Posted on 01/26/2019 9:49:10 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
A high number of air traffic controllers took sick days on Friday, delaying planes at LaGuardia and Newark airports, as well airports in Washington D.C. and Jacksonville, Florida, and ratcheting up the pressure on Congress and President Donald Trump to reach a deal to end the government shutdown for three weeks. According to one air traffic controller, the sick days were a result of assurances that they would be paid for the days off, and to send a message to the Trump administration.
“Presently, I view my position to be a hostage for a racist fantasy, which is what I view the wall as,” one air traffic controller, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Gothamist, referencing President Trump’s calls for a wall along the southern border.
“I'm not going to work on both moral grounds and there are bad precedents being set in terms of mistreating workers and specifically federal workers," the air traffic controller added.
Congressional legislation requires federal employees to get back pay once the shutdown is over. On Wednesday, air traffic controllers, who are considered essential employees, received a union directive clarifying what that bill means for them. The notice, which was obtained by Gothamist and confirmed by three controllers, stated that they would now receive pay for any sick or vacation days they take during the shutdown.
“We’ve gotten, inadvertently a green light from the government to take time off,” said the controller, who works at LaGuardia Airport. “We’re taking time off, which is why you’re starting to see what is happening today.”
Under the airline workers contract, it’s illegal to organize a political action, but this worker says others around the country did the same thing. Reportedly some federal airline workers have swapped their social media profile pictures with pawns...
(Excerpt) Read more at gothamist.com ...
Pathetic.
These yahoos complain of being pawns, then they make all air travelers political pawns. Fire them all!
I am retired ATC and have worked with a group of highly intelligent people.
This guy is not one of them.
“...Presently, I view my position to be a hostage for a racist fantasy, which is what I view the wall as,” one air traffic controller, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Gothamist”
Well Mr. One air traffic controller, one word for you...PATCO!
Fire them all and replace them with Americans who still love America.
Where’s Reagan when you need him? Trump needs a pair of cojones! Everyone of these jokers who laid out of work needs to be fired.
I am sure this controller also fights privatizing air traffic control.
Privatize the air traffic controls.
So, I assume this guy doesn’t have any Fencing around his Property and he took all the Exterior Doors on his House off the Hinges.
No? Well that’s perplexing. He must be a Racist then.
Anonymous.
So, I has to be real.
This never happened.
Looks keep like somebody didn’t get the memo to keep their trap shut about the inside move and has spilled the beans.
The kids are running the classroom so far as government agencies are concerned. Come to class, don’t come to class, do your homework, don’t do your homework, no one cares.
You’ll get a passing grade anyway! And a lifetime of bennies.
This guy is not one of them.
As another retired air traffic controller, I would have to agree.
EVery ATC who took sick leave during the days in question should have to produce medical documentation for the illness. No documentation should mean being fired. If the country’s aviation could make it through all the firing during the Reagan administration, it could make it through this. This guy is boldly bragging that he took sick leave.
“Fire them all”!
Fire them all? There are good ones that don’t deserve firing. I know a retired air traffic controller who is probably more conservative than you are.
Fake news. Another Anonymous ***hole (AAA).
Admission of claiming sick leave under false pretenses.
Fire him for cause.
Observe the ability a corrupt media has to pollute a simple mind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.