Is this the solution ??

[kentuck]

The TSA Union walks off the job. They refuse to work without pay.

The people stand behind them.

[guillaumeb]

1. An illegal walkout/work stoppage.

Generally prohibited by law, agency specific contract, and the Code of Ethical Conduct.

[kentuck]

3. Absolutely!

But I would bet you a dollar that it doesn't say in the contract that the workers have to work for nothing.

Wanna bet?

[obamanut2012]

4. They will be fired, and lose all benefits and pension

They also cannot picket, except for informational picketing on their days off.

[kentuck]

6. Meaningless.

Because they are not being paid to be there. They would have to take it to Court. But, sometimes you have to take a stand. You cannot be a rug and let people walk all over you.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

21. didn't a court already rule on this?

[mcar]

16. How long will airports be shut down while new agents are hired/trained?

during a shutdown when there is no new hiring/training?

[Wellstone ruled]

20. You just posted the real facts.

They would be fired and all pensions and other rights would be gone at the time of dismissal.

[guillaumeb]

5. True, but reporting for work is covered.

And failure to report triggers a charge of "failure to maintain a regular work schedule".

Speaking as a retired Union representative with 33 years of experience.

[Dan]

10. Well, there is nothing that can prevent this...

I show up for work, and within 20 minutes, I feel sick and I have to go home...severe case of something....

[guillaumeb]

14. True, but agencies have rules governing unscheduled absences.

And a supervisor might mandate that the employee return with appropriate documentation.

[Dan]

23. Then maybe, we as a nation

Should stage a nation wide strike in support?

[guillaumeb]

24. Agreed. A sympathy strike? eom

[KPN]

30. Seems to me that the federal government has invalidated its own regulation/law in this instance

by not providing remuneration to its workforce for labor. It's possible a lawsuit against (enjoining) enforcement of the law in this instance could well be successful. I'm not an attorney though.

[guillaumeb]

34. I am not an attorney either. eom

[sarcasmo]

33. When you aren't being paid do the laws apply?

[guillaumeb]

35. The Code of Ethical Conduct applies to behavior on and off duty. eom

[sarcasmo]

36. If I'm not being paid, the employer has violated the Ethical Conduct code.

[guillaumeb]

37. I understand your frustration.

But I was a Union Representative for over 33 years in a Federal Agency, and my replies simply reflect how employee conduct is regulated.

[sarcasmo]

41. My Dad was GM 35 years (electrician) I know he would have never worked with no pay.

[KPN]

38. Depends on what law you are breaking. In this case, are you actually an "employee" if you are not

being paid for your labor?

[safeinOhio]

2. They may have a case.

Unpaid lock in.

[malaise]

7. Many people no longer have money for day care for kids, money for food or

money for gas. No one could make me work without pay.

[kentuck]

8. The government broke its contract with these workers.

They should strike.

[malaise]

11. I agree

Once airports are shutdown, this shit is over.

[guillaumeb]

15. Strikes are illegal for Federal employees. eom

[scheming daemons]

25. The 13th amendment makes being forced to work without pay illegal

It is literally slavery.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

26. +1

[KPN]

31. Exactly. The government has a legal responsibility to remunerate its employees for their labor that

it has failed to live up to. Wouldn't that breach of implied contract ordinarily negate reciprocal obligations on the part of employees?

What stands in the way of doing this is not that there is a good legal case for employees not reporting to work until they are paid for prior work periods, it's that whoever does that is taking a risk that Trump will pull a Reagan and fire whoever does that and that a court at some level (read: SCOTUS) may find in the "government's" favor. That is why this needs to be a massive if not universal walkout/strike.

[malaise]

9. Here's a good read

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/opinion/its-time-for-tsa-workers-to-strike.html

[kentuck]

12. Thanks for that link!

I have always been a fan of Barbara Ehrenreich.

[malaise]

17. I love that she differentiates between striking and striking for withdrawal of pay

The Con will lose this one in court.

[jeffreyi]

13. Remember the air traffic controllers strike?

Reagan years. Didn't work. Pick your battles.

[malaise]

18. That was not about withdrawal of pay

by the Federal government

[KPN]

32. Bingo! Breach of implied contract on the part of government.

[kentuck]

19. Has there been a battle since Reagan?

I guess unions are just supposed to lay down and die?

[jeffreyi]

22. Just saying

My opinion: If they walk off the job, they will be fired, with great glee and much publicity. I don't know what they should do. I'm all for a country shutdown...national strike... myself, somehow get some purchase on the bastards, but do not know how this can be pulled off. I think their intent is government wreckage, the wall is an excuse. This must have been planned for awhile. Next step...a war? Economic ruin?

[greymattermom]

27. I'm sure many if not all of them are applying for jobs.

And maybe some will walk off when they get something else. So, are they training new TSA agents during the shut down?

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

28. What would the Kennedys have done?

We don't know bc they were murdered in cold blood for trying to do the right thing. Why is it always the Democrats who suffer the hard/heart rending lessons? But we give a shit about dons alleged 'base'? Ever notice how the president thinks he's entitled to get all his "campaign promises" but Ds always have to somehow bend down their expectations or not get them at all? Who says a pres gets to enact all his campaign promises? Especially when the basis for his supposed election is fraudulent? How is 1/3rd of the vote and cheating a mandate for anything? Why is America going along with this everyday? It's our own fault for not stopping him. A nationwide work stoppage would force answers VERY VERY quickly. You can bet. According to the unemployment numbers...theres jobs all over and not enough people to fill them....but we worry they will fill these? I thought everyone was happily employed in this nation? Folks I know who work for the TSA are far from Liberal, and got hired intitially under Bushes war mongering. Maybe some Ds will finally get hired? We ARE 2/3rds..at least. If they were 2/3rds...they'd be in the streets burning shit down for not getting whatever the F they want. At least we should get out there and put feet on the ground and get loud about this. The longer he gets to have a tantrum and the nation makes it ok...it's on all of us. We aren't his property and neither is our govt. Wonder what the pay scale is in russia? Better check bc it's coming to a job near you. Then all this doesnt mean anything anyway. At some point, we need to move on our gut feelings. IMHO.

[dubyadiprecession]

29. "Being paid for work done" should be a basic stipulation in their contract.

This might prevent dipshits like trump from shutting down the government in the first place!

[2naSalit]

39. As a former gov't worker

in three different agencies, there is language in your employment agreement which states that such activities will be met with removal of employment and benefits. You can quit and you can try to strike but you have signed on, much like joining the military, agreeing to these conditions and rules. There are big consequences for not adhering to them that follow you around, which ain't good if like civil service work. You sign away some of your regukar citizen rights when agreeing to work in civil service and you take the oath of office and you are expected to honor the agreement or face federal consequences.

I had a friend once who was a PATCO employee and was fired by RonieRaygun, he suffered for many years for that. And he was in Vietnam before that.

It his hard to be employed by the government and find ways to participate in civil disobedience.

[TexasBushwhacker]

40. I'm just stunned that payment for services rendered

isn't part of the contract.

[2naSalit]

42. It is not. Not even mentioned.