GOP Hissy-Fit Hurts Federal Workers And Their Families

Today is day five of the official government shutdown.  No, this is not a government slowdown or slim down, this is a government shutdown.  There are thousands of workers who are forced to go to work knowing full well they may never be paid for their work.  One example of this is our nations air traffic controllers.

Think back a minute to what happened when the air traffic controllers were furloughed as part of the sequester.  Just furloughing 5% of the controllers per day resulted in massive delays throughout the country.  Now imagine what would happen if all of those air traffic controllers were told not to come in because the government is closed?  No airplanes would be flying, people would be stranded throughout the world, and our economy would grind to a halt.   This is why even though the government is shutdown air traffic controllers and others must continue to work.

National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Paul Rinaldi condemned Congress for forcing the shutdown:

“It is unacceptable that thousands of our aviation safety professionals have been forced to stay home due to partisan posturing in Congress.”

“I implore Congress to reach an agreement to end this shutdown, which is hurtful to our nation’s aviation system, our economy and the American people.”

During the shutdown, air traffic controllers are working without pay, but essential support staff specialists have been furloughed.  Rinaldi said this is akin to a surgeon performing an operation without any staff to prep the room, clean the equipment or provide support during the surgery.

This is not the case for the 25,000 federal LIUNA construction workers. Although most military men and women have not been sent home, LIUNA’s National Guard District Council represents over 5,000 dual-status technicians, military and civilian, are subject to furloughs. Several thousand more LIUNA members working for the Indian Health Service have also been furloughed.

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