Hundreds of Local Air Traffic Controllers Feel Effects of Shutdown

Jim Burress/WABE News

Since the partial shutdown of the federal government started, local air traffic controllers have been going to work without getting paid. On Tuesday, they saw the effects on their paychecks.

On this paycheck, 560 local air traffic controllers will get about half their normal pay. If the shutdown continues, they won’t receive anything on their next paycheck. Victor Santore is the southern region vice president for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

“They feel like they’re being used as pawns and just sacrificed. They’re sitting they’re waiting for Congress to act and everyday they see the negotiations fail, and they go to work the next day without a paycheck and they see the negotiations fail. Like anyone else who that would be happening to it becomes very frustrating.”

Santore says his union is asking Congress to reach a deal. He says if the shutdown ends, air traffic controllers will receive back pay, but they worry they may never get paid back for sick leave or vacation.