Out of Office: The Art of the Auto-Reply

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Many Union City readers work for the federal government so we got a lot of auto-replies to yesterday’s edition of Union City, most of which were pretty standard “Due to a lapse in funding, certain government activities have been suspended and I am unable to respond to your message at this time,” etc. However, a couple were a bit more unusual. One from the National Labor Relations Board said that the NLRB “is currently closed due to a lapse in appropriated funds” but went on to say that “If you want to report an imminent threat to human life or property as a result of a violation of the National Labor Relations Act, you should call (202) 273-1000, send a fax to (202) 273-4483, or send an email to EmergencyContact@NLRB.gov.” Duly noted. And one from a staffer in Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski’s office said that “Despite Senator Mikulski’s repeated efforts to keep the government open this office, along with those of other Members of Congress, is shut down…Senator Mikulski deeply opposes shuttering the offices of the federal government and the Senator is fighting for an effective, efficient and frugal government. I look forward to reconnecting when the government is open again.” photo: AFSCME 1653 President Ralph Randall talking with tourists outside the Museum of Natural History; photo by Chris Garlock