The U.S. is nearly two weeks into a government shutdown, leaving essential government workers like air traffic controllers working without pay.
In Chicago, those air traffic controllers received a partial paycheck Tuesday, and if the shutdown continues they will not receive any pay come October 28.
“Bills don’t stop, creditors don’t stop, your mortgage payment doesn’t stop,” said Drew MacQueen, VP of the Great Lakes Region National Air Traffic Controllers Association. “Controllers are like a lot of people living paycheck to paycheck, so again it’s just another burden that controllers don’t need to put up with on top of an already really stressful job.”
Air traffic controllers are responsible for communicating with pilots and providing instructions for safe take-offs and landings, as well as providing critical updates. They are considered essential workers, and are required to continue working despite the shutdown.
Once the shutdown ends they will receive pay they were owed, but with so much uncertainty members say it adds another layer of stress on top of an already strained industry that was already facing staffing shortages before the government shutdown.
“The system right now is currently about 3,800 controllers short,” MacQueen said. “Staffing shortages have been going on here since 2013, so again these controllers here are working six-day work weeks, with 10-hour days mandatory.”
On Tuesday O’Hare air traffic controllers joined other major airport employees across the country to pass out educational pamphlets to travelers, encouraging them to call local elected officials to end the shut down.
“For us as travelers we want to make sure that their head is in the right space so they can clear take off and landing because if their mind is somewhere else God forbid what could happen,” said traveler Evelyn Garfias. “It’s so unfortunate and unfair what’s happening.”
Meanwhile U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is seen in a video designed to play at airports, blaming Democrats for the shut down. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the video will not play at Chicago airports, and the Chicago Department of Aviation confirmed that decision in a statement to NBC Chicago.
Other airports in New York, Phoenix and other cities also refused to display the footage at security checkpoints.
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