Chicago's air traffic controllers feel impact of government shutdown

Government shutdown cuts air traffic controllers' pay

Controllers at several major airports, including O'Hare, are warning of mounting stress if no deal is reached soon.

CHICAGO - As the government shutdown reached its two-week mark, air traffic controllers at several major airports, including O'Hare, warned of mounting stress if no deal is struck soon.

What we know:

Air traffic controllers are among the federal employees required to show up for work in the midst of a shutdown — even though their paychecks will be docked for the foreseeable future.

On Tuesday, air traffic controllers received their first partial paycheck since the shutdown began. If nothing changes, on Oct. 28, their pay will be zero.

Between Terminals 2 and 3 at O'Hare International Airport, members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) — a labor union — were handing out leaflets to explain why this matters.

While employees will eventually get back pay, NATCA representatives say that won't pay the bills today. During the last shutdown, many air traffic controllers across the country found themselves working second jobs on top of the overtime they are already putting in. 

What they're saying:

NATCA’s Great Lakes Regional Vice President Drew MacQueen said the shutdown is adding turbulence to an already fragile and understaffed system.

"The system is already very fragile; we're about 3,800 controllers short," MacQueen said. "Like I said, the majority of controllers across the country, not just here in Chicago, are working six-day workweeks, 10-hour days. And again, this is just another unnecessary distraction on top of an already stressful job that they're doing day in and day out."

"I don't think a lot of people understand that air traffic controllers are federal jobs, and they are affected by the government shutdown, so that's why we're out here passing out leaflets to them," MacQueen added.

MacQueen, who worked as an air traffic controller for 31 years, is urging the public to call their members of Congress to demand an end to the shutdown. 

Despite the shutdown, NATCA members say it’s their job to make sure passengers don’t notice a difference — and that their top priority remains safety, both in the air and on the tarmac.