CHICAGO (WLS) — Sixty air site visitors controllers are Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport are among the many a whole lot within the Chicago space getting their first pay checks impacted by the federal authorities shutdown.
Air vacationers might not have seen any modifications for journey on Tuesday. However at O’Hare, some off-duty air site visitors controllers shared leaflets in regards to the authorities shutdown that requires some staff, like themselves, to maintain working with out pay.
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“It is horrible, coming into work and never getting something from it. Total, your temper could be fairly upset,” mentioned traveler Jason Guerrero.
“Once you miss that paycheck, in case you can consider choices, you are actually doing monetary gymnastics. So, it is laborious to consider folks not getting paid,” mentioned traveler James Miller.
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The union representing air site visitors controllers mentioned members simply obtained their pay checks that have been brief as a result of shutdown, and that their subsequent paychecks might be zero except the federal government is again in enterprise.
“Now, it is beginning to get actual for them. They’re frightened about paying the mortgage automobile funds paying for daycare is a large one,” mentioned NATCA Regional Vice President for the Nice Lakes Drew MacQueen.
“It should be a battle,” mentioned Air Visitors Controller Matt Ellington.
Ellington has been an air site visitors controller at O’Hare since 2008 and is a facility consultant for the union. He says he has been by way of a authorities shutdown earlier than. And he says though they need to get again pay as soon as the shutdown ends, it’s no assist now.
“Alright, the mortgage is roofed proper now, however what are we going to do about subsequent month, relying on how lengthy to close down goes for? What are you going to do? I do not know. I do not know. We’ll see,” Ellington mentioned.
These ABC7 spoke with are desperate to for the shutdown to finish for his or her sake and the sake of their households.
Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a press release on Tuesday, saying, “I instructed the Chicago Division of Aviation to say no the request by DHS to play a political video at our airports. The video exhibits DHS Secretary Kristi Noem making political assertions in regards to the ongoing authorities shutdown. Our airports are for Chicagoans and guests to journey safely to and from our metropolis; they aren’t for the Trump administration to unfold propaganda utilizing taxpayer sources.”
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