Government shutdown impacting federal workers at ALB 

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The government shutdown has impacted federal workers and caused delays for travelers at airports across the nation. At Albany International Airport travelers are not facing the same disruptions, but federal workers are not receiving their normal paychecks.

Albany International Airport employs more than 200 federal workers. One week into the government shutdown, an airport spokesperson says there has not been a disruption to travelers. However, those agents are not receiving their normal paychecks.

nationwide, travelers experiencing delays. At Albany International Airport, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employs about 180 uniformed officers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employs 46 individuals in air traffic and safety roles, and a much smaller number work in Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Communications Director Matt Hunter said, “while we’ve seen reports of a large number of call outs at other airports, that hasn’t occurred here.”

Some travelers say they didn’t run into any departing flight issues, like Maxine Stitzer traveled from Baltimore. I asked, “How was the experience?” She said, “Well, it was actually fine.”

But others like Neal Marcus have some concerns. He flew out of Burbank, in southern California, last month and faced no issues. But, while visiting his family – near Hunter Mountain – he received some alarming news.

“Scary, scary stuff,” said Marcus, about the Hollywood Burbank Airport having no one in the air traffic control towers on Monday.

“I think everybody called in sick. They weren’t getting paid. It’s kind of a loophole. They called in sick. I don’t know how they get around that now, going forward. And I think we’re looking at another week or two of this maybe,” said Marcus. He flies back to Burbank Wednesday afternoon and hopes he doesn’t run into any issues.

I spoke with TSA agents off camera. They will receive their first partial payment – due to the shutdown – between Friday and Tuesday. He said but if the shutdown continues for more than three weeks, they’ll start missing entire paychecks.

They will be reimbursed once the shutdown ends but, they say, that won’t help them pay their rent and bills right now. And the hours they work make it too difficult to find a second job. They took an oath to uphold the constitution and say they will try their best to do that, for as long as they can.

In a statement, that read in part, Hunter said: “We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of the traveling public, and we will continue to work closely with our federal partners throughout the shutdown. The airport is also working with these partners and other community stakeholders to make sure these employees are supported.”

Lori Massey, of North Texas, said she’s concerned this shutdown will be different than past shutdowns.

“Because in the past there tended to be more negotiating and more dialog and, at this point, there has not seemed to be much,” said Massey. “Both sides, anchored down and not moving.”

“Until the politicians get their act together, we’re going to be subject to this kind of disruption,” said Stitzer. 

“Yeah, I just wish that our elected representatives would come to their senses and do the right thing for the American people. That’s what I wish, politicians on both sides,” said Marcus.

Massey said the TSA agents she encountered were friendly and gracious, and so should we.

“Have patience with them because sometimes we get kind of impatient ourselves as travelers, but right now they need a lot of patience,” said Massey.

Again, Hunter said, they’re in communication with their federal partners (TSA, FAA and CBP) daily and they’re monitoring the situation closely to resolve any potential issues.