WASHINGTON (TNND) — American air travel continues to be caught up in the chaos of the government shutdown. Now, the labor union representing more than 20,000 Air Traffic Control staff has warned members against participating in coordinated sick-outs as facilities across the country experience staffing shortages, triggering widespread flight delays.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday that 53% of delays were caused by air traffic controller shortages. He said usually, only about 5% are tied to staffing shortages.
While there is no concrete evidence that the recent increase in sick calls is tied to an organized effort related to the government shutdown, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it does not support or condone “coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the (national airspace system), or any other activities that undermine the professional image and reputation of the people we represent.”
Duffy said he thinks 90% of air traffic controllers are showing up to work and 10% “are lashing out.”
Air traffic controllers are in short supply and often work 10-hour days, six days per week. Though they continue to work during the shutdown, they will not be paid until it’s over, aside from one partial paycheck on Tuesday. Making the job more stressful is the fact that about 2,000 support staff have been furloughed.
In a message to its members, NATCA said, “At this critical juncture, it is more important than ever that we rise to the occasion and continue delivering the consistent, high-level of public service we provide every day. We must also recognize that in the current political climate, federal employees are under heightened scrutiny. We cannot stress enough that it is essential to avoid any actions that could reflect poorly on you, our Union, or our professions.”
Air traffic controllers receive 13 accumulated sick days per year. According to the Office of Personnel Management, federal workers may be required to produce a doctor’s note for sick absences longer than three days.
“If we have a continual small subset of controllers that don’t show up to work and they’re the problem children, listen, we need more controllers, but we need the best and brightest, the dedicated controllers and if we have some on our staff that aren’t dedicated like we need, we’re gonna let them go,” Duffy said.
In response to Duffy’s suggestion that air traffic controllers may be fired for taking sick days during the shutdown, NATCA said, “There are processes and procedures in place to deal with the inappropriate use of sick leave.”
