Furloughed Workers Sue Government for Double Pay

Five workers employed by the federal Bureau of Prisons are now suing for double pay during the government shutdown. On Monday, they said that the government should have paid them on time, and that because the government didn’t do so, it had violated their contracts. “The minimum wage applicable to essential employees is $7.25 per hour, or $290 for a 40-hour week,” said the lawsuit. “Many essential employees were paid less than $290 for work performed during the week.”

Despite the fact that federal law granted the workers back pay, the workers claimed that the delay entitled them to further recompense. The Justice Department has not given public comment on the lawsuit. During prior lawsuits, unions sued for back pay and won under their contracts, obviating special legislation for the purpose of back pay.