Good morning, fellow union members,

 

As we enter the fourth week of the federal government shutdown, our resolve must remain strong. This is not just about reopening the government — it’s about ensuring that when it reopens, federal employees are treated with the dignity and respect we deserve.

 

We must demand:

• Adequate funding for agencies to fulfill their missions without relying on stop-gap measures.

• Restoration of union rights that have been eroded in the federal workplace.

• Action on skyrocketing healthcare costs that are making coverage increasingly unaffordable for federal employees and millions of Americans.

 

Thank you to those that took our recent NTEU282 shutdown survey in which 282 members resoundingly indicated you support our current actions:

• Over 85%  of members said restoring union rights must be part of any shutdown resolution.

• Over 90% agreed that rising healthcare costs must be addressed in the federal government shutdown negotiations.

 

This is a critical moment. We need your voice.

 

Please contact your members of Congress at least once a week using their official websites or the NTEU Action Center. You can write your own personal message or use the sample below — feel free to personalize it with your own experience:

Sample Message to Congress

 

Dear Representative/Senator [Last Name],

 

As your constituent, I urge you to take immediate action to end the federal government shutdown — and to do so in a way that protects the federal workforce and the public we serve.

Specifically, I ask you to:

• Ensure adequate funding for federal agencies so they can operate effectively and fulfill their missions including our mission at the FDA to protect and promote the health and safety of the public. 

• Restore union rights in the federal workplace, allowing employees to advocate for fair conditions and practices.

• Address the rising cost of healthcare, including the more than 12% increase in federal employee premiums, which is placing an unsustainable burden on middle-class families.

Federal employees are being locked out of work or forced to work without pay. Agencies like the FDA are being stretched thin, particularly in our food safety programs, compromising public health and safety. We are not political pawns — we are public servants.

I urge you to work across the aisle to reach a bipartisan agreement that includes these critical issues. Please let me know that I can count on you to stand up for federal workers and the communities we serve.

 

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address or Zip Code]

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If you or someone you know is struggling due to the shutdown, please refer them to the NTEU shutdown resource page: Shutdown - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU , here you will find resources such as food banks and distribution centers, a shutdown assistance map with area resources throughout the country, financial assistance that may be available from credit unions and banks (Example: Anyone with a mortgage through Navy Federal Credit Union can request a deferment on your mortgage up to three months – payment due at the end of the deferment period). Our chapter is here to support you. We stand together.

 

In solidarity,
Anthony