By Gavrielle Gemma
Real Layoff Was 18 Million Workers
Trump used disgusting lies about immigrants in a failed attempt to justify the denial of essential services and pay. But this only further unmasked Trump and his Wall St. cronies as enemies of the people. On what planet do the super-rich live? Trump suggested workers get credit at grocery stores while his billionaire Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross suggested we get loans from his banker buddies. It was mass anger and the strike threat by air traffic controllers and pilots that forced him back, not the Democratic Party.
What was this shutdown really about?
First, this was a test run to see how far a despised billionaire president can go by executive order. Trump wanted to declare a national emergency which could have suspended all civil rights. This would be like a mini coup, undemocratic and dangerous. With a pen stroke he can wipe out the pay for 4.5 million workers (direct and contracted workers doing federal jobs). It’s much worse considering that 4 times as many workers depend on the paychecks of laid off workers. That’s 18 million workers, most of whom will not get any back pay.
Second, Trump and Wall Street want to privatize all government services so their friends can profit. Already 2/3 of federal jobs are being done by contract workers (see box). Trump imposed an illegal pay freeze in December and has tried to bust the union, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) which is fighting back.
Millions are imprisoned in for-profit prisons, immigrant detention camps, and jails for children. Trump’s capitalist buddies get millions of dollars from homeland security contracts. The wall would mean even more profits for them.
Third, Trump & Wall Street want to cut all social services from food stamps to Medicare and Medicaid. This is totally unpopular, so they resort to cutting services by the back door. Beware! Two thirds of the federal budget—our money—is already looted by banks for interest payments or by private war profiteers and repressive agencies of all kinds. The ultra-rich want it all for themselves leaving nothing for the people.
Fourth, Trump wants to see how far he can divide the working class by scapegoating immigrants. Drugs do not come in by refugees. With the assistance of the U.S. military, they come in through ports. Profits from the drug trade mean profits for the banks. The head of the NRA, Oliver North was a drug runner while he worked for the Reagan administration. Refugees are workers just trying to feed their families. More often than not, they are seeking refuge from the repressive economic and military policies of the imperialist U.S. government.
Trump is threatening to shut down the government again. We cannot count on the Democratic Party to stop him. We need mass action, workers solidarity and militancy in every city. NO MORE SHUTDOWNS!
NO WALL, NO WARS, NO PRIVATIZATION, NO CUTS
BETTER WAGES, HEALTHCARE FOR ALL That’s national security! NO NEW SHUTDOWN!
Who Didn’t Hurt
- Special exemptions to the shutdown were given to:
- Oil & Gas companies whose offshore leases and permits to drill in the Arctic and in national parks were still being processed and approved while employees assigned to renewable energy were not working.
- Mortgage lenders processed by IRS. Ordered by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who was dubbed “Foreclosure King” during the 2008 crash.
- U.S. military/CIA/NSA and all forces of repression
- Congressional gym reopened
- Billionaire capitalists
Who Got Hurt
- 800,000 federal workers were not getting paid even though they were forced to work.
- Native Americans lost access to critical health services and food pantries
- Air travelers subjected to dangerous conditions according the Air Traffic Controllers Union
- 3.7 million contract workers. These were formerly direct federal jobs that have already been privatized. These are essential workers in agriculture, transport, serving meals, senior care and more. Due to privatization there 2 outsourced workers to every direct federal worker. They make 34% of the pay direct federal workers get (which is already too low) with almost no benefits. This has had a disproportionate effect on Black workers. Trump used an executive order last year to undo safety and pay regulation for contract workers. Many contract workers have been the victim of wage theft yet the government paid out $18 billion to contractors with multiple wage violations. Contract workers will not get back pay.
- There are also 13,5 million workers who service the needs of the nearly 5 million who weren’t getting paid. These people work in restaurants, child care, auto shops, etc. The ripple effect of a layoff/no pay is always 4 times the number directly affected. They may not get unemployment and will get no back pay.
- Women, Infants, Children (WIC) program provides funds for nutrition for infants and mothers
- Domestic Violence Shelters
- School breakfasts and lunch programs that cut back on fresh food around the country
- Food safety inspections
- Weather bureau storm forecasting
- Children’s toys inspections
- Airport security
- Prisoners family visits, medical care, compassionate release stopped