As air traffic controllers entered their first week of the ongoing government shutdown without paychecks, there are reports that they are calling in sick and taking on second jobs.
Reuters reported this week that “hundreds of air traffic controllers,” were taking second jobs. CNBC said that air traffic controller Raymond Dahlstrom and his colleagues were handing out leaflets urging lawmakers to end the shutdown outside of LaGuardia Airport in New York Tuesday, where Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was holding a press conference. Dahlstrom said some controllers have been taking jobs at ride-sharing companies to make ends meet.
“We’re still showing up, nobody is calling out sick … other than they’re sick,” Dahlstrom said, per CNBC.
During the Tuesday press conference, Duffy said that flight delays due to staffing shortages have been over 50% on some days since the shutdown started on Oct. 1.
“I’m grateful. I’ve asked the controllers to show up to work – and they have responded. I think we’re seeing less problems in the airspace today than in prior shutdowns, but I don’t have any numbers for you,” said Duffy.
Still, he said that 24% of delays that day were due to staffing shortages Tuesday. On Sunday, they were at around 44%, Duffy said. According to WPXI, the FAA had issued a ground stop at LAX for about two hours and flights were also delayed there for an average of 25 minutes Monday.
Duffy said the nation’s largest city hasn’t seen the same amount of delays as Los Angeles and Atlanta. He also mentioned one case of 11 out of 25 employees calling in sick, resulting in delays.
Staffing shortages were already a problem in the early days of the shutdown, with issues in Nashville, Tenn.’ Boston, Mass.; Chicago, Ill.; Philadelphia, Pa. and more, as the Associated Press previously reported. On Oct. 8, the outlet said that “union leaders for air traffic controllers and airport security screeners warned the situation was likely to get worse.”
In a recent statement, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it “does not endorse, support, or condone any federal employees participating in or endorsing a coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the NAS, or any other activities that undermine the professional image and reputation of the people we represent.”
However, the already stressful job is becoming even more tense without pay. For example, Nick Daniels, president of the Air Traffic Controllers Association, shared the story of a controller who was considering quitting his job in order to pay for lifesaving medicine for his daughter at the Tuesday press conference. CBS News reported this week that multiple airlines, including United Airlines, Delta Airlines and JetBlue were offering meals to impacted workers who aren’t getting paychecks.
According to CNN, more than 50 staffing shortages have been reported since Friday morning and are contributing to delays. FlightAware data showed 4,654 delays within, into, or out of the U.S. on Tuesday as well as 153 cancellations. By Wednesday afternoon, FlightAware showed 1,475 total delays within, into, or out of the U.S., as well as 125 cancellations.
“Since October 1, there have been at least 264 instances of staffing problems reported at FAA facilities. That’s more than four times the 60 that reported problems on the same dates last year,” CNN said Monday.
It also pointed out that the 35-day 2018-2019 government shutdown during President Donald Trump’s first term ended after 10 air traffic controllers stayed home and snarled air traffic. As of Wednesday, we are on day 29 of the current shutdown.
Speaking on when the air traffic controllers will begin getting paychecks again, Duffy said Tuesday that “traditionally they get their backpay not with interest.” He encouraged lawmakers to end the shutdown as soon as possible. Last week, Audacy also reported that Duffy warned that the shutdown could impact holiday travel if it continues.