Posted on 10/13/2013 11:29:20 AM PDT by BulletBobCo
With the federal government shut down, air traffic controllers learned Friday that they'll be working without a paycheck until lawmakers start paying the bills again.
“We have a stressful job, this just adds to it,” said 26 year veteran air traffic controller Greg Colyer.
Colyer says after working an 80 hour pay period was stunned to see on his statement Friday that he had only been paid for 56 hours; right up until midnight October 1st.
He's worried what will happen if the shutdown stretches through the next pay period.
“In 2 weeks if congress doesn't pass a budget we're just going to get an I.O.U.” said Colyer
Coyler was one of many air traffic controllers who stressed their commitment to safety Saturday.
“We're dedicated professionals and we're going to go work every day and do our jobs like we're supposed to do. It's just this puts a little bit extra stress on us,” said Coyler.
Passengers flying Saturday were stunned to learn the air traffic controllers who guided their planes were working for free.
“If shutdowns are the way of the future, if the government can't make it work, then they need to think of certain classes of individuals that are exempt, and continue to get paid, and air traffic controllers being one of them,” said Justina Lee, who flew into Oakland from Orange County.
The air traffic controllers were informed that they would be paid when the shutdown is over, but Coyler said that they’re worried that some will not be able to cover their bills if the shutdown stretches too far.
Maybe these govt employees should call the Rats and tell them to go with the House plan to budget dept by dept. The Pubs will fund critical depts and useless things like the commerce dept, EPA, Education, and obamacare can wait till the economy improves. :-)
even 55 years ago when I got married and was making $2.75/hr there has never been a time I didn’t have at least 6 months living expenses in the bank.
Anyone that doesn’t have at least that much is a total idiot!
If he crashes a few airplanes, so what?
Red Herring to the point at hand, that there is a fundamental disconnect between taxpayers and those that work for government.
But I’m willing to address your point. Yes, government contractors are greedy and self-serving more often than not, in my opinion. Greedy and self-serving also describes most federal employees, and the bureaucracies they represent.
These Federal Employees are not working for free.Their going to get their full pay retroactive to this Obama debacle.
I wouldn’t cry much for them.During my service in the Air Force during the 1970’s we had these spending arguments and it killed our pay untill things were settled.
We got our pay back though.But at that time I was a single guy and only had to worry about myself.
One good thing about the last shutdown was that there was a 10% reduction of budget after the shutdown.
It is entirely possible to make that much and live paycheck to paycheck. After uncle Sam is done taking their half right off the top of what I make I then have to pay mortgage and kids college tuition all due on the first of the month. Then routine living expenses. I do have quite a bit saved, but mostly in 401K funds where it will take a little while to get if needed. I would be in trouble temporarily if I did not get the check I was expecting on time. And why should I (or anyone else) have to take money out of retirement funds to cover their employers shortfall?
I dont care what you make, the sudden loss of a paycheck hurts. I fully support the govt shutdown, don’t get me wrong. But a highly paid individual is just as entitled to the check they earn and a lower paid one, and it can hurt just as badly to lose a check.
Anyone notice they are NOT striking?
Sounds a lot like how California handles the budget
I didn’t have that but I did have drive. You can honestly go from broke to quite a bit at break-neck speed.
Folks just need to keep pushing. I am very thankful that my childhood was full of so much responsibility.
Makes the old world much easier! :^)
>>It is entirely possible to make that much and live paycheck to paycheck.<<
And what would you do if for whatever reason you were unable to go to work for a month? How would your family survive?
The answer is in being an adult and having six months take home pay available if needed. One paycheck in cash at home in case the electricity goes out and the rest in the bank in your checking account.
It means cutting back on some little thing like perhaps going out each weekend for a nice dinner or being able to walk by something in the store without the “Oh, I must have that worthless item” getting into your wallet.
That means we should have cut them off over five years ago.
0bama was sent home???????????
I wish I had earned that much when I was an air traffic controller.
Naw, he was sent to the golf course.
Even during layoffs, employees are generally due a month notice or a month’s pay.
No, your average employee isn’t making $75/hr. We make about $35/hr and about $41/hr overtime.
It’s taken me 12 years to save up enough funds to keep 1-6 months rent/expenses in savings and the retirement plans keep getting raped.
This time we planned for a month without pay up to three.
The first sequester furloughs cut cash flow by 25% for 6 weeks. Between medical and car repairs, another 6 weeks of normal cashflow has been eaten up. Since Obama came into office, fuel costs have doubled. Now were are mounting up debt, which I doubt I will be able to repay for another 5-8 years.
I had planned to save enough funds to move away from this economy, but now it isn’t there.
We can abandon everything in place and become Obama refugees and migrate to another state, but winter is coming and for some reason God has us here. I really wish others would return to God, so we don’t get lumped in with the divine discipline He is bound to lump on this nation of believers who have placed their reliance upon anything other than Him.
The only good news is that since the shutdown went into effect, the chem-trails have stopped. 1st time in about 12 years, but weather is back to the way it was in the 80s. Go figure.
The natural path for Obama, while he remains independent of God’s Plan, will be to attack believers and anything Christian. He will have an insatiable lust for all things worldly, carnal, and arrogant. The sooner the rest of Creation recognizes God’s Plan is fully righteous and just, the sooner those who live in faith with Him will have less risk of our rewards stolen from us.
The government is in violation of the fair labor practice law
Horse hockey. It’s against the law to work and not get paid. They know they’re getting paid. Much ado about nothing. Media spin.
Knowing you're going to be paid doesn't pay the bills.
“In 2 weeks if congress doesn’t pass a budget we’re just going to get an I.O.U.” said Colyer
Well don’t feel lonely bub, if Social Security shuts down
that’s all my mortgage company will get, an I.O.U.
Signed Barak H. Obama.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.