We, dues-paying members of AFGE, dissent from AFGE’s messaging about the federal government shutdown, which does not acknowledge the reasons for the shutdown. AFGE has consistently written members to encourage us to rally and call our congresspeople to demand an immediate end to the shutdown, at any cost. But AFGE does not appear to have tallied the opinions of rank-and-file members or local leaders prior to taking this stance. AFGE has failed to stress the importance of passing a budget that protects Americans’ healthcare, the public services that federal employees provide, our rights as federal employees, and our Constitutional system of checks and balances, all of which this administration has attacked and attempted to dismantle since January. AFGE’s unconditional calls to end the shutdown serve only to pressure our congressional allies to give up on the fight for a better budget for federal employees and all Americans.

As public servants, we cannot support a policy position that puts our right to an on-time paycheck above the basic rights of all Americans to affordable healthcare, or accelerates unconstitutional overreach by the executive branch. As union members, we should be using this opportunity to urge Congress to defend issues that matter to working people — including current federal employees and our colleagues who have been illegally fired. Accordingly, we call on AFGE leadership to stop demanding an immediate end to the shutdown and instead support those in Congress who are brave enough to stand up to this administration and are fighting to protect the American public. We look forward to hearing from leadership about how you plan to represent the views of bargaining unit employees.

In solidarity,