We believe one of the Achilles heels of the Trump-Pelosi shutdown war is found in air travel. Growing waits at airports. More “blue flu” sick-outs. TSA workers unpaid. And much more.
This is a festering and growing, artificially concocted crisis as our political leaders fiddle and our nation (like ancient Rome) burns.
Trump’s approval is plummeting as two-thirds of the nation’s voters blame him. That emboldens the Pelosi-Schumer side, who seek to sink him. Both sides are now guilty. Each side blames the other as being worse. Meanwhile the USA endures a growing list of bad outcomes.
Citizens have limited power, but the phone still works. Every House member and Senator has local and Washington offices, with phones. The call takes one minute. The message is simple: I hold you (Democrats or Republicans) personally responsible. Stop this ping-pong shutdown crap NOW!
U.S. House of Representatives
https://www.house.gov/representatives
U.S. Senate
https://www.senate.gov/senators/
We are reproducing in full below an aviation-related warning that comes from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO.
Air Traffic Controllers, Pilots, Flight Attendants Detail Serious Safety Concerns Due to Shutdown
Washington, D.C. — On Day 33 of the government shutdown, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Paul Rinaldi, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) President Joe DePete, and Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) President Sara Nelson released the following statement:
“We have a growing concern for the safety and security of our members, our airlines, and the traveling public due to the government shutdown. This is already the longest government shutdown in the history of the United States and there is no end in sight. In our risk averse industry, we cannot even calculate the level of risk currently at play, nor predict the point at which the entire system will break. It is unprecedented.
“Due to the shutdown, air traffic controllers, transportation security officers, safety inspectors, air marshals, federal law enforcement officers, FBI agents, and many other critical workers have been working without pay for over a month. Staffing in our air traffic control facilities is already at a 30-year low and controllers are only able to maintain the system’s efficiency and capacity by working overtime, including 10-hour days and 6-day workweeks at many of our nation’s busiest facilities. Due to the shutdown, the FAA has frozen hiring and shuttered its training academy, so there is no plan in effect to fill the FAA’s critical staffing need. Even if the FAA were hiring, it takes two to four years to become fully facility certified and achieve Certified Professional Controller (CPC) status. Almost 20% of CPCs are eligible to retire today. There are no options to keep these professionals at work without a paycheck when they can no longer afford to support their families. When they elect to retire, the National Airspace System (NAS) will be crippled.
“The situation is changing at a rapid pace. Major airports are already seeing security checkpoint closures, with many more potentially to follow. Safety inspectors and federal cyber security staff are not back on the job at pre-shutdown levels, and those not on furlough are working without pay. Last Saturday, TSA management announced that a growing number of officers cannot come to work due to the financial toll of the shutdown. In addition, we are not confident that system-wide analyses of safety reporting data, which is used to identify and implement corrective actions in order to reduce risks and prevent accidents is 100 percent operational due to reduced FAA resources.
“As union leaders, we find it unconscionable that aviation professionals are being asked to work without pay and in an air safety environment that is deteriorating by the day. To avoid disruption to our aviation system, we urge Congress and the White House to take all necessary steps to end this shutdown immediately.”
David R. Kotok
Chairman and Chief Investment Officer
Email | Bio
Original Press Release: https://www.afacwa.org/air_traffic_controllers_pilots_flight_attendants_detail_serious_safety_concerns_due_to_shutdown
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