ATC Union: Shutdown Forces Resignations, Second Jobs

Air traffic controllers across the nation are feeling the squeeze, with many reportedly calling out sick, hustling for second jobs, or even resigning altogether. The reason? Long hours and no paychecks thanks to the ongoing government shutdown.

On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 of the busiest airports. We’re talking day 38 of the shutdown, and these cuts are supposed to ease the pressure on overworked and unpaid controllers.

The cuts went into effect Friday. Word is, airlines are expected to fully implement the 10% reduction by next week, according to CBS News sources.

While the FAA didn’t initially announce which airports would be affected, sources leaked a list of major passenger and cargo hubs. Travelers, heads up: check with your airline to see if your flight is affected.

Here’s 40 Busy Airports Expected To Face 10% Flight Cut Starting November 7

Here’s the list in alphabetical order by airport code:

1. Anchorage International (ANC)
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
3. Boston Logan International (BOS)
4. Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
5. Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
6. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
7. Dallas Love (DAL)
8. Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
9. Denver International (DEN)
10. Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
11. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
12. Newark Liberty International (EWR)
13. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
14. Honolulu International (HNL)
15. Houston Hobby (HOU)
16. Washington Dulles International (IAD)
17. George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
18. Indianapolis International (IND)
19. New York John F Kennedy International (JFK)
20. Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
21. Los Angeles International (LAX)
22. New York LaGuardia (LGA)
23. Orlando International (MCO)
24. Chicago Midway (MDW)
25. Memphis International (MEM)
26. Miami International (MIA)
27. Minneapolis/St Paul International (MSP)
28. Oakland International (OAK)
29. Ontario International (ONT)
30. Chicago O`Hare International (ORD)
31. Portland International (PDX)
32. Philadelphia International (PHL)
33. Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
34. San Diego International (SAN)
35. Louisville International (SDF)
36. Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
37. San Francisco International (SFO)
38. Salt Lake City International (SLC)
39. Teterboro (TEB)
40. Tampa International (TPA)

Air Traffic Controllers Reportedly Calling Out, Working Second Jobs, And Ultimately Resigning Due To No Pay Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

Following Secretary Duffy’s announcement, on Thursday, Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, spoke with CNN. During his appearance, Daniels discussed the flight reductions meant to ease the burden on unpaid and overworked controllers, stating:

“You know, Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford have been talking about the only way that you control and manage risk is by reducing the number of flights.

And we’re right now operating. It’s no surprise to anyone as the story has gone on that we only have 10,800 certified controllers. We’re 3,800 short of what we actually need of 14,633. Controllers are resigning every day now because of the prolonged nature of the shutdown. We hadn’t seen that before.

And we’re also 400 controllers short, shorter than we were in the 2019 shutdown, the issues are getting worse by every day. And we’re taking steps to — steps are being taken to reduce that capacity of the airspace, mitigate risk where we can and put the controllers in a position to succeed.

I think Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford are going to have to have close monitor of it.

They are taking those proactive steps of putting a smaller level of capacity to the airspace or a smaller number of flights, so that way air traffic controllers are a position to go to work, provide the best service they can. We’re going to continue to show up to the best of our ability.

Our air traffic controllers right now, though, are every day — not only to stress the frustration, the fear of this never ending, but also the level of hopelessness that’s setting in, that’s something I haven’t heard an air traffic controller. They’re a prideful group, but their mental health is something that we have to be concerned about as well.”

CNN’s Erin Burnett also spoke with Dan McCabe, Southern Regional Vice President at the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, about the impending cuts at the nation’s busiest airports. McCabe shared the grim reality:

“It is unimaginably tough right now for controllers and I’ve talked to a few today. Every day, it seems like there’s a new story. The problem is, you don’t know where anyone’s breaking point is at, and I mean, financial breaking point or where they just get to the hopeless piece of, ‘I don’t know what to do.’

They’re upset. They feel like pawns. They feel like they’re in the middle of a fight that’s not theirs. It’s partisan politics. And we’re stuck in the middle of it.

The problem here, though, is everybody has got adult responsibilities. You may have childcare or a house or an apartment or a car, and they spend their time when they’re not at work worrying about how long can I stretch this out? What things do I have to start cutting out of my life? Am I going to get evicted next month?

I mean, I had a phone call today of someone who is on the verge of being evicted from an apartment, and this is someone who is a brand- new air traffic controller. And this is their welcome to your new career moment.”

Burnett noted reports of controllers driving for Uber or waiting tables, using their downtime to make ends meet. McCabe confirmed these stories:

“Everything you just said I’ve heard. And I want to — I want to highlight the fact that you just hit the nail on the head. When you’re not at work, you should be recovering. You should be resting, spending time with your family, doing the things that that you know, someone that’s not at work does.

But when someone gets off work as an air traffic controller, we don’t, as a country want them to have to go work for Uber or go stock shelves at a grocery store. That’s another one that I heard today. Or go wait tables and then turn around and get minimal sleep and go back to their — to their main career, where we want them to show up well-rested on their A-game to do a job that is extraordinarily important, that requires a lot of focus.

And for the life of me, I don’t understand what we’re doing right now because controllers need the ability to sleep, to not take stress from outside work, into work. And when they go on break at work, after getting crushed during a session full of airplanes, they should be able to recover. They should be able to walk around, call their family, watch a TV show, do something to get their mind off of what they just did.

And you know what they’re doing right now. They’re deferring their mortgages. They’re trying to — trying to figure out how long can I continue to pay for child care, which allows me to come to work anyway, because you can’t bring your child to work. This is what they’re dealing with on a daily basis. And it’s disgusting.”

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