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Washington, D.C.— Congress should delay its year-end vacation; pass a short-term continuing resolution to fund government agencies; and reach a reasonable compromise on funding and tax bills rather than leave federal workers, the unemployed and working Americans hanging in the balance, the president of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) said today.

“Some on Capitol Hill seem determined to drop a lump of coal into the holiday stockings of working Americans and the unemployed as they head out for their year-end vacation,” said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley. “Middle-class Americans and our committed federal workforce deserve much better.”

Yesterday government agencies began providing information to their employees about a possible partial shutdown of the government when the current continuing resolution expires at midnight tomorrow.

In a message to Treasury Department employees, the department’s chief financial officer said: “We know that the uncertainty of the current situation puts federal employees in a difficult position, and we are very much aware that a shutdown would impose hardships on many employees, as well as the groups and individuals our agency serves.”

“Government agencies and federal employees are once again preparing for a possible shutdown and American citizens are once again anticipating a halt to important government services just as the holiday season is upon us,” President Kelley said.

NTEU objects to Senate and House versions of legislation that would offset the continuation of the payroll tax holiday by having federal employees shoulder the burden through extensions of the pay freeze or increases to their retirement contributions while the wealthy are not being asked to bear any sacrifices.

“Congress must act to approve a short-term funding bill that allows the government to continue delivering important services while lawmakers work out a reasonable compromise on funding and tax bills that do not place the entire burden on the federal workforce in order to protect the richest Americans,” Kelley said.

As the largest independent federal union, NTEU represents 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.