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In cases where unions are involved, the terms of the furloughs are usually negotiated with the unions beforehand. I don't know about contractors specifically, but for civil servants, their unions were definitely involved in the furlough negotiations during sequestration. In this case I don't know how much they'd get to say since the entire federal government has shut down and the issues go all the way to the highest parts of the government.

Also keep in mind furloughs are not layoffs - just unpaid leave.



>Also keep in mind furloughs are not layoffs - just unpaid leave.

they pay back the salary for the furloughed days once shutdown ends - at least that happened to gov employees after previous shutdowns


Correct. They only do this for government employees not contractors. Contractors don't get paid.

I went through the shutdown back in the 90s as a contractor working at the Whitehouse and we all got sent home without pay. If you had saved up vacation you could use that, otherwise you didn't get paid and there was no back pay for the furlough period. We basically got laid off for that time period, whereas the government employees got a paid vacation.


>they pay back the salary for the furloughed days once shutdown ends

And here I thought that the sliver lining of the shutdown was that the government would spend less taxpayer money this year!

So much for that hope.


I'd be surprised if chaotic, unorganized spending cuts would actually save money in the long run.


It will, the contractors won't get paid for the shutdown period. Only government employees will get back pay.




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