Discussion: Aviation Unions Release Dire Warning That System Could Collapse At Any Time

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Target it. A walkout for any plane containing a member of Congress or registered lobbyist.

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It seems this collapse is just what the White House McConnell Putin wants. Good show, GOP.

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How about hiring some sky-writers over DC? It would tie in nicely with the witch-hunt theme…

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Anyone else have a loved one on a plane right now?

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Airborne flu?

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I don’t think the contract is enforceable in these circumstances or that Trump could legally get way with firing strikers who were not getting paid.

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Without government funding, hiring is impossible…

And with unemployment at historic lows, just imagine how easy it will be to attract qualified people to go to work for the government in the near future. Pretty soon they’ll be busing prisoners from various Federal penitentiaries to the airports to be security screeners and air traffic controllers.

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Unfortunately, that’s what they thought in the 1980s, no one believed it would happen and no one believed there would be no recourse. This was in the days of Tip O’Niell as Speaker of the House even. NPR has a great timeline and it does point out that federal contracts all have ‘no strike’ clauses, here.

With annual air traffic controller* salaries around $100,000 per year, I don’t think they’ll have any issues… granted, with the stress and loss of life hanging like a Sword of Damocles over their heads every minute at work, I don’t think it’s enough.

*thanks for making the point misterneutron!

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I believe TSA screeners start at about $25k a year, plus some locality pay. They max out at about $44k. Better than flipping burgers, but not really an attractive career choice.

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Government rules by the consent of the governed. Absolute power is in the hands of the masses. History is littered with with examples of governments that failed to realize this basic fact.
If they don’t change course, Trump and the Republicans may learn it, too. It’s time for all federal workers to exercise their power and the rest of us should join them. Shut everything down.

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Completely different situation. PATCO decided to strike over their grievances. A walkout by air controllers who are not getting paid is not actually a strike.

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You’d like to think, but between being considered ‘public safety’ jobs and a ‘no-strike clause’ the US Govt’ doesn’t make that distinction.