PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Tuesday is the first day without pay for air traffic controllers as the government shutdown stretches into its fourth week.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said about 2,300 workers are showing up to their jobs despite not being paid.
Union members at 20 airports nationwide, including Philadelphia International, are distributing “end the shutdown” leaflets to travelers, highlighting shutdown-related safety concerns. They are also trying to spread the word about the need to modernize control towers and radar facilities.
Union officials said the shutdown is adding unnecessary risk to the national airspace and worsening staffing shortages. And, mandatory overtime and 10-hour work days are adding stress to an already high-stakes job.
Over the weekend, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said an increase in controllers calling out sick is a “sign that the controllers are wearing thin.” There was a staffing shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers before the shutdown began — the lowest staffing in three decades, according to union leaders.
The shortage is impacting flight schedules, too. On Tuesday morning, there were seven delays and two cancellations at Philly International.