Wisconsin air traffic controllers feeling pressure as shutdown wears on with no paychecks in sight
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- With the government shutdown now into a third week, there is little progress on formal negotiations.
But a Wisconsin Senator tells us there is some small movement behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin's air traffic controllers are feeling the growing stress of working without pay.
An air traffic control system that has been stressed for years could soon start to crack. Controllers' last partial paycheck came this week. If the shutdown continues, they will not get paid again.
Drew MacQueen is the Great Lakes Regional Vice President for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. He told us, "It's not going to take long before a couple missed paychecks is going to put them in a very difficult decision."
And that could happen soon.
MacQueen told us morale is as good as can be expected, for now. But many controllers are already working six day weeks, 10 hour days, and mandatory overtime to cover.
Without a paycheck, at some point, they'll have to find another way to pay the bills.
MacQueen said, "Waitressing, delivering pizza. We need controllers focused. We need controllers being at home, rested. Not fatigued."
Now there are concerns people will leave.
This week, controllers rallied at airports in Chicago and New York.
The nationwide system is already short 3800 certified controllers; Madison is one of the airports that is critically staffed.
During the last shutdown, sickouts at some major airports helped force the issue. But MacQueen says that's not a strategy this time. "Controllers didn't start the shutdown. Controllers are not going to end the shutdown. It's not our job."
MacQueen said that job falls to lawmakers.
In Washington Thursday, Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said, "Many of you have asked all of us, how will it end? We have no idea. It's up to the Democrats and they have to decide it."
But Democratic Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin says Republican leadership has refused formal negotiations on the expiring affordable care act tax credit at the root of the shutdown.
Still, Baldwin said, "I'm hearing it quietly from my Republican colleagues in the Senate. They are aware of how deeply this is going to impact their constituents."
She said colleagues know the tax credit is the difference between having healthcare and not having healthcare.
Open enrollment starts November 1st. Baldwin pointed to Wisconsin farmer Phil Verges, who spoke at a virtual event she hosted this week. Verges said, "I have no idea what I'll be paying in January. It could be hundreds of dollars more per month. It's money I don't have."
As a deal in Washington remains elusive, taxpayers have to keep working, many without pay.
MacQueen said, "I don't know what moves the needle, that's not for me to say, not my job to say. Our job is to go to work and continue to be air traffic controllers."
We reached out to several Republican lawmakers for an interview; they either weren't available or didn't respond.
The next paychecks for air traffic controllers are scheduled for October 28th.