A rally turned into a cautious celebration yesterday.

Federal workers in lower Manhattan missing a second paycheck Friday were ready to speak up against the longest government shutdown in U.S. history; instead, they’re relieved they will get back to work— at least for now.

“This is also just a continuing resolution,” said Antony Tseng, an EPA engineer. “There is always a danger in being back in the same position again so that’s not exactly the most reassuring message, but I think most of us will take whatever we can get at this point.”

Antony Tseng is also a local union president of the American Federation of Government Employees, says he’s cautiously optimistic when it comes to the promise of back pay.

“Two decades of working in the government I’ve known that the devil is always in the details so I’d like to see what’s in it obviously it’s on the surface is good news to go back to work.”

Tseng represents 600 federal workers. Since the shutdown, he says he’s worked tirelessly to give his members support while they all stretched their means having not been paid since the end of December.

At the rally, local restaurants near Federal Plaza donated food from pizza and lasagna to canned goods, and the coalition of unions provided legal guidance and aid for federal employees. It’s information many workers believe they will need again if no deal is reached by February 15.

“Emotionally, it is frustrating,” said EPA worker Alexander Remnek. “This is not the first time this has happened. Basically, we are here to serve the American public and do our jobs. And not being able to do our jobs means that you know… it doesn’t mean that the work disappears. It’s still there and it piles up.”

Furloughed and non-furloughed workers alike sent a message to congress and the White House: federal workers and their are not political bargaining chips.