Speaking in a powerful appearance on Fox News Channel, National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Nick Daniels commented on how the Schumer Shutdown is causing immense havoc in airports because air traffic controllers, who are employed by the government, are going unpaid as a result of it. Doing so, he skewered Schumer and called on the politicians to end the shutdown.
For reference, NATCA is the union that represents over 10,800 certified air traffic controllers. Commenting on what it is facing, President Daniels noted that air traffic controllers are having to work without pay for 10-hour days, six days a week due to the shutdown, and their woes are exacerbated by a pre-existing 3,800-person staffing shortfall.
As such, he demanded that Congress must immediately pass the clean Continuing Resolution that Republicans have repeatedly introduced in a bid to end the government shutdown, saying that doing so is incredibly necessary if the air travel system is to remain functional heading into the busy holiday season.
Commenting on the matter during his appearance on Fox News Channel, NATCA President Daniels explained, “These American patriots, they are the unsung heroes, as Secretary Duffy speaks about so often, they are the ones that are been thrust into the spotlight, into center focus of a shutdown, air traffic controllers.”
Building on that, he noted that the air traffic controllers need Congress to strike a deal and end the shutdown, as members of Congress are responsible for it. He said, “We don’t start shutdowns. We’re not responsible for ending shutdowns. But who does? It’s Congress, and that’s why we’re saying end the shutdown immediately.”
Adding to that, he added that the problem here is not a matter of aviation, but of Congress not doing its job to help his men help the American people, saying, “It’s not like we’re sitting here talking about an aviation issue. We’re talking…I understand the fears, the frustrations of the American people. We want to do an amazing job on their behalf, and we are.”
Concluding, he noted that his men are still showing up to work every day despite their going unpaid and being overworked as a result of the shutdown, saying, “We’re showing up to work every day the best way that we can to get through this crisis. But this isn’t something that we asked for. We didn’t want to put ourselves in the middle of it. Yet here we are the rope in the tug of war game that we didn’t ask for at all, and we should not be used as political pawns in any way, shape or form for these shutdowns.”
