So as Sen. Ted Cruz stands on the Senate floor talking, but not filibustering, federal workers prepare to strike.

I give exactly zero fucks about Sen. Cruz’s last stand against Obamacare…until the next one. When I first read about it on Tuesday, I thought it was a joke, and that it is. However, on my way home from work and before I began working on my super awesome fall project, I read this little number by my dream boyfriend Josh Eidelson, or as I’m sure he prefers, professional journalist.

According to Eidelson, cleaning and concessions workers in federal buildings are protesting their taxpayer funded jobs with poverty wages. They are marching on the White House today. They will demand President Obama use executive authority to raise labor standards for their job. The organizers expect a larger than the initial walk out back in May.

Delano Wingfield will strike for the third time today, and feels the federal government should take responsibility because they own the building where he makes only $9 per hour. The group Good Jobs Nation, backed by the SEIU, organized the walk out back in May. Instead of targeting the companies that employ the workers, they are targeting the federal government whose agreements and contracts facilitate the laborers’ work.

The labor movement is employing two tiered responses to the oppression through one day walkouts/strikes and targeting the “real bosses” who facilitate the oppression. Good Jobs Nation hasn’t laid out a specific play for Obama.

The estimate is that about 2 million workers make $12 per hour or less, while doing jobs funded by taxpayers. The walkout last May attracted the attention of some Democrats who wrote to President Obama in July to take action.

The protest today includes plans for: a morning march with members of Congress, a prayer vigil, an attempt to deliver a letter to the White House, and a press conference. The strike will include workers from Union Station (owned by Department of Transportation), Smithsonian Museums (owned by the federal Smithsonian Institution), and the Ronald Reagan Building and Old Post Office (owned by the General Services Administration).

The workers allege that their employers do not pay a living way and some have committed wage theft.  Good Jobs Nation also alleges workers face illegal punishments for past involvement in strikes. These allegations have triggered an investigation by the Department of Labor over wage theft. Workers met with GSA administration Dan Tangherlini, which asked the agency to audit all the contracts for potential wage theft. The workers believe GSA is unlikely to assist them.

Alright, keep an eye out, and DC peeps support the workers obviously. I miss living in DC.

Rounding out a week on labor with federal workers

According to Erik Wasson over at The Hill more than 20 federal and postal worker union wrote to Congress on Tuesday asking them not to cut worker pay and benefits to divert the “fiscal cliff.”

The Federal-Postal Coalition letter claims that federal workers have contributed $103 billion to deficit reductions: $60 billion from a two-year pay freeze, $28 billion from a delayed 2013 pay increase, and $15 billion in increased retirement contributions for new hires. The letter calls for the nation’s leaders to find other ways to reduce the deficit than to take away from those who have dedicated their lives to public service.

Republicans have looked into extending the pay freeze for three more years, and place limits on new hiring. The unions are suggesting that Congress limit pay for contractors, which are currently capped at $763,029 per year. The unions proposed it be capped at $230,700. The government has been able to get around hiring people and using contractors because of the pay rates.

The unions are looking to House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and top budget negotiator Rep Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to protect federal workers from cuts. At this point the negotiators are trying to put together a fiscal-cliff down payment to avoid the $109 billion in a sudden and indiscriminate “sequester” cuts that loom in January. Mandatory spending like farm subsidies and veterans’ health benefits are on the table as are federal worker pay and benefits.