Air traffic controller Jack Criss is now clearing takeoffs and takeout orders. The single dad took on a side gig as a DoorDash delivery driver during the second-longest government shutdown in modern history in order to make some extra cash and cover his daughter’s high school tuition.
For the past few weeks, air traffic controllers have been receiving partial pay – but next week, they’re expected to miss their first full paychecks as the funding lapse continues.
“It’s been incredibly difficult. You can feel the tension, and it’s heavy…and it hurts,” Criss said in an interview that aired on “CBS Saturday Mornings.”
As the government shutdown rolls into Day 25, Congress remains unable to strike a deal. The Senate failed to advance measuresThursday that would pay federal employees like Criss.
5 U.S.C. § 7311 essentially says federal employees do not have the legal right to strike. the last time ATC went on strike it did not go well for them
If they strike during a shutdown, what’s stopping them from bringing in private companies to replace the ATC workers? They’re literally taking money from billionaires to pay for some military shit and nothing is stopping them. I mean we’re so cooked.
Theres not enough. And the harder they push those that are left the more likely they will leave too.
That’s where they are trying to use AI to replace ATC workers. It was on the news a while back that SpaceX was trying to win contracts in that space, but I could be misremembering.
that’s essentially what Regan did back in the early 80s. used military controllers to replace the fired ones, decertified and dissolved the existing union. regardless of what the media and Duffy and the rest of the admin says, ATC are ultimately expendable in their eyes, even if it’s too the detriment of everyone.
good luck with that, where are they going to find ATCs in the wild. most of the pipeline is from government funded program from specific colleges/instituitions. its also super competitive too.
Does anybody, really?
Oh they said they aren’t allowed! In that case lol
I’m not an air traffic controller but it seems they haven’t been treated very well lately to Begin with and now they are asked to work without pay. At that point I would stop caring about what the people in charge told me.
And it won’t be better now, but change does not come without a fight.
They have a union, so they should have been collecting dues for a strike fund, right? If not, they need to start now, then strike as soon as they can.