Facing a potential shutdown in late December is all too familiar. NTEU issued a survey to gauge our members’ thoughts on what another holiday shutdown means to them. More than 6,200 members answered our call.
“The pain from the record shutdown one year ago is just too fresh, and now even the mere chance of another is alarming to federal employees again this holiday season,” said National President Tony Reardon. “Congress and the administration should know that the longer we go without an agreement to fund the government, the greater the anxiety of millions of people in every state and community who rely on our federal government to function properly.”
Key insights from our survey show:
53 percent say a late December shutdown will interrupt or cancel holiday travel or annual leave;
63 percent say regularly occurring shutdowns make them consider leaving federal employment;
72 percent have cut back on spending; and
82 percent are worried about their ability to pay their bills if they were to miss a paycheck.
The NTEU survey also revealed anxiety over lost productivity at the workplace and the impact on Americans who rely on them to deliver government services.
NTEU released the results at a press call last week, where Government Executive, Federal Times, Federal Computer Weekly and more covered our findings.
As one member said, “Our paychecks should not be held or utilized like hostages for negotiation.”