Originally published at: Controllers Face Mounting Pressure Amid Third Week of U.S. Shutdown
Austin endures ground stop as air traffic workers nationwide hand out flyers and miss paychecks during third week of government shutdown.
Pay them, we can pay the Coasties and the military and, without a doubt the solons in the congress. There is already stress in the profoundly mismanaged FAA; take care of the troops
Why are people forced to work without pay?
Why does anyone expect people to work without pay?
Why are arrangements of government set up in 1787 still in place today?
The Legislative Branch is not functioning.
The Executive Branch is overstepping.
The Judicial Branch has become Political.
Time for a wholesale overhaul of jurisdictions.
The US system of government is broken!
Equally if not more stressful is mango Mussolini having his former Fox news commentator FAA chief threatening to fire air traffic controllers for calling out sick, in violation of their contracts.
But that’s the chump solution to everything. If ATC manning is and has been near critical levels, just sweep right in and for no good reason fire the people who are on the job.
This is a very visible reminder that there are a few million government workers who also are not getting paid. Often lives, welfare and safety are in their hands as well.
I suggest that congressmen and women give up their paychecks while they are off the job. Since the Republicans think they lead anything, they should be the first to go.Nothing hurts more then taking away someone’s livelihood.
AvWeb Please! Let’s have a little bit of journalistic integrity and tell the complete story.
Your story leaves the reader with the impression that ATC is being forced to work for free. Air Traffic Controllers will be paid, in full, for all of their work once Congress gets their act together.
These are people who make $150,000+ annually with a nice defined benefit retirement plan waiting for them at age 55. The claim that they have to drive for Uber to pay for childcare or groceries is pure theatrics.
Meanwhile the rest of aviation community and traveling public has to deal with real consequences of them handing out flyers instead of directing air traffic.
I was a controller back in the day and was involved in several government shutdowns. We were still able to work , but had to wait until the shutdown was over before we got our paychecks. our pay was substantial enough so that most of us did not have to worry about paying the bills while the shutdown was in progress.