There are millions of federal government contract workers in the United States—Americans who are not directly employed by the government but who play a pivotal role in the nation. Federal contract workers provide essential goods and services relied on by everyday Americans across the country. These workers answer the public’s questions on coronavirus safety measures at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call centers; care for military veterans receiving VA benefits; prepare meals for members of Congress in House and Senate office buildings; and build roads and bridges across the United States. Federal contract spending can create jobs that are pathways to the middle class for Americans from all walks of life; support contractors that respect their workers; and help correct long-standing disparities among workers of color, women, LGBTQ workers, and workers with disabilities, thereby serving as a model for the private sector. Yet all too often, contract workers are paid poverty wages and have little power to speak out against unfair, unsafe, and discriminatory work conditions.
The above excerpt was originally published in CAP Action.
Click here to view the full article.