Logan Airport: Impact Of Government Shutdown?

The government shutdown in 2019 impacted workers at Boston's Logan International Airport. Members of the National Air Traffic Controller's Association were working without pay, urging travellers to pressure lawmakers to end the government shutdown. The shutdown resulted in a lack of support staff and a halt in training, causing concern among travellers about safety.

Air traffic controllers urged passengers to pressure lawmakers to end the shutdown

The government shutdown in 2019 impacted workers at Boston's Logan International Airport. Air traffic controllers, who are ordinarily not in direct contact with passengers, took to the ground to urge travellers to pressure lawmakers to end the shutdown. The National Air Traffic Controller's Association members were working without pay and felt that the government had "stripped away layers of safety throughout the system".

Mick Devine, of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said:

> "You're asking us --- as if we were a surgeon -- to perform surgery in the operating room, but taking away all of the nurses and the technicians, the people who assist them. All of the people who are even behind our scenes aren't at work. They've been asked to stay home. Training has stopped."

Devine also pointed out that while it was still safe to fly, an "integrated web of redundant safety layers" had been removed, compromising the safety of air travel. The layers were composed of support staff, who had been furloughed.

The union took up a leafleting effort at Logan International Airport, targeting passengers walking into the terminals. Many travellers expressed concern about the situation and supported the call for government action. One passenger said, "I want to be as safe as I can. I want my government to work, and it's not working."

The 2019 shutdown was the longest in American history, and air traffic controllers were starting to feel the pressure. Dan McCabe, a spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating, "The shutdown must end immediately."

Members of the National Air Traffic Controller's Association were not paid during the shutdown

The government shutdown in 2019 impacted workers at Boston's Logan International Airport. Members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) were not paid during the shutdown, despite continuing to work. NATCA sued the federal government, arguing that it was in violation of the Fifth Amendment as it "unlawfully deprived NATCA members of their earned wages without due process". The lawsuit also claimed that the government was in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act as it did not pay air traffic controllers at least minimum wage and did not provide overtime pay during the shutdown.

NATCA members typically receive their pay through direct deposits, but during the shutdown, many received pay stubs showing $0 in income. Some members shared these pay stubs on Twitter and with The Washington Post to highlight the financial hardship caused by the lack of payment. The shutdown's effects extended beyond NATCA members, with other airport workers and travellers experiencing significant disruptions. For example, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport protested the shutdown, and Miami International Airport closed one of its terminals due to TSA employees refusing to work without pay.

In response to the situation, NATCA and its members urged travellers at Logan International Airport to pressure lawmakers to end the government shutdown. They argued that working without pay added stress to an already demanding profession and could potentially pose a threat to passenger safety. NATCA members compared their situation to performing surgery without the support of nurses and technicians, highlighting the critical nature of their work.

While a U.S. District Judge, Richard Leon, acknowledged the hardship faced by federal workers, he denied the request to pay air traffic controllers during the shutdown. Judge Leon stated that the shutdown was a "political problem" and that the judiciary could not intervene. He emphasized that only Congress has the authority to appropriate funds and that granting the requests during the shutdown would cause public chaos. Despite this ruling, NATCA members were expected to receive back pay once the government reopened.

Training for air traffic controllers stopped during the shutdown

The government shutdown has impacted workers at Boston's Logan International Airport, including air traffic controllers. Members of the National Air Traffic Controller's Association have urged travellers at Logan Airport to contact local politicians to help end the shutdown. Air traffic controllers have continued to work through the shutdown without pay, but support staff have been asked to stay home, and training has stopped.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has closed its training academy in Oklahoma City, where new air traffic controllers begin their careers. Classroom and simulator training at air traffic control facilities have also been suspended during the shutdown. This has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of fully trained controllers on the job, with many new hires furloughed and their training and pay halted.

The shutdown has also impacted the FAA's ability to hire new trainees, with the agency missing its original hiring target by over 500 trainees during the 2018-2019 shutdown. This has contributed to a decades-long shortage of air traffic controllers, which industry leaders warn is putting further pressure on the already strained US air traffic system.

The shutdown has also affected morale among FAA employees, with David Spero, president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, testifying that "haphazardly eliminating positions and encouraging resignations are having a demoralizing effect on the workforce." The potential for a future government shutdown continues to threaten the country's aviation safety and the stability of the air traffic control system.

The government shutdown impacted workers at Logan Airport

The government shutdown in 2019 impacted workers at Boston's Logan International Airport. Members of the National Air Traffic Controller's Association were working without pay during this time. While air traffic controllers were on the job, many of the support staff who assist them were not. Staff who work behind the scenes were asked to stay home, and training had stopped.

To highlight the issue, the union took up a leafleting effort at Logan International Airport, targeting passengers walking into the terminals. The hope was that travellers would be encouraged to contact local politicians and help end the government shutdown.

One traveller, upon learning that air traffic controllers were working without pay, said:

> "They work hard, they have tough jobs. And I'd like to see them, you know, open up the government."

Another traveller, upon learning of the situation, said:

> "I want to be as safe as I can. I want my government to work, and it's not working."

Passengers at Logan Airport expressed concerns about safety during the shutdown

The government shutdown has impacted workers at Boston's Logan International Airport, including members of the National Air Traffic Controller's Association. Air traffic controllers are working without pay, and many of their support staff have been asked to stay home. Training has also stopped.

In response, the union took up a leafleting effort at Logan International Airport, urging passengers to pressure lawmakers to end the shutdown. The leaflets asked passengers walking into the terminals to contact local politicians and help end the government shutdown.

The shutdown has created a challenging situation for air traffic controllers, who are responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient flow of air traffic. With reduced staff and resources, they are facing increased pressure and workload. This has raised concerns about potential safety risks and the impact on the overall aviation system.

Frequently asked questions