2/6/2019

AIRLINE INDUSTRY/GOVERNMENT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “On January 24, it seemed like the partial government shutdown would go on forever, leaving more than 800,000 federal workers in unpaid limbo. But on January 25 — the 35th day of the longest-ever federal shutdown — something changed: 10 air traffic controllers decided to stay home. The absence of those few workers — six in northern Virginia and four in Florida, numbers not previously reported — temporarily shut down travel at New York’s La Guardia airport and caused delays at other major hubs, including in New Jersey, Philadelphia and Atlanta. Their actions, along with staffing issues already brewing at the Transportation Security Administration, helped tip the scales in Washington, driving President Donald Trump to agree to a three-week cease-fire. With the threat of another shutdown looming if a deal is not made by Feb. 15, the impact of these 10 controllers shows both the power of individual workers and the vulnerability of an aviation system that directly affects daily life throughout the country. In many workplaces, 10 people calling out sick would not dramatically interrupt a work day. But these controllers are highly trained for a specific function and cannot be easily replaced.”

Ellie Kaufman and Rene Marsh, “The government shutdown ended after only 10 air traffic controllers stayed home,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, February 6, 2019 5:56 pm