Ayanna Pressley says federal workers treated like 'bargaining chips' Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT WHILE FEDERAL WORKERS ARE ENTITLED TO BACK PAY, IT’S NOT CLEAR HOW SOON THEY WILL GET THOSE CHECKS. CONGRESSMAN AYANNA PRESSLEY. >> THEY FEEL THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED GREAT PATRIOTISM TO THIS COUNTRY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED AS IF THEY ARE EXPENDABLE, AS BARTERING AND BARGAINING CHIPS, AND THAT IS DEMORALIZING. IT IS FRIGHTENING, AND THEY FEEL ABANDONED AND BETRAYED BY THEIR GOVERNMENT. DIANE: IN WHAT HAS BEEN THE LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN U.S. HISTORY, FEDERAL WORKERS SAID THEY ARE CONCERNED IF LAWMAKERS DO NOT COME TO A AGREEMENT BY FEBRUARY 15, THEY WILL FACE ANOTHER ROUND OF POTENTIAL FURLOUGHS. >> AND VERY AFRAID OF THE RAMIFICATIONS IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN INTO THE WEEKS, BUT VERY CONCERNED FOR THE EMPLOYEES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IF THEY WILL STAY. DIANE: IN THE MEANTIME, SWEET GREEN IS OFFERING FREE MEALS TO FEDERAL WORK IS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM 6:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M. TODAY AND TOMORROW WITH

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