GESTA/Local 29 Members, IFPTE Int'l Join Maryland Congressional Delegation for Gov't Shutdown Press Conference

GESTA/IFPTE Local 29 members with Senator Chris Van Hollen

On October 1, GESTA/IFPTE Local 29 members joined AFSCME members and IFPTE international staff, Faraz Khan and Brian Kildee, on Capitol Hill at a press conference sponsored by members of the Maryland Congressional delegation regarding the damage that the government shutdown is inflicting on federal employees. 

The event, held on the Senate side of Capitol Hill, was attended by both Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, as well as Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, and Sarah Elfreth.  One IFPTE-represented engineer expressed concerns that hundreds of thousands of other federal employees also have, stating, "Mortgage payments are always going to be lingering in the back of your mind. How are we going to make this paycheck work? Or not having that paycheck to make your mortgage payment work?"  Legislative Director, Faraz Khan, also weighed-in as to the guidance and helpful information that is normally provided to federal workers during a shutdown but not being provided now, saying, "One of the things that's remarkable to us to see in this shutdown is the lack of information, the lack of planning, the lack of sharing of standard documents you would get from federal agencies about what the shutdown plans would be.”  IFPTE will continue to be at the forefront, working to bring transparency to the impact this shutdown is having on our members.   

'Completely foreseeable' - Maryland congressional delegation reacts to government shutdown (WBAL TV)