AFL-CIO Applauds Passage of Loan Program for Federal Workers

Sal Luciano, President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, made the following statement in response to the legislature passing legislation to create an interest-free loan program for federal workers impacted by the federal government shutdown:

“We applaud Gov. Lamont and the legislature for recognizing the severity of the problem facing our unpaid federal workers during the shutdown and quickly creating a no-interest loan program. The bill passed by the legislature is an important stopgap measure to help our federal workers as they try to pay their bills, put food on the table, and take care of their families.

“This shutdown is completely unacceptable and unnecessary. The approximately 1,500 federal workers in Connecticut have already missed one paycheck and are likely to miss many more through no fault of their own.

“But even though the Governor and the legislature are doing the right thing by helping workers in our state, this does not excuse President Trump or Senate Majority Leader McConnell from doing their jobs. They need to end this shutdown and re-open the government immediately. They are not only hurting workers for the federal government, they are hurting our local communities.

“Those furloughed and those forced to work without pay make this country run. They protect us when we fly, they guard our prisons, they inspect our food, and they take care of our veterans. They deserve better.”

# # #