CHICAGO (WGN) – Some air traffic controllers at O’Hare Airport gathered together on Tuesday to raise awareness about the risks and staffing issues stemming from the government shutdown.
Air traffic controllers staged an information campaign at the airport, handling out fliers and calling on Congress and President Trump to pass budget and end the shutdown.
This is the sixth government shutdown since 1990 and employees got backpay each time. However, controllers said an IOU isn’t what’s best.
“We are professional. We will come to work and make sure that we do the hob that we were hired to do and I think anytime you have to go without a paycheck, there’s a certain level of stress that comes with that,” air traffic controller Peter LeFevre said.
Every day, air traffic controllers are responsible for tens of thousands of flights across the country.
Chicago’s airports alone have nearly 3,000 daily takeoffs and landings.
“We will never jeopardize safety. We just want an end to the government shutdown,” LeFevre said.
Air traffic controllers also said they’re woefully understaffed at 10,800 right now, as a fully staffed group would be closer to 14,000.
“We’re in uncharted waters,” Joe Schwieterman, DePaul University professor and transportation expert, said. “So just losing a few people can trigger these changes and that leads to added spacing between flights. That could lead to some big delays here.”
For airline workers, the delays on the ground at Capitol Hill are unacceptable.
“This is crazy,” Capt. Jason Ambrosi with Air Line Pilots Association, International said. “We send lawmakers to DC to do their jobs, fund the government, end the shutdown and get folks back to work. Get these folks paid.”
For some passengers, it’s another potential frustration for flying.
“How do you keep planes in the sky when you don’t have air traffic control?” one passenger said. “It’s a super stressful job. Trying to control the planes on the tarmac, coming in the air, landing, taking off. It sucks that they’re not being paid to do their jobs and it sucks.”
The Air Traffic Controllers Association said if the shutdown does not end, the next paycheck they would expect on Oct. 28 will not be there.
