‘If it continues on, my family is in a bad way’: Federal workers want shutdown to end

A group of furloughed federal workers met with Sen. Bob Menendez Friday to express their frustration about being without a paycheck during the partial government shutdown.

News 12 Staff

Jan 18, 2019, 11:22 PM

Updated 1,931 days ago

Share:

A group of furloughed federal workers met with Sen. Bob Menendez Friday to express their frustration about being without a paycheck during the partial government shutdown.
The group met at the Montclair Bread Company. Baker Rachel Wyman said that she wanted to give back to the workers who were impacted by the shutdown by giving them food from her store.
“Free coffee, a sandwich, a loaf of bread. Whenever they want,” Wyman said.
Earlier this week she made 500 doughnuts and delivered them free to Transportation Security Administration agents at Newark Liberty International Airport. The TSA agents have to work, but are not getting paid during the shutdown.
One federal worker at Friday’s meeting was corrections officer Rod Koeppen. He works at the Fort Dix Federal Prison and is also required to work without pay.
“Talking with inmates, you know, they're more compassionate, it seems right now, than the government,” he says. “They say, 'I can't believe you guys have to come to work. I can’t believe you’re coming in. You’re not getting paid.’"
Mike Morel is a DED educator at the prison. He says that the shutdown has been hard on his family.
“I probably have another pay period where I can get by, and then after that, if it continues on, my family is in a bad way,” he says.
Some of the people at the meeting were family members of furloughed works. Colleen Schultz’s 22-year-old son is in the Coast Guard and is working without pay.
“Our Coasties are standing in lines at food banks,” she says.
The government shutdown began 28 days ago due to a dispute between President Donald Trump and Congress about funding for border security and a wall along the United States and Mexico border.
Sen. Menendez says that the shutdown is a risk to national security.


More from News 12
1:44
SUNY Purchase students start pro-Palestinian encampment

SUNY Purchase students start pro-Palestinian encampment

2:22
Partly sunny, light breeze for Friday in the Hudson Valley; afternoon showers for Saturday

Partly sunny, light breeze for Friday in the Hudson Valley; afternoon showers for Saturday

2:48
Pro-Palestinian encampment remains at SUNY New Paltz campus

Pro-Palestinian encampment remains at SUNY New Paltz campus

0:22
Mount Vernon police: No injuries reported following shots fired incident

Mount Vernon police: No injuries reported following shots fired incident

0:32
Rep. Ryan calls for planned Central Hudson rate increase to be denied

Rep. Ryan calls for planned Central Hudson rate increase to be denied

0:21
Yonkers Art unveils 2 new exhibits ahead of weekend festival

Yonkers Art unveils 2 new exhibits ahead of weekend festival

1:26
Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

0:33
Dobbs Ferry man facing federal charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition

Dobbs Ferry man facing federal charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition

1:47
Ex-Monticello officer who admitted to sex assault of underage teen reinstated to department after arrest

Ex-Monticello officer who admitted to sex assault of underage teen reinstated to department after arrest

0:36
Police: Woman arrested in connection to student brawl outside Yonkers school

Police: Woman arrested in connection to student brawl outside Yonkers school

1:44
Poughkeepsie leaders ask public for help to find troubled teens before tragedy strikes

Poughkeepsie leaders ask public for help to find troubled teens before tragedy strikes

1:02
Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for completion of New Rochelle affordable housing development

Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for completion of New Rochelle affordable housing development

0:32
Bedford School District to receive more money aid, boost in funding from state

Bedford School District to receive more money aid, boost in funding from state

0:30
Blooming Grove highway worker seriously injured during tree removal

Blooming Grove highway worker seriously injured during tree removal

0:23
Overnight road work to close Exit 7 on Cross County Parkway in Westchester

Overnight road work to close Exit 7 on Cross County Parkway in Westchester

3:52
I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

0:28
SPCA Westchester launches first mobile adoption unit

SPCA Westchester launches first mobile adoption unit

News 12 Westchester/Hudson Valley Daily Poll

News 12 Westchester/Hudson Valley Daily Poll

1:44
Exploring the Westchester children's museum: A journey of play and discovery

Exploring the Westchester children's museum: A journey of play and discovery

0:36
Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows