Randy Perreira in his capacity as president of the Hawaii State AFL-CIO appeared on Hawaii Public Radio following threats from the White House that backpay would be withheld from federal workers once the government eventually reopens. Thousands of federal workers in Hawaii, such as TSA officers and air traffic controllers, are working without pay to keep vital services running on behalf of the public.
“For us at the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, we’re particularly proud of these individuals,” Perreira told HPR. “If nothing else, we wanted to say thank you to them. We realize that they are making a huge sacrifice and facing a lot of uncertainty… but we really appreciate what all of them are doing.”
Catherine Cruz, host of HPR’s The Conversation, noted that federal workers are “puzzled” that they are being treated like “the enemy from within” despite being dedicated public servants.
Perreira called the demonization of workers unconscionable. “They are performing a service for our communities and they should not be considered the enemy. Whatever aspirations this administration has in trying to reshape government, they shouldn’t be treating these people like they are the problem.”
In Hawaii, federal workers provide essential healthcare to our veterans, safeguard the skies for air travelers, protect our waterways, and combat crime. The Hawaii State AFL-CIO, in a press statement, said these public servants did not cause the government shutdown, “yet [they] and their families – our neighbors and friends – are stuck paying the price.”