There will be a vote on a CR today in the house, if that passes, it will go to the Senate. There is no guarantee any of that will pass, so we are once again a political football. We are all sick of it but this is the world we live in.
Every time this happens, there is very understandable frustration and there are those who do not understand why they should still come to work. As always, everyone must make the decisions that are right for them. We do not intend to provide the powers that be with any ammunition to throw at us and say we are not professional and that we want to harm the system when the truth is that they are the ones trying to break it.
There are people making or influencing these decisions that do not intend to fix what is broken. They are creating chaos, gutting our system, and waiting for the moment to cash in. We are no different in their eyes, just another piece to be sold. But we know the truth: this system belongs to the people, and we are the ones who make it work.
As hard as this is, we must stay focused. A missed paycheck today is devastating, but it does not outweigh the benefits and security we have spent a career earning. Our pensions, our healthcare, our families’ futures—they depend on us making the hard choice to hold the line and keep this system running.
In this building there are many that will be deemed "non-essential" and sent home and there are many that will be told to come to work regardless of a paycheck. There's one thing we can tell you, there are absolutely zero "non-essential" members of this bargaining unit. Every single one of you are what makes the NAS operate as safely and efficiently as it does. We know the frustration. We feel the anger. It is unacceptable that we, the ones who keep this country moving, are repeatedly used as pawns in a game we have no control over. And yet, we bear the weight of a system that others break without consequence.
Thank you for all you do and please don't hesitate to reach out with questions and concerns.
Government Shutdown FAQ:
Does my bid leave get canceled?
No. The contract does not go by the wayside during shutdowns or lapses in FAA authorization. They may code it differently at the time, but it will be fixed when the Agency is back open.
Can I take sick leave?
Yes. Same as bid leave, it may be coded differently at the time but will be fixed later.
What about spot leave?
Spot leave will likely not be approved after the shutdown begins.
I don’t have any certifications, do I have to show up to work?
Everyone with an “A-Side” is considered essential personnel and should come in to work. If you are currently assigned to the training department, please contact the training manager for direction.
If this persists, when will I see a zero-dollar paycheck?
It changes slightly depending on where the shutdown hits in a pay period, but you will likely not see any lapse in pay unless the shutdown goes on for more than a pay period.
For example, if this shutdown happens, it will be on March 14th, which is in the middle of pay period 7. They are finishing up time and attendance by the 11th so that pay can be processed and you will still be paid in full for pay period 6 on March 18th. In the past, when these shutdowns have gone on longer, they have allowed the front office personnel to come in to submit “straight” pay for the portion of the pay period before the shutdown. If this happens, you should expect a partial paycheck on April 1st. The first zero-dollar paycheck would be April 19th.
What resources are available to help during a long-term shutdown?
In the past, members of Sky-One credit union have been eligible for zero-interest loans. USAA and Navy Federal have had those programs as well.
Non-Shutdown Related Items:
Hopefully, we will be done talking about this ridiculous waste of time and resources soon. But, reference the five bullet item that Cristalle put into TEAM, it is not intended for that to be the only time you are assigned to do this task. Supervisors are still the assignors of work, and it is still their responsibility to task that weekly if that is still a requirement. This does not prohibit you from asking for time to do this if you wish, though.
In Solidarity,
Amy and Drew
