Largest federal workers union calls for an end to the shutdown, putting pressure on Democrats

[everyonematters]

Source: NBC News

WASHINGTON — The country’s largest union representing federal workers is calling for lawmakers to pass a short-term spending measure to immediately end the government shutdown, urging Democrats to abandon their current position and join Republicans in supporting a stopgap solution.

“Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,” American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley wrote in a statement first shared with NBC News. “It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/afge-largest-federal-workers-union-end-shutdown-rcna239767

[Walleye]

1. They always say "a clean continuing resolution" part of their marketing strategy like clean coal

[MarineCombatEngineer]

2. So Everett Kelley's solution is for the Democrats to cave?

FUCK THAT!!!
If Democrats were to cave now, then the ACA subsidies disappear, med. ins. rises dramatically and people start losing their health ins., plus, you just know that the repigs would renege on any promise they make to "negotiate" an extension to the subsidies, and to top it off, we would get our asses kicked in the mid terms because many voters will say fuck it, why should I vote if the Dems keep caving to the repigs.

This guy needs to STFU.

[William Seger]

9. Kinda like King #rump's solution to the Ukrainian invasion, huh (nt)

[chouchou]

16. What you say..MarineCombatEngineer...is as true as the proverbial "Water is Wet" You laid it down!

[turbinetree]

3. I wonder if Kelly knows anything about Victory Gardens..........and as for passing a clean continuing resolution....

you want to bargain with a party that denied a sitting president under the advise and consent rule, ask McConnel...............you want to have a clean resolution, that just stiffed 42 million people from a food program, you want to have clean resolution, that has assholes mind you passing a law taking over 500 billion out of MEDICARE, for seniors that isn't even in the media radar screen in there reporting this up coming Jan 1st happy New Year BS...........
I have idea Kelly why don't you come up with an idea that asks for every "NON FEDERAL" worker in the aviation industry to go on a general strike for lets say two weeks and see what happens .................this country has never had a general strike, maybe it's time...............because you know what some of those CEOs' gave money to the same people that want to take away food from kids............and attack seniors...............and they want to take down your union................and as for negotiating you want to negotiate with people that gave a convicted 34 count fraudster a pass by not throwing him out on his ear, not once but twice during impeachment hearings, who incited a insurrection and had stolen classified documents and you want a clean bill from those people............that set him free to do what he and them are doing now.................and as a former union member.................this is disgusting about a clean resolution........of get along............. going along...........there past actions say otherwise.................

[Autumn]

4. They should put pressure on their fucking republicans. Federal workers are no better than

troops, sick people and people on snap.

[valleyrogue]

5. They need to put pressure on the fascists, er, Republican Party.

THAT is where the problem lies.

[patphil]

6. How about having the republicans abandon their current position and join with the Democrats...

in passing a resolution that restores ACA, Medicaid and Medicare money.

Capitulation by the Democrats at this point will only embolden the republicans to do more to wreck these programs.
It will be the end of any ability to reign in the move towards fascism in this country.

[denvine]

7. Thanks Everett Kelly

You just gave the Republicans the gift they were hoping for! I guess pressuring the Republicans would have been out of the question!

[chowder66]

8. Democrats are avoiding HALF MEASURES via their stance!!

[Silent Type]

10. Unions have not been our friends in the past year.

[yaesu]

30. sadly the vast majority of union members I worked with are tRump humpers so I agree. nt

[Hotler]

11. This country voted for an orange convict, The whole country needs to share the pain.

Think of it this way, you're getting a new ballroom.

[Miguelito Loveless]

12. No, caving would be suicidal

[marble falls]

13. All that needs to be done is for the Speaker of the House to call it back into session.

[republianmushroom]

14. Why on Democrats ? The repukes control both the House and Senate.

Why Democrats ? Just the damn media.

[Initech]

15. It's the fucking republicans and their news network propagandist masters that need to end this.

And they also started it.

[angrychair]

17. What is happening with federal unions?

You know what? I started to write all this stuff but fuck it. I'm done. Democrats need to give up and just let Republicans do whatever they want. Never vote for or against it but never filibuster it or stop it. No compromises or negotiations, just pure, unfiltered, Republican grift.
People have no idea how much pain and suffering Democrats are currently preventing but it's time the federal unions and everyone else to find out

[Prairie Gates]

18. The Dems will give up the shut down by the end of the week

This is a big turning point. As long as they had federal workers on board, it could go on. Now, they'll have to fold. They will ideally make such a big deal of the ACA subsidies that the GOP will have to provide something for the open enrollment period.

Let's be clear: I want them to hold the line. However, I doubt they'll be able to keep everyone in line with this union asking them to fold.

[yaesu]

29. that would be the end of ACA and our party, I don't think they will cave because the Union is being misrepresented by

their leaders.

[Dangling0826]

19. People need to start putting pressure on Everett Kelley let him know what they think of his capitulation

If the Dems give up now what message will that send to the republicans and Trump? What do you think it will do to the base I will tell you people will just give up why should i work to elect you if you are not going to fight for me just like what happened in the mid terms of 2010 The democrats need to show us they are fighters do that and we will fight for them.

[Vinca]

20. I think there's a tipping point that goes from good to bad for Democrats and we might be at it. Before ending

the shutdown, though, Democrats need to have a well televised press conference and tell the American people in no uncertain terms who is to blame for their health insurance premiums going through the roof. We're between a rock and a hard place. Can't let people on SNAP starve to death and can't let federal workers end up living on the street, but on the other hand there's a GOP majority in Congress that will only do what Trump allows them to do. We have to keep bashing away at them. If the shutdown ends, Congress would, I hope, go back in session and our new Congressperson will, I hope, be worn in. Then use the Epstein leverage.

[Silent Type]

32. They should have had weekly press conferences from the day the votes were in.

[Torchlight]

21. All GOP has to do is come to the table. They refuse. It's on them.

All else is noise for the sake of noise.

[Jbraybarten]

23. Republicans don't need Democrats to end it (and have excluded Dems entirely anyway)

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

24. I'd be interested in knowing if this is the result of the entire union being surveyed or

is the action of the executive board. It is entirely possible the rank and file don't feel this way and the director (maybe the R's got to him) is acting out of line.....

[Torchlight]

25. Has the time come? Has the GOP proved its point and time for them to end the shutdown?

[Raven123]

26. So their answer is to solve no problem. Got it

[CousinIT]

27. THERE IS NO "clean" resolution. And Democrats have NO POWER to open gov't.

REPUBLICANS do.

They can go into a Senate session TODAY, suspend the filibuster and OPEN THE GOVERNMENT this afternoon.

DEMOCRATS cannot.

[yaesu]

28. Dems don't hold the House or Senate, its not their call, its the fascists that are shutting gov down. If Union leaders

and members can't figure that out then too bad, healthcare and our future depends on Dems holding strong.

[lostincalifornia]

34. yup. The rethugs could actually negotiate with the Democrats, or get rid of the filibuster. Too bad

our illustrious media doesn't report that. Instead they prefer to push the republican hogwash.

[Turbineguy]

31. Trump is so pro-union.

He would never fuck over those union members.

[lostincalifornia]

33. Perhaps someone should inform Kelly that this is ALL on the rethugs. They have two options.

1. Negotiate with the Democrats.
2. Get rid of the filibuster, and see if they will let Americans lose their healthcare coverage.

It is really that simple.

Gee, for someone who is president of the union, he sure doesn't seem to realize who controls this bullshit.

[PSPS]

35. Some union. Its members are going to be fired anyway even with no shutdown.

Keep it shut down. Keep it ALL shut down.