The government is days away from a Nov. 18 shutdown, which could force Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees and federal air traffic controllers to work without pay just as the busy Thanksgiving travel season begins.

  • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
    1·
    8 months ago

    They have always been paid back, but they are not legally required to be paid back.

    They do it because if they didn’t, they would have mass quieting, i.e actual consequences. Refusing to backpay even once would end this shutdown game forever because 99% of “essential” workers would walk the fuck off immediately the next time.

    Congress fully understand what fuckery they are up to, and are 100% counting on people not calling them on their bullshit.

    • FlowVoid@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      8 months ago

      they are not legally required to be paid back.

      Employees who are forced to work have always been legally entitled to payment for their work after the shutdown ends.

      In past shutdowns, employees who were furloughed (forced to stay home) were not legally entitled to payment after the shutdown, but nevertheless were paid as if they had shown up. As of 2019, they are now legally entitled too.