Folks,
Greetings from the Burgh, where Payday continues to track an uptick in workers fighting back against the government shutdown as it enters its second week.
Air Traffic Controllers “Sick Out” in Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville
On Tuesday, Payday reported on how Burbank airport was shut down for 6 hours as all the air traffic controllers had “sicked out.” Now, other airports have experienced shutdowns as workers take actions in other cities. From CNN:
There would not be enough air traffic controllers in the tower at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport Tuesday night, the Federal Aviation Administration warned. In Nashville, so many controllers have stayed home, the facility - which guides planes into and out of the airport - is closing.
Now, after more than a week of the government shutdown, same scenarios are unfolding at FAA offices across the country, with ripple effects hitting flights almost everywhere.
The approach and departure facilities for Houston, Newark and Las Vegas did not have enough controllers working for at least part of Tuesday evening, along with the facilities that handle planes in the Boston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Dallas areas, FAA operations plans noted.
Houston’s two major airports, Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, were both expected to see ground delays due to staffing shortage.
Help Track Air Traffic Controller Sickouts
While air traffic controllers are “sicking out” across the country, their efforts aren’t getting much attention within labor circles. It’s crucial that Payday cover these “sickouts” in an effort to amplify them.
Much like how we tracked strikes during the pandemic, we are hoping to track airport shutdowns.
White House Says Furloughed Federal Workers Not Entitled to Back Pay
During previous government shutdowns, federal workers received backpay for being forced to work without pay.
Now, the Trump Administration is saying that federal workers won’t receive back pay for working during the shutdown. The move could be in violation of the 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act.
"Does this law cover all these furloughed employees automatically? The conventional wisdom is: Yes, it does. Our view is: No, it doesn't," a senior White House official told Axios.
Judge Poised to Free SMART Union Member Abrego Garcia
A federal judge now appears ready to release SMART union member Abrego Garcia from federal custody if the Trump Administration cannot supply a deportation plan. From The New York Times:
When one of the government lawyers, Ernesto H. Molina, said he was not aware of more evidence but refused to concede that the government was not actively preparing Mr. Abrego Garcia’s deportation, Judge Xinis fired back.
“That’s just not a tenable position — either you have done it or you haven’t,” the judge said, referring to preparations for Mr. Abrego Garcia’s deportation. “I have asked you a direct question and you don’t have it. Then the answer is no. That’s how the court works.”
She added: “It is a real topsy-turvy, inside-out day.”
For more, check out The New York Times.
Construction Unions in NYC Back Cuomo
As the New York City Mayoral election enters its last month, the vast majority of unions are on the side of democratic socialist Zohran Madami. However, a number of construction unions are continuing to back disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“Cuomo has always been and is committed to union construction–where your economic security comes from–and there is nothing more important to us than that. Hopefully, the Building Trades and some of the other unions in this city realize how important this election really is and urge their members to fight for the middle class that Cuomo is committed to protecting,” IBEW Local 3 business manager Chris Erikson wrote in a letter to his union members this week.
For more, check out People’s World.
News & Headlines Elsewhere
- NBCUniversal ending MSNBC union agreement with NABET-CWA in place since 2007.
- ‘They Are Hunting Us’: child care workers in DC go underground amid ICE crackdown.
- 'Total disaster': some furloughed workers plan to hold garage sales, dip into savings to weather government shutdown.
- Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee threatens rural schools and hospitals reliant on immigrant workers.
- Michigan denies workers’ comp to undocumented immigrants. A legal case could change that.
- Finally, Venice opera house staff to strike over hiring of Meloni-linked conductor’
Alright folks, that’s all for today. Keep sending tips, comments and complaints to melk@paydayreport.com
