Washington, DC (October 24, 2025) — Brent Booker, General President of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) made the following statement on Day 25 of the federal government shutdown:

Today marks a grim milestone for many of our members.  For the first time, in the 25-day government shutdown, LIUNA members working as Federal employees will not receive a paycheck for the work they have completed on behalf of the American people.  Other workers across the country face the tough reality of their workplaces being shut down entirely.  

 

The time for politics and partisanship is over.  Both parties need to return to the bargaining table for good faith negotiations that will end the chaos and economic uncertainty for our members and the country as a whole.  As a union, we know what it means to come to the table. That’s not just how progress is made, it’s how deals are made, and it’s how workers succeed.

 

The bedrock principle of the labor movement is that we believe all workers deserve a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.  Our members quite literally build America–we construct the roads, bridges, tunnels, energy, and security that makes America run and keeps America safe and are eager to get back to work.

 

The American people deserve a government that works for them, not one stalled by political gridlock. We call on all parties to find agreement to end this lockout so workers can get back to work, and we can restore the paychecks of our members and workers across America.

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The half-million members of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – are on the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build the U.S. and Canada.