Unions are handing Democrats a golden opportunity amid the shutdown battle | Judith Levine

Federal workers' move offers Democrats a chance to win the budget battle - and their identity

The Federal Unionists Network (FUN) and 35 national, state and local unions have written a letter to the Democratic congressional leadership - Chuck Schumer in the Senate and Hakeem Jeffries in the House, urging them to hold out against Republicans in the budget negotiations, even if it means a government shutdown and halted paychecks. The signatories represent tens of thousands of federal workers", according to an FUN press release.

The Democrats' demands, the letter says, should include adequate funding for critical public services" and a guarantee" that funds appropriated by the Congress are spent.

Judith Levine is a Brooklyn-based journalist, essayist and author of five books. Her Substack is Today in Fascism