What do they do if the essential employees quit and find a job that pays on time? I thought (could be wrong) the worse that would happen is they might lose their job. If so, that's not a case of slavery. It's the employer saying, "I can't make payroll now, but please stick with me. I'll get pay everyone what their owed soon" In this situation, employees often find jobs working for people who can pay. OTOH, if they trust the employer will pay or can't find a better job, they might stick it out. It's their choice.

It seems like they should be liable to pay for all work done before the shutdown announced, if the employer is not bankrupt. The US gov't may be bankrupt one day if we keep on this path, but it's not bankrupt today.

As work forces go, there's the civilian way and the big government way.
Reminds me of what I heard on Parris Island about the civilian way and the Marine Corps way.

I do not understand your point of that example or how it is pertinent to whether looters should be paid by me for meddling in my affairs without my request. I would agree to pay them minimum wage to dig ditches for building the wall if that is the most economically viable way to accomplish the task, but without any guarantee of continued employment whatsoever.

It would be a crime for me to delay paying my employees so it should be for the federal government as well. Really they should all be layed off or paid if working.

The average age of a corrections officer is 59 years and a coworker my age died of a heart attack during the nineties. I'm now remembering several faces who are taking dirt naps. The last I heard about collided with a drunk while driving to work on one of those winding country roads on the way to that prison.
I was someone known for cracking jokes in the belly of that beast. Maybe that's conducive to beating the 59-year-old curse. .

Enjoy your well-earned retirement,ya big lizzard. I'm 87 and trying to flip the bird at the mortality tables.

Maybe at least some of them is trying to protect a pension.
The pension I now enjoy retired is the only reason I stayed with the Alabama Department Of Corrections for 21 years while toward the end mandatory overtime increased more and more by the year.
Working with officers worn down from lack of sleep is not a safe work environment bossing convicted felons.
It would have been 25 years but I learned you how to buy years from the retirement board. It had something to do with covering for taxes, which I still don't really understand.
I inherited some money and bought 4 years for just under $5,000. Me dino was glad to get away from that prison.
Trouble is, I had to wait four years for the pension to kick in.
So I became a security guard based on my corrections experience, Fully retired now at the age of 72.

OK, you got me there. But the actual producers must agree to being responsible for the quality and safety of their products and let the market decide if they succeed or fail. For example, if two aircraft collide its due to pilot error or equipment failure or poor maintenance, not lack of govermnent oversight, and some independent investigator must deterimine the cause and liability. Agreed?

but how can forcing people to work without pay for however long not be considered slavery? Did they ever agree to it? Were they even asked to volunteer? I'd consider shrugging.

I seriously doubt Ms. AOC has a brain in her head. Did you notice she waves her hands like Pelosi? Mimic or that unpronounceable ailment caused by medication they might be taking?

I am not at all concerned about assuring payment to looters. They have been stealing from those who produce ever since they agreed to accept stolen goods in payment.

That never happened to me dino.
As long as these federal employees are paid for ALL the work they did at the stated end of the government shutdown, I can't see how that is a federal crime.
A big time federal inconvenience, yes. A federal crime? No.

...but Dino, were did you ever have to work on a promise of, "I can't pay you now, but don't worry I'll pay you later ...eventually.."

Arguably their "work" may not be essential as the government maintains, but were they asked to volunteer to continue whatever they do for delayed compensation? Even mafia thugs are paid. So my original question: is being forced to expend your labor for no compensation a definition of slavery as addressed by the XIII Amendment. or did just apply to blacks picking cotton in 1865?

What work? Who volunteered to contribute the funds to pay for services not requested?
Why does a victim of robbery under threat of deadly force care if those making the threats are paid for the "work" of theft?

It is not a federal crime as long as they are paid.
Me dino heard on the news they will be fully compensated after the shutdown ends.
Though this is a hardship that will probably run up many a credit card, these government workers will be paid.
Every job I've ever had~and that's quite a few~I've always been paid on a bi-weekly basis AFTER I've done the work.