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Ground stop at JFK due to staffing

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202 points akersten | 6 comments | 31 Oct 25 01:48 UTC | HN request time: 0.538s | source | bottom
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johncolanduoni ◴[31 Oct 25 02:49 UTC] No.45767803[source]▶
The things that are and aren’t considered essential enough to fund during a government shutdown are insane. Is this enshrined in a statute somewhere? Feels like adding air traffic controllers to that list should be a no-brainer (and broadly politically popular).
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gruez ◴[31 Oct 25 02:55 UTC] No.45767839[source]▶
>Is this enshrined in a statute somewhere? Feels like adding air traffic controllers to that list should be a no-brainer (and broadly politically popular).

They are considered essential. That means they have to work, but not be paid.

https://time.com/7329683/government-shutdown-flight-delays-c...

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1. shadowgovt ◴[31 Oct 25 03:22 UTC] No.45768031[source]▶
So what happens if they don't show up? Are they at risk of jail or at risk of being fired and replaced by the new recruit, Michael McDoesnt-Exist (https://www.aviationtoday.com/2025/07/25/americas-atc-meltdo...)?
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2. johncolanduoni ◴[31 Oct 25 03:30 UTC] No.45768085[source]▶
I could imagine some sort of loss of seniority or pay level, even if they’d hire them right back because we already have an ATC shortage.
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3. shadowgovt ◴[31 Oct 25 03:35 UTC] No.45768130[source]▶
Well, that's certainly a negotiation standpoint the government can start from.

... But they're hurting for recruits in a big way so even at their size their negotiating position isn't as strong as they might want.

4. evilduck ◴[31 Oct 25 04:25 UTC] No.45768426[source]▶
Nothing happens to them. They can't be jailed for taking their PTO or sick leave, they are free to quit and there are not enough recruits in the pipeline to backfill them en masse. They could be put on a PIP, or fired for not showing up, or some other retaliatory and childish Trump action, but what is the government realistically going to do to fix this? Fire them for poor performance and make sure that a short term shortage becomes permanent? How do you even recruit backfills when the entire world knows you fucked over the previous crew and promise to do it to the next batch too?
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5. nobody9999 ◴[31 Oct 25 09:44 UTC] No.45770092[source]▶
>How do you even recruit backfills when the entire world knows you fucked over the previous crew and promise to do it to the next batch too?

What's more, even if you could, who is going to take a job for which they will not be paid as long as the shutdown continues?

6. histriosum ◴[31 Oct 25 18:30 UTC] No.45775155[source]▶
On the other hand, if privatizing ATC is one of your goals, this is probably an effective way to force the issue.

(Current Airline Pilot here, definitely NOT in favor of privatizing ATC, but historically breaking things on purpose is the usual path politicians take to privatize)