Unions that represent U.S. breeze dealings controllers , pilot , and flight attendants sent out analarming joint statementon Wednesday warning that the ongoing Union authorities shutdown — at 33 twenty-four hour period , the longest in chronicle — has caused a situation in which they “ can not even calculate the level of risk presently at play ” and is “ unconscionable . ”
“ We have a growing vexation for the safe and security system of our members , our airlines and the traveling public due to the government shutdown , ” the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association ( NATCA ) , Air Line Pilots Association ( ALPA ) , and Association of Flight Attendants ( AFA ) write . “ This is already the longest governing closing in the history of the United States and there is no end in sight . In our risk loath manufacture , we can not even count on the level of risk currently at play , nor predict the point at which the entire system will break . It is unprecedented . ”
The unions wrote that tune dealings controllers , security and natural law enforcement personnel , safety inspectors , FBI agents , and “ many other vital workers ” have been working for over 30 days without salary at a time when air dealings control staffing is already at a 30 - year Sir David Low . They added that accountant can only “ asseverate the system ’s efficiency and mental ability ” by working amateur extra time , sometimes affect 10 - hour days and six - day workweeks , and that the shutdown of Federal Aviation Administration grooming facility will make a stockpile in raw hire .
With 20 percent of fully certified controllers eligible to put out , they add , many may prefer to leave their jobs and leave the National Airspace System “ halting . ” But there is short - term danger as well , they warned :
The billet is changing at a rapid pace . Major aerodrome are already project security checkpoint blockage , with many more potentially to follow … Last Saturday , TSA direction announced that a grow number of officers can not come to act due to the financial price of the shutdown . In addition , we are not surefooted that system - wide analysis of safety reporting information , which is used to describe and implement corrective actions in club to contract risks and foreclose chance event is 100 percent functional due to reduced FAA resource .
The “ air safety surround ” is “ drop by the day , ” the unions conclude , asking Congress and the White House to “ take all necessary step to end this shutdown right away . ”
According to theNew York Times , as many as one out of ten transportation security officer havenot show up to workat times , and airlines “ are lose more than $ 100 million a month in tax income ” as traveler have become concerned about delay times and safety . Earlier this calendar month , the Washington Postwrote that 24,000 FAA employees deemed critical for “ life-time and safety ” were forge without pay , while another 17,000 had been furloughed .
New York Magazinewrote that the president of the AFA , Sara Nelson , called for a “ general strike ” by labor unions — though discontinue unawares of hollo for one specifically by air power workers .
There ’s some story there : In 1981 , President Ronald Reagan fired 11,500 of well-nigh 13,000 take up gentle wind traffic controllers , citing a 1978 law nix Union Department of Labor strikes . According to ABC News , for many staff office the incident is “ seared into their memories , ” and striking Union worker “ could look pursuance and even poky time . ”
However , NATCA - Fort Worth Center President of the United States Nick Daniels secern ABC News that air traffic controllers “ take great superbia in that weight that they carry on their shoulder joint for that Book of Job ” and would be reluctant to have the U.S. public “ pay for this government keep out down . ”
Some reports on Wednesday suggested that Donald Trump ’s administration is prepared to get the shutdown — which , again , is about the president ’s demand that Congress authorize $ 5.7 billion for his ludicrous border wall or some tolerant offace - bring through bulwark - like object — extend into March or even April . That could lead in ruinous effects on everything fromfood postage stamp availability and federal courtsto failure to pay government leases .
As New York Magazine noted , Washington Post journalist Robert Costarecently tweetedthat a couple of “ senior Republican lawmakers ” had told him “ the only way this break open is if TSA employee stay home and Americans get wild about their flights . ”
[ New York Times / Association of Flight Attendants ]
Air dealings controlairplanesDonald TrumpShutdownTechnology
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