The following statement is attributable to Hector Figueroa, President of 32BJ SEIU:

“As the shutdown created more suffering for hardworking people by the day, we are relieved that the government is set to reopen but we will not give up the fight until our members get the back pay the president promised and they deserve.”

“Decent Americans like Faye Smith—a 32BJ SEIU member who has gone without pay for weeks– will continue to speak out and demand respect and work to restore some sanity in our politics. Faye said it best last night.”