Posted on 10/13/2013 11:29:20 AM PDT by BulletBobCo
With the federal government shut down, air traffic controllers learned Friday that they'll be working without a paycheck until lawmakers start paying the bills again.
“We have a stressful job, this just adds to it,” said 26 year veteran air traffic controller Greg Colyer.
Colyer says after working an 80 hour pay period was stunned to see on his statement Friday that he had only been paid for 56 hours; right up until midnight October 1st.
He's worried what will happen if the shutdown stretches through the next pay period.
“In 2 weeks if congress doesn't pass a budget we're just going to get an I.O.U.” said Colyer
Coyler was one of many air traffic controllers who stressed their commitment to safety Saturday.
“We're dedicated professionals and we're going to go work every day and do our jobs like we're supposed to do. It's just this puts a little bit extra stress on us,” said Coyler.
Passengers flying Saturday were stunned to learn the air traffic controllers who guided their planes were working for free.
“If shutdowns are the way of the future, if the government can't make it work, then they need to think of certain classes of individuals that are exempt, and continue to get paid, and air traffic controllers being one of them,” said Justina Lee, who flew into Oakland from Orange County.
The air traffic controllers were informed that they would be paid when the shutdown is over, but Coyler said that they’re worried that some will not be able to cover their bills if the shutdown stretches too far.
Shut down Reagan, BWI and Dulles.
The members of congress are being paid. They should get NOTHING when there’s no budget.
“”Passengers flying Saturday were stunned to learn the air traffic controllers who guided their planes were working for free. “””
They are not working for free. They will be paid in full.
so you’re saying... if people take home little to nothing from a week of work, it will increase their stress and increase the odds they walk off the job?
whoa!
that’s almost like taxing the f*ck out of ppl so they take home after an 80 hr week as much as the tards eating EBT food & playing xbox all week
Average pay over $120,000.
I have a better idea. Privatize those functions.
Not a fun situation; well even if they blame Republicans, at least they are forced to look at the government now. I could chide Republicans for having done too little and waited for a rope a dope moment such as this. Good is stronger than evil but it has to be exercised, good won’t stuff itself down your throat if you don’t want it.
It must be tough to not make ends meet with a paycheck in six figures. Last shutdown I had to work as an essential personnel and got paid later, it was only a week shutdown. The ones that did not work got an extra week of vacation. What a rip off.
Along with No Strike or Slowdown contracts for critical societal functions.
I am concerned that somebody that stupid is an air traffic controller. I guess he has forgotten what happened the last time he worked when the government was shutdown. Either an idiot or a drama queen.
Ten years ago that would be correct. It's closer to $98,000 today. It takes about 3 years of training before they are on their own. During the training period, they are bringing in about $39K.
I wonder if their creditors are taking the same permissive view of their bills? "Sure, we know you'll pay us eventually! Meanwhile, we'll just set aside that old Mortgage for now." I bet the grocery store is the same way.
And they're living paycheck-to-paycheck?
And it's surprising to anyone that the US government is $17,000,000,000,000.00 in debt?
I call BS on this! No affected essential employees, required to work for IOU’s, were unaware of their situations! Prior to 10/1/13 all vacations and time off were canceled and they were required to attend a meeting where they were presented documents outlining their options. They could continue to perform their duties and await the full refunding of all back pay at the end of the shutdown or refuse to work, be reclassified nonessential and possiblylose the pay for the time they are gone.
No one now on the job was”sstunned” by the half paycheck! They are all very aware of the deal!
obama owns this.
He is using the absence of pay to piss off the American people.
Only non essential people have been sent home, there is no reason to not pay anyone still on the job.
I don’t believe this guy didn’t know. Our agency, at least, made darn sure everybody knew what the pay situation was, for those who stayed on the job and those who were furloughed.
I even got a phone call at home from one of the few still working to remind me that I would only get half a check this payday. Shouldn’t have been a surprise.
They are giving us letters to give to our creditors explaining the situation if we need it. For what that’s worth.
You beat me. :-)
You’re right, we all knew.
I hope there is some forbearance going on. It would be good business to work something out the the people on furlough. That’s good for things like mortgages and stuff, but how are these folks getting food on the table? They aren’t on SNAP.
And they earn it
There are many small airports which have airport controllers which aren’t really necessary. Lay those people off, and let their respective cities pick up the tab if they wish. There was a sequester threat list earlier this year, get it out and use it this time.
There hasn’t been a budget in 5 years, but some people don’t pay attention. He needs to call Harry Reid about why he shut down the government (because master Barack said so).
I checked a few more references. Evidently top salaries are in the range of $172,000 + OT.
26 years and didn’t save a dime. Phhttt!
My Dad was ATC for that long but I’ll be damned if he let his or his family’s ass breeze in the wind.
Greg, you sir are an idiot.
absolutely no sympathy for anyone that can’t live without income for at least 6 months!!
“What a rip off.”
You think YOU were ripped off......what about taxpayers?
You were paid for a job as agreed, and you’re pissed that you had to show up, just because someone else didn’t have to and still got paid?
Attitude adjustment time.
Its a nice salary but they also have to live in many of the highest cost of living areas.
How we just make them part of the private sector? The private sector is normally exempt from these kinds of stupid things.
Republicans should have had an “Instant Response” team in place weeks ago for EVERY one of these bogus shutdown stories, which all of us knew were going to happen.
Instead, low information voters read it, or hear about it, and Republicans have no timely and organized counter punch.
We are so pitiful.
Our leadership is so pitiful.
If he’s had a steady high-paying job for 26 years he should have a few bucks put away to carry him over.
Average pay over $120,000.
**********************************************
Yes, and the poor babies are REQUIRED to retire at age 56. The horror....the horror....one of their paychecks may be received several weeks late. The horror.....
Average pay over $120,000.
**********************************************
Yes, and the poor babies are REQUIRED to retire at age 56. The horror....the horror....one of their paychecks may be received several weeks late. The horror.....
Dale,
I know your a man of means but this story his hogwash. If you settle back and spend every dime that came in, it is the hallmark of a fool.
Greg may understand ground control but he should consider what happens if the SHTF.
regards,
RR
I did my job and got paid for it. I think I would have been happier if none of had got paid. Bill Klinton was president talked big but did little about the shutdown. Making one class of people work and telling others to go home is not good management practice as it creates strife among the work groups.
I can't recall if they needed college degrees or not.
The military trained them, paid them, and six years later they both walked over the line to excellent civilian jobs.
I don't know if you can still do that or not, but that remains the BEST job training program I have ever heard about.
You can still do it.
All you need is a good ASVAB score.
The pool gets more shallow every year. Thank you for nothing liberals.
Everyone should have six months of cash on hand.
“Making one class of people work and telling others to go home is not good management practice as it creates strife among the work groups.”
You miss the larger point. There may well be multiple classes among federal employees, but the true separation is between government employees and taxpayers. Taxpayers don’t get “back pay” for not showing up for work, no matter what the reason.
Obama needs to be impeached immediately! Remove him from our government now! He is a curse on the nation!
The real ripoffs of the federal government is some to the equipment systems that are pushed on the government and the technicians are forced to make them work because the contractor said it worked. IBM contracted with the FAA do deliver 36” displays for the Air traffic Controllers but could not make the system work. The next contractor also charged the government $1B for these same displays that had not been delivered. The tax payers always get the short end.
Maybe these govt employees should call the Rats and tell them to go with the House plan to budget dept by dept. The Pubs will fund critical depts and useless things like the commerce dept, EPA, Education, and obamacare can wait till the economy improves. :-)
even 55 years ago when I got married and was making $2.75/hr there has never been a time I didn’t have at least 6 months living expenses in the bank.
Anyone that doesn’t have at least that much is a total idiot!
If he crashes a few airplanes, so what?
Red Herring to the point at hand, that there is a fundamental disconnect between taxpayers and those that work for government.
But I’m willing to address your point. Yes, government contractors are greedy and self-serving more often than not, in my opinion. Greedy and self-serving also describes most federal employees, and the bureaucracies they represent.
These Federal Employees are not working for free.Their going to get their full pay retroactive to this Obama debacle.
I wouldn’t cry much for them.During my service in the Air Force during the 1970’s we had these spending arguments and it killed our pay untill things were settled.
We got our pay back though.But at that time I was a single guy and only had to worry about myself.
One good thing about the last shutdown was that there was a 10% reduction of budget after the shutdown.
It is entirely possible to make that much and live paycheck to paycheck. After uncle Sam is done taking their half right off the top of what I make I then have to pay mortgage and kids college tuition all due on the first of the month. Then routine living expenses. I do have quite a bit saved, but mostly in 401K funds where it will take a little while to get if needed. I would be in trouble temporarily if I did not get the check I was expecting on time. And why should I (or anyone else) have to take money out of retirement funds to cover their employers shortfall?
I dont care what you make, the sudden loss of a paycheck hurts. I fully support the govt shutdown, don’t get me wrong. But a highly paid individual is just as entitled to the check they earn and a lower paid one, and it can hurt just as badly to lose a check.
Anyone notice they are NOT striking?
Sounds a lot like how California handles the budget
I didn’t have that but I did have drive. You can honestly go from broke to quite a bit at break-neck speed.
Folks just need to keep pushing. I am very thankful that my childhood was full of so much responsibility.
Makes the old world much easier! :^)
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