these contractors?

Y'know, there's a thought... <evil grin>

 

[Orthodoxjay1]

Privatization of the federal workforce. What could possibly go wrong?
Ringo

Nothing , as long as they are paid in full for their work, contracted , and , and everyone can compete who ever work hardest , get the highest wage, I call it competing wages.

 

[Orthodoxjay1]

As it happens, I was listening to a radio piece about contract workers on the way to work this morning, before tulc posted. Apparently, it's become common in the private sector, as well, to use contractors for the jobs that aren't part of a company's main mission -- cleaning staff, food service, etc. It makes a kind of sense to specialize that way: We're a widget manufacturer, not a cleaning company, so instead of hiring cleaning staff directly, we'll focus on making widgets, and we'll hire a cleaning company to do our cleaning. But it makes it hard for the cleaning workers to unionize, and the workers are more vulnerable than they used to be.

I don't have a link, alas (I was driving down the road, after all), but the conversation was similar to this NPR series: The Rise Of The Contract Workers

I hadn't even thought of how many contract workers would be affected by the government shutdown, and that they might not get their back pay.

Next time there's a government shutdown, I propose that the president and all the members of Congress be issued a toilet plunger and a mop, and be required to do all their own janitorial work until they come to a settlement.

There would be no union if Federal workers had right to work laws.

 

[Sparagmos]

The lowest-paid shutdown workers aren't getting back pay

tulc( )

Federal Subcontractors Deserve Shutdown Protections

Something easy people can do to help.

 

[Sparagmos]

True, I'd guess the op would not have been as effective if that part were disclosed.

I feel bad for these workers too, but didn't they know this when they signed up as private contractors? Aren't there actually advantages to being a private contractor? I mean they can't have the best of both worlds.

As far as the lady that didn't have enough food, something is wrong there, why can't she simply go on food stamps? Especially with those kids...should be very easy to get them, and get them quickly.

The OP wasn’t misleading at all, in my opinion.

People who accept low wage work don’t have the luxury of not taking a job because of the chance if a government shutdown. I doubt most of them even knew that was a possibility when they took the job.

It can take up to a month to get food stamps, and I’m not even sure temporary layoffs would be eligible.

I think most Americans want low wage contract workers to be paid, just as those who work directly for the government will be paid. The principle is the same and they are even more vulnerable.

 

[Sparagmos]

Thanks, I see, and I can only hope the contractor made it clear to their employees what could happen before hand, because that is a lot of money to do without if we aren't prepared for it.

The contractors don’t make it clear. They don’t talk about it at all.

 

[Sparagmos]

Let's this be a lesson how much a problem, being a dependent on the federal government can be, it can literally starve you if there a shutdown that goes a while, the best thing to do is transfer many of these agencies and workforces into the private sector.

Like which agencies?

 

[Sparagmos]

There would be no union if Federal workers had right to work laws.

Yup, right to work laws kill unions, and wages and benefits are lower in right to work states as a result.

 

[Sparagmos]

You once again misunderstand me. I am saying that if these jobs were privatized or partly privatized, and these folks could be contracted on there skills, then the pain would be less with a shutdown. Being dependent on the state, also means to expect to deal with inconveniences such as shutdowns, and as the national debt rises, we will have more shutdowns in the coming years, save, invest, prepare, moonlight in the market place, for example a secret service agent skills are very prized after for private security in clubs or by certain people.

They are privatized. This whole situation (contacted workers not getting paid) is the result of the work being privatized. They work for private companies.

 

[Kenny'sID]

It can take up to a month to get food stamps,

It can, but that has little to do with what I stated.

 

[Kenny'sID]

The contractors don’t make it clear. They don’t talk about it at all.

That doesn't surprise me.

 

[Sparagmos]

It can, but that has little to do with what I stated.

Clearly it does:

As far as the lady that didn't have enough food, something is wrong there, why can't she simply go on food stamps? Especially with those kids...should be very easy to get them, and get them quickly.

I’ll repeat: it can take up to a month to get food stsmps.

 

[Kenny'sID]

Clearly it does:



I’ll repeat: it can take up to a month to get food stsmps.

And I'll repeat, that month has little to do with what I said, those I mentioned can get it in as little as a week.

 

[Queller]

'Donny' has zero to do with them getting their pay. Besides, it's the dems that voted down every pay vote for the federal workers during the shutdown. Even if they were to come to a vote, it would never pass anyway.

Are you not aware that Trump has to sign any legislation that awards back pay to federal workers? He very much has something to do with it.