In Boston, Pressley Convened Workers, Patients, & Advocates to Underscore Impact, Demand Republicans Re-Open Government

Pressley Also Introduced Bill to Provide Back Pay for Federal Contractors, Including Low-Wage Food Service and Janitorial Staff

Video (YouTube) | Photo (Dropbox)

BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) convened an emergency meeting in Boston with workers, patients, labor leaders, and advocates to sound the alarm on the harm of Republicans’ government shutdown on workers and families from the Massachusetts 7th. Rep. Pressley and partners hosted a roundtable discussion and press conference highlighting the harmful impact of the Republican shutdown on the healthcare and livelihoods of families across the district. 

This morning, Congresswoman Pressley, along with Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), also introduced legislation to secure back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who face furloughs and missed paychecks when the federal government is shutdown. Unlike federal employees, the thousands of federal contract workers—including janitorial, food, and security services workers—have no assurances that they will receive back pay to make up for their loss of hours and pay during a shutdown. It is estimated that more than 327,000 federal contractors make under $15/per hour. 

“The hurt and harm of this Republican-manufactured government shutdown is being felt all across our district, with workers and families seeing their lives and livelihoods threatened thanks to Donald Trump’s cruelty,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “While Republicans move with contempt for the people and push our country into a dangerous shutdown, I’m centering the people most impacted and fighting daily to reopen the government, keep essential services running, and mitigate the shameful healthcare crisis Republicans created. I’m so grateful for the solidarity of our workers, families, and labor leaders across from across the Massachusetts 7^th.”

Joining Congresswoman Pressley at the meeting today were Roxana Rivera, Assistant to the President, SEIU 32BJ; Nick Smith, VP at SEIU 1199; Lilly Simmons, President of AFGE local 3428; Ellen Mei, National Treasury Employees Union and Federal Unionist Network (FUN); Kyle Engels, National Federation of Federal Employees NFFE and Federal Unionist Network (FUN); Jay Trivedi, Uphams Corner Community Care; Guy Fish, Codman Square CHC; Sean Cahill, Fenway Health; Matt Mullaney, Charles River CHC; Charles Murphy, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center; Jeannette McWilliams, MGB Chelsea Health Center; Jennifer Lemmerman, Project Bread; and workers, patients, labor leaders, and advocates from across Massachusetts.

“The Republicans who control the House, Senate and White House are hurting American workers coming and going. Because the Republicans will not extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, over 22 million Americans will soon see their health care premiums skyrocket by an average of 75%, including many 32BJ members working at Logan Airport, where baggage handlers, airline cabin cleaners and others must depend on state-sponsored healthcare even when they work full-time,” said 32BJ SEIU Assistant to the President Roxana Rivera.  “Instead of negotiating honestly to relieve these workers, Republicans have created a shutdown that also harms many of our union’s approximately 2,400 federally contracted security officers, office cleaners, and food service workers. Not only do they earn less than direct federal employees, they are also ineligible to receive backpay. That is why we are so thankful to Congresswoman Pressley for re-introducing legislation she originally co-sponsored that would restore lost income to contracted government workers who were furloughed or had their hours cut. There is no reason these hard workers should permanently suffer from Republican recklessness.”

“Republican leaders created this crisis when they decided to rip healthcare away from millions of working families to fund a trillion dollars in tax breaks for billionaires and the ultra-rich. And now, they’ve chosen to shut down our government because they refuse to lower healthcare costs for our families,” said Nick Smith, Vice President of Community Care at 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. “We need lower prices, not higher medical bills. We need to support healthcare workers, not strip them of their own healthcare coverage. We need to stop health insurance premiums from going up and protect Medicaid; not give more tax breaks to billionaires.”

“Food access is foundational to good health, and many families who are already struggling to put food on the table are being hit from every direction: rising costs, cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, and now the shutdown. Project Bread remains committed to supporting sustainable solutions like SNAP and school meals, but families in Massachusetts should not be forced into crisis by political gridlock,” said Jennifer Lemmerman, Chief Policy Officer at Project Bread, the leading food security organization in Massachusetts. “No one should have to choose between paying for medicine and putting food on the table. This is not a partisan issue—we are advocating for dignity, health, and survival.”

“The shutdown is the latest in the assault that we’ve been feeling as federal workers. Since January, federal workers across all agencies have been threatened with layoffs and office closures. We have seen so many of our co-workers walk out the door because of the uncertainty of if we’ll be RIFed next month or forced to relocate. Being understaffed as we are, our government has already been partially shut down. We are federal workers because we took an oath to serve and protect the American people. We want to work every day to provide services to help the American public,” said Ellen Mei, National Treasury Employees Union and Federal Unionist Network (FUN). “As a chapter president representing members at the Food and Nutrition Service, we understand that good nutrition and good health are inexplicably tied together. A mother on WIC needs to be able to buy baby formula for her infant child and also needs to be able to afford pediatrician visits.”

“Patients we serve rely on Medicaid, Marketplace insurance, and food assistance to stay healthy. Cuts or disruptions to these programs will hit them hardest,” said Jordina Shanks, CEO of Fenway Health. “Families deserve stable, reliable care—and our country deserves a budget that protects access and invests in long-term, equitable solutions for all.”

Footage of the roundtable is available here and video of the press conference is available here. Photos from the event are available here.

Without action by Donald Trump and Congress, many of the Affordable Care Act tax credits that help lower the cost of premiums will expire soon and tens of thousands of people in the Massachusetts 7th will see huge premium increases. In the Massachusetts 7^th Congressional District:

• 29,000 people will see their health care costs rise if Republicans let these critical tax credits expire; and
• 35,512 people will lose health coverage because of Republican cuts to MassHealth in the Big Ugly Law and their plot to gut the Affordable Care Act.

This week, Rep. Pressley rallied with advocates, colleagues, and impacted folks to demand Republicans protect healthcare and keep the government open.

Congresswoman Pressley stood in solidarity with workers and families who would be impacted by the government shutdown.

Rep. Pressley also joined an all-day event with House Democrats to hold the line against Trump and Republicans’ efforts to rip away healthcare from millions of Americans.

Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning Republicans after they chose to shut down the government rather than work with Democrats to protect families and save healthcare for millions.

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