Hundreds of UK-based workers in limbo over US government shutdown
1 October 2013
Communities surrounding US Air Force (USAF) bases in the UK could feel the economic impact of the US government shutdown as many American employees in non-essential roles today face pay delays.
Tue, 1 Oct 2013Communities surrounding US Air Force (USAF) bases in the UK could feel the economic impact of the US government shutdown as many American employees in non-essential roles today face pay delays.
Today sees the beginning of ‘furloughs’, under which employees are not working at their normal jobs and will not be paid until the US congress agrees a spending plan.
USAF spokeswoman Capt Sybil V Taunton tells recruiter.co.uk that a total of 436 American workers were furloughed earlier today at bases including RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall in rural Suffolk and RAF Croughton in Oxfordshire.
Another 100 UK-based American employees, working in jobs related to national security or public safety, were exempted from the furlough. For communities around the Suffolk bases particularly, the USAF is a key economic driver in the area, also affecting North-East Cambridgeshire and South-West Norfolk.
Across USAF bases in Europe and Africa, a total of 1,500 employees were put on furlough earlier today, Taunton said. Only 16%, or 280 employees, working in jobs related to national security or public safety were exempted.
“The length of furlough is dependent on Congressional action, and employees will not return to work until funds have been appropriated,” Taunton said.
Contractors performing under fully-funded contracts that were awarded before the expiration of appropriations may continue to provide contract services, Taunton went on to say. However, she added, “no funds will be available to pay such new contracts until Congress appropriates funds”.
By press deadlines Tuesday, the US Embassy in London had not responded to an enquiry from recruiter.co.uk about the shutdown’s potential impact on immigration and visa processing for UK and European business travellers.
Today sees the beginning of ‘furloughs’, under which employees are not working at their normal jobs and will not be paid until the US congress agrees a spending plan.
USAF spokeswoman Capt Sybil V Taunton tells recruiter.co.uk that a total of 436 American workers were furloughed earlier today at bases including RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall in rural Suffolk and RAF Croughton in Oxfordshire.
Another 100 UK-based American employees, working in jobs related to national security or public safety, were exempted from the furlough. For communities around the Suffolk bases particularly, the USAF is a key economic driver in the area, also affecting North-East Cambridgeshire and South-West Norfolk.
Across USAF bases in Europe and Africa, a total of 1,500 employees were put on furlough earlier today, Taunton said. Only 16%, or 280 employees, working in jobs related to national security or public safety were exempted.
“The length of furlough is dependent on Congressional action, and employees will not return to work until funds have been appropriated,” Taunton said.
Contractors performing under fully-funded contracts that were awarded before the expiration of appropriations may continue to provide contract services, Taunton went on to say. However, she added, “no funds will be available to pay such new contracts until Congress appropriates funds”.
By press deadlines Tuesday, the US Embassy in London had not responded to an enquiry from recruiter.co.uk about the shutdown’s potential impact on immigration and visa processing for UK and European business travellers.
