American Federation of Government Employees says members set receive shutdown back pay

ROCHESTER, Minn.- The American Federation of Government Employees, a union that represents federal workers, says staff who had to work through the government shutdown will be receiving checks with back pay between Nov. 17 and Nov. 20.

Ruark Hotopp, a vice president of AFGE who represents Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, says the back pay from the 43 day shutdown will be handled as a lump sum.

He says while it could make taxes inconvenient for some, the checks are being handled this way so that payroll agencies can deduct the proper amount needed for insurance and other benefits.

Hotopp says the union represented many workers who had to stay on the job without pay during the shutdown including TSA agents, prison guards, Veterans Affairs employees and staff at