WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii)and 13 Senate Democrats unveiling their “Five Fights for Federal Employees,” a proposal to protect current and retired government workers from ideologically motivated attacks from Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration.
This resolution is a statement of principles that Senate Democrats intend to use to fight back against Republican attacks on the federal workforce. These principles include a commitment to defend fair pay and earned benefits, oppose the erosion of essential protections that ensure the professionalism and independence of the civil service, and prevent the outsourcing of essential government functions to private contractors.
Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) cosponsored the resolution.
A number of prominent labor unions and organizations support this proposal, including AFGE, AFSCME, IFPTE, NARFE, NWSEO, and NTEU.
“On behalf of the 90,000 members of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), I support Senator Hirono’s resolution recognizing the contributions of federal employees and pledging to fight against all legislative attacks aimed at our nation’s civilian workers,” said Gregory Junemann, IFPTE President.
“The federal workers here in Hawaii applaud Senator Hirono for leading such a comprehensive resolution that aims to protect our compensation, retirement, health care, and overall worker protections. We thank her for her steadfast support of our work, and our jobs,” said IFPTE Local 121 President, Jamie Hiranaka.
“NARFE applauds Senator Hirono's efforts to recognize the value the federal workforce provides to the American public, and to fight back against actions that would weaken it and scapegoat these hard-working public servants,” said NARFE President Richard G. Thissen.
"The men and women of the National Weather Service work 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to ensure that the American people receive warnings of severe weather. Like many other highly trained scientists and professional employed by the Federal government, they could have chosen less demanding and more highly paid jobs elsewhere, and would be at home on Christmas morning instead of issuing blizzard warnings. They appreciate the recognition that Senator Hirono’s resolution offers,” said Dan Sobien, President of NWSEO.
