Unions slam Obama for withholding shutdown plans
“Federal employees are being held hostage because these plans are not being made available,” said William R. Dougan, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, whose members include civilian Defense Department workers. “It’s disrespectful to hold these folks in limbo until the last minute.”
He called “inexcusable” the government’s decision not to tell federal workers who would be sent home and who would be told to keep working.
It was some of the strongest rhetoric that federal unions have used against a White House that has generally had the support of government unions. As a shutdown has loomed for weeks, with the clock running out at midnight Friday, the Office of Management and Budget has ordered federal agencies to remain mum on details.
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The unions expect Obama to step forward on a controversial decision? That’s pretty funny all by itself — Obama’s waiting for Boehner to announce which workers/federal agencies he wants to stay home, and then he’ll come out and attack him for it.
jon1979 on April 5, 2011 at 12:16 AM
If they’re planning on a shut-down, I say give ‘em what they want.
SouthernGent on April 5, 2011 at 12:24 AM
They only care about themselves and not the country as a whole. Let them feel some of the pain that the private sector has to endure.
DAT60A3 on April 5, 2011 at 12:29 AM
I agree with them. If a shutdown is likely they should get more than a few days notice. it is beyond doubt management has full fledged plans to deal with this so it’s not like they can suggest they aren’t really sure yet.
Rocks on April 5, 2011 at 12:31 AM
If you’re not required to come to work on snow days…
rogerb on April 5, 2011 at 12:56 AM
Now they know what it feels like to have elected officials ignoring their duty, just like the voters of Wisconsin.
I wonder how long they’d have to be laid off to wipe out the national debt. Come to think of it, if the government has non-essential employees, maybe they ought to be laid off that long.
flataffect on April 5, 2011 at 1:02 AM
i’m sure that O wants maximum possible chaos if the government shuts down
r keller on April 5, 2011 at 2:16 AM
Such violent rhetoric.
Ronnie on April 5, 2011 at 6:05 AM
I want my cake and let me eat it too. I could give a fuck about these people and their jobs if there is a shutdown. This is Wisconsin all over; a partisan power grab by the unions. Don’t shut us down but we won’t give up one RED cent of our progressively purchased loot.
Its obvious the White House isn’t releasing the info because people will probably say “really, that’s all?” and go about their daily lives barely realizing that theses leaches aren’t at ‘work’.
SittingDeadRed on April 5, 2011 at 6:56 AM
Cut it and shut it.
single stack on April 5, 2011 at 6:57 AM
I just posted that exact quote stack, with more emphasis on the “and to a bill passed by the GOP-controlled House that calls for $61 billion in budget cuts”.
I used a few bad words so it may no have made it through. These people are so dumb its frightening. They take a perfect PR situation for themselves and instead use it to show themselves as the money/power-grubbing partisans that they are. And now I’m supposed to care if they shut these people down?
The White House is probably not letting the plan out yet because people will look at the plan and realize that we don’t need 90% of the non-essentials anyway.
SittingDeadRed on April 5, 2011 at 7:02 AM
Withholding shutdown plan?
I trust they don’t actually have a plan.
tomg51 on April 5, 2011 at 7:29 AM
Unions upset…where are they going to go?
It’s just a little lovers quarrel…I think it’s kind of cute.
right2bright on April 5, 2011 at 7:54 AM
The White House is now sharing the shutdown plans.
Wethal on April 5, 2011 at 7:58 AM
Yup, I’d say that’s a safe bet, maximum agitation.
Unions will probably be making it an interesting spring and summer.
petefrt on April 5, 2011 at 8:05 AM
about time
cmsinaz on April 5, 2011 at 8:05 AM
The unions are upset about something, color me shocked. The bratty little brother of the whiny democrat party is always mad about something.
Bishop on April 5, 2011 at 8:17 AM
Word of advice for Obama…don’t upset the landlord…
right2bright on April 5, 2011 at 8:20 AM
I know what scares the government and the unions…a shutdown and nobody notices.
right2bright on April 5, 2011 at 8:24 AM
I have no sympathy for those who support someone so transparent that he gets a transparency award in private.
Suck it, federal unions.
rbj on April 5, 2011 at 8:33 AM
Aw.
km on April 5, 2011 at 8:43 AM
.
Not since Marie Antoinette has a viewpoint been so determined by an inability to face reality. You cannot have your AND eat it as well, Unions!
ExpressoBold on April 5, 2011 at 9:05 AM
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You cannot have your cake AND eat it as well, Unions! I messed up the quote – darn fingers!
ExpressoBold on April 5, 2011 at 9:07 AM
Unions….are they coming to the surface for air? Finally realizing they’re mere pawns in the bigger picture? A means to an end? Disposable? Useful idiots til they’re no longer useful?
Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
capejasmine on April 5, 2011 at 10:31 AM
From the fourteenth tee?
Ward Cleaver on April 5, 2011 at 10:52 AM
It’ll be an executive order fest if the government shuts down.
mizflame98 on April 5, 2011 at 10:56 AM