MIAMI — Brightline is now offering free rides for federal employees hit by the government shutdown.
The Florida passenger service announced the move on Friday. Federal employees who present a government-issued employee ID to agents at its West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami stations will receive complimentary rides in Smart class until the government reopens.
“The Brightline team wants to show support for all federal workers during this time and ease the cost of everyday living,” the company said in a press release.
Monday marks the 30th day of the partial shutdown, the longest in federal government history.
Gerald – You say that back pay is not guaranteed for furloughed federal employees. Well if that’s the case (in other words if precedent is broken this time) that would be a wonderful thing.
Laid-off federals can live off savings or burn vacation or comp time, or get unemployment insurance, or in some cases take on casual work until the shut-down ends. I can’t think of any reason why someone who hasn’t worked should get back pay. No one on the face of the earth besides federal employees (many of whom are overpaid to begin would) would get back pay for not working.
I’m sure there are some (a very few) hardship cases out there among the federals. You know, even in America there are tens of millions of hardship cases, let alone in the poorer nations. Why in God’s name should the most privileged work force we have be exempt from hardship when we have a whole country that’s suffering.
Since this is a rail forum, let’s talk about rail workers. Furloughs are ROUTINE, ROUTINE, in the rail industry. Ever hear of a furloughed T+E crew getting missed paychecks when called back to work? I haven’t.
All this charity being extended to laid-off feds sickens me. Sure there are a small minority among them who are suffering. Tens of millions have it far worse.
Also fair points. As a business Brightline get to chose. Of course they are not able to benefit every low income worker. At least they did something for men and women who do the work for which all of us rarely say thanks.
Okay Carl, you have spoken well and made you various points. Here are my further questions. (1) Will Brightline offer free rides to laid off fast food workers, hotel room cleaners, agricultural labor, etc., all of whom are paid less than even the lowest paid (TSA) federals. (2) Brightline being a railroad, will Brightline pledge never to have a layoff? If layoffs are such a bad thing in Brightline’s corporate does that apply them also?
The claim that Federal employees qualify for UI is highly questionable. Those who have been required to continue to work are clearly ineligible, as they have by no definition been laid off. Even those told not to report are in some states ineligible for UI, because they are “legally” laid-off, as they will be paid retroactively at whatever point the shutdown ends.
Mr. Landry has a perfect right not to sympathize with Federal workers because they are well paid (when being paid), but this situation is quite another matter. This forum is obviously not the place to debate “responsibility” for the shutdown, but I think it fair to note that UI is clearly not an option for many Federal workers and even in those states where it might be allowed, any payments received would be subject to recapture. I used to be the UI office administrator in Boulder, CO, so have some direct knowledge of this.
On the happier note related directly to Brightline/Virgin Trains complimentary travel offer, bravo. This will cost them very little and make them friends. Given their need for US DOT and other government approvals, even if this was not good public relations it would be a sensible offer to help enhance their status with critical regulatory partners.
Gerald, yes, benefits are shrinking for federal employees. (Increased medical premiums.) And everyone else. How does it look for the immigrants picking oranges in Florida then laid off after the harvest? Should they get free rides on Brightline?
(1) Federal employees on furlough are eligible for unemployment insurance, just like anyone else who is laid off. (2) Unlike most people who are laid off, most federal employees (TSA being the big exception – their pay is horrible) were well paid with super-generous benefits and should have some savings. (3) Unlike 100.00% of people on layoff, the furloughed federal employees will get back pay when called back.
So, no, I don’t feel sorry for federal employees. I was in the work force a long time and met many federals who got better pay and benefits than any other employer (such as state, county and local government) would have paid them for the same work.
Charles Landey,
You’re memory is the problem here…what you remember about the pay and benefits of Federal employees is no longer valid. You haven’t kept up with the times, the pay is no longer what it used to be and the benefits can be hit or miss…I know of people paying $200 – $500 month for Kaiser healthcare, that isn’t cheap and it’s the same plans you get with private companies. The only furloughed workers that can claim unemployment benefits are those that are not considered essential and aren’t being forced to work without pay…everyone else that is still coming into work, all of the DHS branches, Border Patrol, Customs, Immigration, Coast Guard, etc., etc., CAN NOT apply for unemployment benefits. Also, if you do claim them you have to pay taxes on them, just like regular pay and you will have to repay what you use back into the system…otherwise they’d run out of unemployment money. As for getting back pay, that is not a guarantee…the government DOES NOT have to give back pay…but as you’ve seen in this case the law was already passed and signed by the President that the employees will get back pay, which comes in one lump sum and also means taxes are taken out at a higher level just because it is all lumped together…so not such a good deal after all, and private companies can give back pay if they so choose, it’s not illegal, just none have the cajones enough to ever do it.