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End the Government Shutdown Immediately

End the Government Shutdown Immediately

Air traffic control is one of the most complex and stressful professions in the world, requiring multiple layers of systems and processes for thousands of controllers and other aviation safety professionals to successfully separate the nearly 35,000 flights that take place every day in the U.S. These flights carry millions of passengers safely to their destinations and drive our economy by transporting more than 61,000 tons of high-value, time-sensitive, and life-saving goods such high-value electronics, fresh food and flowers, live animals, and pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies each and every day.

A government shutdown is detrimental to the safety and efficiency of our National Airspace System (NAS). The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) strongly opposes the government shutdown, which includes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The shutdown threatens the NAS and negatively affects approximately 10 million aviation-related jobs and the $1.5 trillion annually that aviation contributes to the U.S. economy.

No one should be under the illusion that it’s business as usual for aviation safety during the shutdown. Every day the shutdown continues, the negative consequences to the NAS and its employees are compounding. Inside are examples of the effects the government shutdown has on the FAA and our workforce.

What’s at Stake

  • Effects on Workers: Air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals currently are working without pay, often under grueling schedules of six days a week, 10 hours a day. Some are taking second jobs to feed their families and pay their bills—leading to stress and fatigue.
  • Furloughs: Approximately 2,350 NATCA-represented aviation safety professionals—including aircraft certification engineers and aerospace engineers—are furloughed. Critical safety support, operational support, and modernization work will stop.

A shutdown doesn’t just harm NATCA members. It threatens the reliability and efficiency of our entire aviation system.

NATCA in News Segments About the Shutdown

National News

Regional News
NATCA does not endorse, support, or condone any federal employees participating in or endorsing a coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the NAS, or any other activities that undermine the professional image and reputation of the people we represent. Air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals take their responsibility to protect the safety of the flying public very seriously. Participating in a job action could result in removal from federal service. It is not only illegal, but it also undermines NATCA’s credibility and severely weakens our ability to effectively advocate for you and your families.

Shutdown Media Releases & Statements

NATCA in Social Media
@natcanational

NATCA members describe what missing a paycheck means to them and their families. Zero-dollar paychecks mean worries about paying for food, covering rent or mortgage, and affording childcare necessary to go to work. Some controllers are getting second jobs to pay the bills. It’s a terrible burden for them on top of the up to 60 hours a week many of them work keeping America’s skies safe. The stress caused by all of this is a distraction for them that makes our National Airspace less safe. NATCA calls on Americans to contact their members of Congress and demand an immediate end to the shutdown. www.natca.org/actioncenter/ #EndTheShutdown #NATCA The NATCA members in this video include: – Sandii Follmer (Washington Center, ZDC) – Steven Brown (Portland Tower, PWM) – Matthew Adair (Columbus Tower, CMH) – Cristian Peguero (Miami Center, ZMA) – Otis White (Rochester Tower, ROC) – Lorraine Felix (Los Angeles Center, ZLA)

♬ original sound – NATCA
@natcanational

As the government shutdown continues, NATCA’s National Executive Board delivered this reminder to the dedicated air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals who continue to keep our skies safe of how important their work is to all Americans and the National Airspace System. Every day, the conduct of air traffic controllers reinforces the trust the flying public places in the members of NATCA. Their commitment keeps the flying public safe — even in the toughest times.

♬ original sound – NATCA
@natcanational

NATCA local leaders speak about why air traffic controllers are showing up during the government shutdown to perform their duties of keeping America’s National Airspace System operating safely and efficiently. NATCA leaders featured in the video include: Patrick James (Facility President at Kansas City Center, ZKC), Alexandra Ross (Facility President at Lafayette Tower, LFT), Vanesa Hess (Facility Vice President at Denver Center, ZDV), Kevin Hammond (National OSF Rep, Engineer/Northwest Mountain Region, ENM), Alex Cisneros (Facility President of Southern California TRACON, SCT), Andrew Strunk (Facility President at Dallas-Fort Worth TRACON, D10, Martin Ramirez (Facility President at Los Angeles Center, ZLA), and Matt Elliott (Facility President of St. Louis TRACON, T75). Watch this video below:

♬ original sound – NATCA – NATCA
@natcanational

NATCA leaders speak about the dedication of air traffic controllers across the country, who have and will continue to show up to work during the government shutdown. NATCA members remain committed to ensuring doing the essential work of moving passengers and cargo during the ongoing government shutdown. NATCA members featured in the video include: ● Nick Daniels (NATCA President) ● Joe Segretto (FacRep at New York TRACON, N90) ● Amy Lark (FacRep at Potomac TRACON, PCT) ● Matt Ellington (FacRep at Chicago O’Hare Tower, ORD) ● Andrew Buckman (FacRep at Atlanta Tower, ATL) ● Danny Garcia (FacRep at Miami Center, ZMA) ● Andrew Strunk (FacRep at Dallas-Fort Worth TRACON, D10) ● Mike Redford (FacRep at Las Vegas Tower, LAS) ● Michael Flores (FacRep at Los Angeles Tower, LAX) ● Joe Gertonson (FacRep at Honolulu Control Facility, HCF) ● Candice Gertonson (member at HCF) #EndTheShutdown #NATCA

♬ original sound – NATCA
@natcanational

NATCA members speak about how the government shutdown is affecting their families and is an unnecessary distraction from performing their vital duties of keeping America’s National Airspace System operating safely and efficiently. NATCA members featured in the video include: – Natelie Chappell (Potomac TRACON, PCT) – Tom Lefebvre (Boston Center, ZBW) – Nicole Wysong (Engineer/Northwest Mountain Region, ENM) – Brandon Esquer (Phoenix TRACON, P50) – Sarah Winjum (Des Moines Tower, DSM) – Trisha Hurley (Washington Center, ZDC) #endtheshutdown #NATCA

♬ original sound – NATCA
@natcanational

NATCA members speak about how the government shutdown is affecting their lives and is an unnecessary distraction from performing their important duties of keeping America’s National Airspace System operating safely and efficiently. NATCA members featured in the video include: – Alyssa Nena (Bedford Field, BED), – Dakota Smith (Albuquerque Center, ZAB), – Nick Stott (Raleigh-Durham Tower, RDU), – Andrew Myers (Flight Services Station PAQ, FS4), – Areil Smith (Knoxville Tower, TYS), – Miguel Salamanca (New York Center, ZNY), and – Alyssa Nacin (Washington Center, ZDC).

♬ original sound – NATCA

NATCA is doing everything in our power to educate elected officials about the serious harm this shutdown is inflicting on our workforce, the aviation system, and the American public. To amplify our message, we’ve launched a nationwide advocacy campaign, and we need every member to take part.

Want to Help? Take Action Here Now

Please take a few minutes to email your elected officials and demand an immediate end to the government shutdown.

TAKE ACTION HERE!

The more emails we send, the louder and clearer our collective voice will be heard. We are not advocating for or against any policy issues at play in this standoff—our sole focus is ending the shutdown to ensure that all of our members can perform their critical work with timely pay for their work.

NATCA Leaflets 22 Airports Nationwide as Shutdown Forces First Missed Paycheck for Air Traffic 

Controllers are leafleting this week to educate travelers about how the shutdown continues to impact efficiency and introduce risk into the National Airspace System (NAS). During the nationwide action, NATCA members took to Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson International, Bangor International, Boston Logan, Charlotte Douglas, Cleveland Hopkins International, Denver International, Detroit Metropolitan, Houston Intercontinental, Kansas City International, New York LaGuardia, Los Angeles International, Miami International, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International, Chicago O’Hare, Orlando International, Philadelphia International, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Salt Lake City International, San Francisco International, Seattle–Tacoma, Tampa International, and Washington National.

Download Copy of Stop the Shutdown Leaflet
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