The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), which has a membership of 600,000, has announced its support for the Federal Employees Civil Relief Act. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Representatives Brendan F. Boyle (D-Pa.) and Emily Randall (D-Wash.), with a companion bill sponsored by Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii).
The proposed law aims to protect federal employees and contractors from financial challenges that can arise during government shutdowns or when the federal debt limit is breached. The act would temporarily suspend civil liabilities, including rent, mortgage payments, student loans, and tax obligations, for workers who are furloughed or required to work without pay. The legislation also seeks to prevent evictions, foreclosures, credit penalties, and the loss of insurance coverage for affected workers.
IAM Union International President Brian Bryant said, “Every time there’s a government shutdown, the people who keep our country running — the men and women who maintain our aircraft, protect our borders, care for our veterans, and serve our communities — are forced to pay the price. The IAM Union strongly supports the Federal Employees Civil Relief Act because no federal employee or contractor should face eviction, foreclosure, or financial ruin for simply doing their jobs. We thank Representatives Boyle and Randall, and Senator Schatz, for standing up for the dignity and security of working people who deserve protection from political brinkmanship.”
The IAM Union represents more than 100,000 federal employees and federal service contract workers throughout the United States, including those who maintain military aircraft, operate national parks, and provide essential public services. The union has regularly advocated for policies to protect the financial stability of these workers during lapses in government funding.
The Federal Employees Civil Relief Act is modeled after existing protections given to military service members under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. It would pause financial obligations and civil proceedings for the duration of a shutdown and for 30 days afterward, aiming to give workers greater security during uncertain periods.
