Federal workers at Salt Lake City International Airport may be forced to work without pay because of the federal government shutdown, but they at least had free pizza on Tuesday.
Salt Lake Mayor Jackie Biskupski brought the pizza, both for lunch and later for dinner. And she is urging travelers to bring food to donate to workers at bins that will be set up just before airport security checkpoints.
She praised workers for staying "at their critical posts during this difficult time, and it’s time for federal leaders to follow this lead by getting to work to end this shutdown. Our civil servants need paychecks and we all need peace of mind.”
Biskupski added, “Shutting down the federal government and holding hostage the dedicated civil servants who help keep our country safe is not how we should be debating immigration policy, or any policy in America.”
Also, the Utah Food Bank brought a mobile pantry to the airport on Tuesday to distribute food to the unpaid federal workers whose families may need it.
Later this week, food donation bins will be set up before the TSA security checkpoints as well as at the Touch n’ Go Convenience Store for members of the public wanting to donate food and toiletries. The public can also donate directly to the Utah Food Bank.
